District-Level Learnings From the Field: Redesigning School District Systems and Structures for Human Thriving

Part of the BELE learning series, this paper explores insights from our equity initiatives in partner districts. It focuses on the conditions necessary to create equitable learning environments that enhance the student experience, and where districts should focus their efforts to sustain meaningful change.

TAGS SEL partnerships equity

District SEL Best Practices: Adult Well-being and Equity

A district leader from Tulsa Public Schools describes the district's equity framework, their monthly school leader learning institutes focused on well-being, school-based wellness teams, and the ways in which the district's equity and wellness work are interrelated.

TAGS mental health equity SEL leadership

Retreat to Improve District Support of SEL Practice – Agenda and Challenge Areas

Cleveland hosted a retreat with support from AIR, CASEL, PATHS, and their teachers' union to address challenge areas and improve how SEL is integrated into district priorities.

TAGS implementation support SEL partnerships professional learning integrate with district priorities SEL leadership

Using an SEL lens to review the vision and/or mission of a school district or organization

This short activity can be led by a superintendent after a presentation about SEL to board members, or by any leader who wants to facilitate a discussion of how/whether SEL is already positioned within the mission and vision of the district, school, or organization.

TAGS school board integrate with district priorities building buy-in for SEL

Washoe County School District SEL Data Information Site

Washoe's data webpage shares their SEL standards, their formal and informal approaches to measuring SEL growth, and rich, easy to read displays of data.

TAGS student assessment SEL standards define SEL metrics SEL overview communications data dashboards conducting local SEL research building buy-in for SEL family and community engagement

Key Stakeholders for an SEL Vision

This chart lists participants to involve in the drafting of a district vision for SEL.

TAGS planning integrate with district priorities district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL SEL leadership

Austin Independent School District SEL Newsletter

Samples of a bilingual newsletter distributed by the SEL department in Austin, including a school spotlight, featured SEL strategy, and family resources.

TAGS reading lists - parents parents/parenting spanish language resources model SEL schools communications community relations family and community engagement

SEL Central Office Professional Learning Community Agenda

An agenda from Sacramento's SEL professional learning community for central office staff to better align district departments to improve adult practices and student SEL outcomes.

TAGS Adult SEL implementation support PLC SEL partnerships professional learning district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL

SEL: Creating Safe & Supportive Learning Environments (video)

Creating a safe, supportive environment for social and emotional learning (SEL) has been, and remains, a high priority for CASEL. It is inherent in our focus on integrating SEL into all aspects of school and district practice through a systemic approach.

TAGS videos SEL overview district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL SEL leadership

Guiding Questions for Educators: Promote Equity Using SEL

Educators can use social and emotional learning (SEL) to promote the cultural assets that all students bring to their classrooms—if SEL instruction and assessments are implemented with a culturally responsive lens, according to a recent summary of the Assessment Work Group's Special Issues brief on SEL and equity.

TAGS cultural competence Adult SEL equity culturally responsive