Applying an Equity Lens to Social, Emotional, and Academic Development

This issue brief describes 5 major barriers to equitable access to social emotional learning and positive life outcomes, and corresponding opportunities for districts to to dismantle those barriers by approaching SEL in ways that are grounded in equity and justice.

TAGS cultural competence anti-bias trauma board policies SEL competence research brief equity student discipline

Self-Assessing Social and Emotional Instruction and Competencies: A Tool for Teachers

A tool for teachers to assess how they using SEL in their interactions and teaching practices, and a crosswalk between 10 teaching practices that promote SEL and the CLASS, Danielson, and Marzano teaching frameworks.

TAGS Adult SEL mindfulness lesson planning teacher tool social awareness self awareness self management relationship skills responsible decision making SEL competence teacher training continuous improvement PK-12 instructional practices classroom level building community student discipline

Enacting Social-Emotional Learning: Lessons from “Outlier Schools” in California’s CORE Districts

This research brief looks at the commonalities among California middle schools that reported stronger-than-typical social emotional learning outcomes. These 6 characteristics are elaborated into recommendations for school districts supporting SEL at scale.

TAGS model SEL schools implementation plan restorative practices advisory/homeroom community relations instructional practices culture and climate building community out of school student discipline

El Paso SEL Implementation Report

This report on El Paso's first year of SEL implementation answers the questions: How was SEL capacity built? How has SEL impacted climate and perception? How has SEL impacted discipline and attendance? and How do school stakeholders view their implementation success?

TAGS define SEL metrics data dashboards conducting local SEL research implementation evaluation

Districts in Action – Promote SEL for Students

This brief spotlights SEL leaders in California, Virginia, and Texas as they share their stories about how their approach to promoting SEL for students took shape and integrated with stakeholder needs related to inclusion, discipline, and tiered supports.

TAGS restorative practices MTSS family and community engagement

School and Classroom Walkthrough Rubric (Nashville)

Nashville's clear, succinct yet detailed rubric collects data on schoolwide environment, community gatherings, classroom instruction, classroom environment & discipline in order to provide rich, actionable feedback to schools.

TAGS classroom management implementation support define SEL metrics assessment school visit/observation tool data dashboards conducting local SEL research continuous improvement implementation monitoring implementation evaluation culture and climate building community student discipline

SEL-Related Metrics

Nashville's combination of student surveys (Tripod and Safe & Supportive Schools), other data collected by schools and the district, and observable measures of SEL and climate.

TAGS student assessment define SEL metrics assessment conducting local SEL research implementation evaluation

Giving Students a Voice in their Education (video)

This video from Education Week features Washoe County School District's practices to promote student voice and agency in shaping policies and decisions that impact education. Youth voice and leadership is a central part of the social and emotional learning approach in the district.

TAGS videos student leadership youth voice

Edutopia’s How Learning Happens Video Series

Videos that combine the science of brain development and real examples of practices explicitly designed to integrate social & emotional skills in classrooms and schoolwide settings, including trauma-informed practices, co-developed class norms, Socratic circles, makerspaces, student-led conferences and more.

TAGS PLC videos SEL competence student leadership research brief culturally responsive teacher training model SEL schools PK-12 instructional practices classroom level culture and climate building community professional learning building buy-in for SEL youth voice

Calming Areas Overview and Ideas

A Calming Area is a quiet area of the room equipped with soothing materials and furnishings to help a
student de-escalate and / or practice self-management when upset. This short document includes guidelines and photos.

TAGS classroom management teacher tool self management restorative practices classroom level