Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Why It’s Important and Where to Start
With all the new district initiatives, budget cutbacks, staffing issues, and community concerns, investing in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) may not be top of your “to-Do” list. But here’s why it matters:
Research over the past two decades consistently shows that social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have measurable, positive effects on student outcomes. SEL programs have been shown to improve not only social-emotional skills, attitudes, behaviors, but also academic performance, graduation rates, and long-term success in school. These findings are especially meaningful for high-risk students and can translate into substantial, practical improvements in school climate and individual development.
Did you know that OSPI has proposed SEL standards which are based on the Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL) Core SEL Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Self-Efficacy and Social Engagement? If you have a Districtwide SEL program that aligns with these standards – congratulations! This is the basis of tiered supports for all your students and an essential component of inclusionary practices. Throughout the year, we’ll give you some ideas about how you can build upon your current system to support your students and how you can weave general education instruction, building practices, specially designed instruction and special education services into your SEL program.
Your district doesn’t yet have a District-wide SEL program? Don’t let that stop you; you can start at the program, school, or even classroom level. WASA has created a helpful document (Best Practices in Social Emotional Learning) to get your SEL program started or improve upon the program you’ve started. To help districts select an appropriate SEL program, CASEL has created program guides that describe and rate dozens of available SEL programs.
Source:
Hanover Research. (2019, July). Best practices in social-emotional learning. Prepared for WASA School Information and Research Service. Retrieved from https://www.wasa-oly.org/WASA/images/WASA/1.0%20Who%20We%20Are/1.4.1.6%20SIRS/Download_Files/LI%202017/Sept%20-%20Best%20Practices%20in%20Social-Emotional%20Learning.pdf
