Evidence-based SEL program: Programs grounded in research and principles of child and adolescent development, and scientifically evaluated and shown to produce positive student outcomes. CASEL identifies high-quality evidence-based programs as those that are well-designed to systematically promote students’ social and emotional competence, provide opportunities for practice, offer multi-year programming, and provide high-quality training and ongoing implementation support. School Guide + Program Guide
Engage all members of the school community in foundational learning opportunities to help them understand their role in schoolwide SEL.
Reflect on Personal Social and Emotional Skills
Carol Dweck is a psychologist who researches achievement and success. Her major finding is that those who have a “growth mindset”—those who believe that their abilities are developed through dedication and hard work, not innate talent—are more likely to be resilient when things get tough and persevere to achieve goals (Dweck, 2006).
In partnership with schools and districts, CASEL has documented, field-tested, and refind a strategic, collaborative process for schoolwide SEL
Define Team Member Roles and Responsibilities
To ensure meetings are productive, it’s a good idea to define team roles and responsibilities, and strive to share work equitably.
Review your current level of implementation, identify needs and resources, set goals, and develop concrete action steps for SEL implementation.
Share learning from this year and plan for next year
Use summative data to evaluate progress toward goals, report out on successes and challenges, reflect with staff, students, and families, and establish new or updated goals and action steps for the year to come.
Build foundational support by establishing an SEL team, fostering SEL awareness, and developing a shared vision.
Set goals and action steps to cultivate SEL for adults
Supporting adults to engage in their own social and emotional learning, collaborating on strategies to promote SEL, and modeling SEL throughout the school is an essential part of schoolwide SEL. More than just professional learning, the SEL team should also take steps to foster a supportive work environment where SEL is part of the way […]
Involve the full school community
Decisions about why and how to implement SEL should be made with the input of the broader school community. Lay the foundations for strong buy-in by ensuring all understand what SEL is and how it connects to their role and what they value. Establish two-way communication structures to invite perspectives, ideas, and feedback from staff, […]
Establish a highly-functioning SEL team that’s representative of the school community and includes students, families, and community groups in decision-making processes.