Implement and reflect on data to continuously improve

The SEL team meets regularly to drive the action plan forward, reflect on new data, and continuously improve SEL implementation to meet established SEL goals and respond to needs that arise.

Focus Area 1A: Continuous Improvement Connections

The SEL team has an important role in leading schoolwide SEL. The team can be strengthened over time using continuous improvement techniques.

Set goals and action steps to promote SEL for students

The core of SEL implementation is promoting students’ social and emotional learning throughout the school day and in partnership with families and communities.  Because student learning is influenced by their interactions across many relationships and environments, promoting student SEL requires thoughtful coordination of strategies across the settings where students live and learn.

Shared Vision

Collaboratively develop a shared vision for schoolwide SEL that is communicated to the entire school community, informs planning and implementation, and is revisited regularly.

Focus Area 1b: Continuous Improvement Connections

The core tool used in this guide is the Schoolwide SEL Implementation Rubric. The rubric provides an overview of a systemic approach to schoolwide SEL, and teams can review it to get a sense of what SEL looks like when it is coordinated across classrooms, the school, homes, and the community.

Foster a Supportive School Climate

Schoolwide norms help operationalize how all staff and students will contribute to a school culture that achieves their shared vision.

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, […]

Using Interactive Pedagogy

When instructional practices actively involve students in making meaning of content, they are more deeply engaged in their learning and have meaningful opportunities to practice SEL skills.

Two-Way Communication

Establish structures to support consistent two-way SEL communications between the SEL team and all stakeholders.

Develop a shared vision

The collaborative process of developing a vision helps foster a sense of shared ownership over SEL. It asks staff, students, families, and community partners to reflect on why they are doing this work and what they want for their students and their school. An SEL vision statement launches the planning process and guides goal setting, […]