Updated February 2023
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Social and emotional learning (SEL) has a powerful combination of strong evidence and strong demand.
This powerpoint deck can help you share accurate information and make the case for SEL.
Developed by CASEL, the leader in SEL research, policy, and implementation, the deck cites research and data from various credible sources and disciplines.
Think about a young person in your life…
What do you hope they will learn and/or be able to do to be successful in their future?
What is Social and Emotional Learning? (SEL)
Social and emotional learning is an integral part of education and human development.
SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to:
What is Social and Emotional Learning? (SEL)
Social and
Emotional
Learning Framework
Fosters knowledge, skills, and attitudes across five areas of competence and four key settings
SELF-
AWARENESS
Understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.
Manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.
Understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds.
Establish and maintain healthy, supportive relationships and effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals/groups.
Make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.
SELF-
MANAGEMENT
SOCIAL
AWARENESS
RELATIONSHIP
SKILLS
RESPONSIBLE
DECISION-MAKING
Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
SELF-AWARENESS
Understanding our emotions and thoughts, and how they influence our actions.
Examples:
SELF-MANAGEMENT
Managing one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations to achieve goals and aspirations.
Examples:
SOCIAL AWARENESS
Understanding the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds.
Examples:
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
Establishing and maintaining healthy, supportive relationships and effectively navigating settings with diverse groups.
Examples:
RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING
Making caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.
Examples:
@caselorg | #WhatisSEL
Social and
Emotional
Learning Key Settings
The skills are developed through the learning experiences and interactions that students have in all of the places they live and learn.
CLASSROOMS
Students spend the majority of their school day in classrooms, and these spaces are at the heart of the learning process.
In classrooms, students can learn and practice SEL through explicit instruction, trusting relationships, and academic integration.
SCHOOLS
In partnership with families and communities, schools play a central role in supporting young people’s social and emotional development.
From the cafeteria to the hallway to the playground, students have opportunities to practice and reinforce SEL.
FAMILY AND CAREGIVERS
Families are children’s first teachers and essential to promoting SEL.
When educators and families work together, they can build strong connections with each other that reinforce social and emotional skills.
COMMUNITIES
Students thrive when they’re supported by a network of adults working together.
Community organizations play a key role, partnering with schools and families to extend the experience of SEL through trusting relationships and enriching out-of-school time experiences.
ACADEMICS
MENTAL HEALTH
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SCHOOL CLIMATE
SEL programs appear to have as great a long-term impact on academic growth as has been found for programs designed specifically to support academic learning.”
Researchers Joseph Mahoney, Joseph Durlak, and Roger Weissberg
In An Update on Social and Emotional Learning Outcome Research, 2018
Hundreds of independent studies consistently demonstrate:
Social and emotional learning benefits students.
RESEARCH CONFIRMS
Social and emotional learning supports academic achievement.
Across PreK-12, SEL in schools has consistent, positive impact on student academic achievement.
Brain science shows that social, emotional, and cognitive development are intertwined and integral to academic learning and success.
Academic instruction that makes social and emotional connections results in deeper, longer-term learning.
Years after students participated in SEL, their academic performance was an average of 13 percentile points higher than peers.
RESEARCH CONFIRMS
Social and emotional learning improves student well-being.
Students participating in SEL at school had:
Social and emotional learning can also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in the short term.
Early Intervention Foundation, 2021
RESEARCH CONFIRMS
Social and emotional learning builds skills that are key to future readiness.
Students with stronger social and emotional skills have been more likely to reach milestones including:
Jones et al., 2015; Coleman & DeLeire, 2003; Heckman et al., 2006
RESEARCH CONFIRMS
Social and emotional learning improves school climate and safety.
Students participating in SEL report:
Cipriano et. al, 2023; Synder et al, 2011; Durlak et al., 2011
SEL in schools also contributes to reductions in bullying, cyber-bullying, name-calling, and sexual harassment.
Smith & Low, 2013; Espelage et al, 2015
CITE
Follow-up studies show that after SEL programs end, students continue to show significant improvements in…
Research confirms: Social and emotional learning
has long-term benefits.
DID YOU KNOW?
Durlak et. al, 2022; Durlak et. al, 2017; Sklad et. al, 2012
Benefits lasted 6 months to 18 years and were consistent across socioeconomic background, race, and school location.
Kindergarteners with strong social and emotional skills were more likely to reach educational milestones…
Research confirms: Social and emotional learning
is linked to young adult outcomes.
DID YOU KNOW?
More likely to:
Jones, Greenberg, and Crowley, 2015
Less likely to:
Research confirms: Social and emotional learning
is a wise financial investment.
DID YOU KNOW?
The average return on investment for six evidence-based programs is 11 to 1, according to cost-benefit research.
This means for every dollar invested in SEL, there is an $11 return from costs not incurred.
Belfield, Bowden, Klapp, Levin, Shand, and Zander, 2015.
Research confirms: Social and emotional learning
benefits adults, too.
DID YOU KNOW?
Teachers who teach SEL to students also felt more effective at managing behaviors and had lower levels of job-related anxiety.
Educators with strong social and emotional competence…
Brackett et al., 2008; Brackett et al., 2010; Greenberg et. al, 2016; Jennings & Greenberg, 2009
Our generation’s embrace of social, emotional, and academic learning in schools is undeniable and unambiguous: Learning does not happen in a vacuum.”
Aspen Institute National Youth Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning
Recent surveys confirm: There is broad, consistent support
for social and emotional learning.
OF PARENTS SAY SEL IS IMPORTANT
IN SCHOOLS
Pew Research Center 2022
93%
83%
OF TEACHERS
SAY SEL IMPROVES ACADEMICS
Education Week Research 2022
OF EMPLOYERS SAY SEL SKILLS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS TECHNICAL SKILLS
Wall Street Journal, 2015
92%
75%
OF HIGH SCHOOLERS SAY SEL WOULD HELP THEM PERSONALLY
CASEL, 2018
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Support Social and Emotional Learning
EDUCATORS
Support Social and Emotional Learning
EMPLOYERS
Support Social and Emotional Learning
YOUNG PEOPLE
Support Social and Emotional Learning
81% of Republicans
whose child’s school provides social and emotional learning say educators should do more or are doing the proper amount of SEL instruction.
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
for Social and
Emotional Learning
79% of Democrats
whose child’s school provides social and emotional learning say educators should do more or are doing the proper amount of SEL instruction.
Social and Emotional Learning
advances urgent priorities in education.
Academic recovery
Mental health
School safety
Future readiness
Social and Emotional Learning helps foster “protective factors” to mitigate the effects of mental health challenges:
The beating heart of effective social and emotional learning programs are relationships—and strong relationships undergird stable mental health.”
Robert F. Sherman
Social and Emotional
Learning
SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION
Social and Emotional
Learning
How to spot and respond to misinformation
When you hear a false tradeoff, such as:
🅧 Claims that SEL will harm other priorities, such as academics, are inherently flawed.
Example: “SEL is a distraction that takes time away from academics.”
Respond by sharing:
✅ There is no either/or between SEL and academics.
Research shows clearly that SEL enhances academic achievement, mental wellness, and long-term outcomes.
Social and Emotional
Learning
How to spot and respond to misinformation
When you hear a conspiracy theory, such as:
🅧 Sensational claims such as “psychological manipulation” or “indoctrination” may grab headlines, but they aren’t based in reality.
Example: “Schools use SEL to groom children into LGBTQ lifestyles.”
Respond by sharing:
✅ That’s not at all what I’m seeing in my child’s school
(or in any school).
Here’s what SEL really looks like in actual classrooms and
schools… (share a concrete example).
.
Social and Emotional
Learning
How to spot and respond to misinformation
When you hear someone cherry-picking, such as:
🅧 Random anecdotes and out-of-context quotes are often grossly misleading and inauthentic.
Example: “This SEL lesson is teaching children [an
outrageous claim].”
Respond by sharing:
✅ That’s not SEL.
SEL helps students develop skills to reflect on and communicate their own perspectives, listen to others with vastly different viewpoints, and work together toward common ground.
Social and Emotional
Learning
SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION
When addressing misconceptions, it helps to describe what a school with SEL looks like.
Social and Emotional
Learning
SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION
Now imagine a school without SEL, where:
Free, 60-minute online module
Guide to Schoolwide SEL
Guidance for implementing SEL throughout a school
schoolguide.casel.org
District Resource Center
Guidance and resources for implementing SEL districtwide
drc.casel.org
SEL Workshop Series
For those implementing SEL schoolwide, CASEL offers a virtual workshop series.
It can be taken live online or self-paced on-demand
https://schoolguide.casel.org/sel-workshops/
Guide to SEL Programs
Process for selecting a program, including an evidence-based list
pg.casel.org
State Resource Center
Curated library of resources and tools for state policymakers