This cost estimator is based on the budgets of three school districts, ranging in size, that have implemented and staffed for districtwide SEL in different ways. Use this tool to estimate your district’s costs for SEL implementation if you were to use a similar budget model as Austin Independent School District (larger budget), Washoe County School District (mid-sized budget), or Wheaton-Warrenville School District (smaller budget).
Download the Cost Modeling Discussion Guide to use this information to develop your implementation strategy and staffing plan.
Instructions
Fill in the seven values in this table. It is okay to provide estimates — these calculations are intended to provide rough numbers to develop your implementation strategy and estimate the per student costs.
As you fill in the table, three charts below will automatically populate below. Scroll down to see a summary of the implementation strategy and staffing assumptions for each of the three districts.
Social and Emotional Learning Expansion and Coaching
Austin Independent School District phased in SEL over five years. Each year, the district SEL team expanded to support an additional 2-3 vertical teams (high schools and feeder schools) to launch SEL implementation.
If you followed this model, you would have:
Click here to read more about Austin Independent School District’s budget and plan during their initial years of districtwide SEL implementation.
| Cost Model | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Year Four | Year Five | Year Six |
| Leadership Personnel | ||||||
| Specialists | ||||||
| Other costs (with per student factor) | ||||||
| Projected Annual Cost | ||||||
| Projected Number of Students Served | ||||||
| Projected Per Student Cost | ||||||
| Austin Students Served | 14,234 | 35,665 | 49,931 | 64,197 | 85,596 | 85,596 |
| Austin Per Student Cost | $49 | $30 | $29 | $31 | $22 | $18 |
Integrating SEL and Empowering Teacher Leaders
In Washoe County School District, the Coordinator of the Department of Multi-tiered System of Supports serves as the SEL lead, and responsibility for SEL implementation is distributed across several departments. WCSD used the first two years of their implementation to integrate SEL into training on the Common Core, pilot strategies with a dozen schools, build consensus on district SEL standards and accountability measures, and develop an intensive three-day training and ongoing professional learning communities for SEL leadership teams from all schools, which took place in years three and four. After their training, each SEL leadership team then leads training at their schools using modules provided by the district. Once implementing, each school receives additional professional development, coaching, and consultation from a smaller number of District SEL Specialists.
If you followed this model, you would have:
Click here to read more about Washoe County School District’s budget and plan during their initial years of districtwide SEL implementation.
| Cost Model | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Year Four | Year Five | Year Six |
| Leadership Personnel | ||||||
| Specialists | ||||||
| Other costs (with per student factor) | ||||||
| Projected Annual Cost | ||||||
| Projected Number of Students Served | ||||||
| Projected Per Student Cost | ||||||
| Washoe County Students Served | 8,042 | 18,094 | 36,858 | 62,324 | 62,324 | 62,324 |
| Washoe County Per Student Cost | $27 | $41 | $19 | $11 | $9 | $11 |
Weaving SEL into the Fabric of the District
Wheaton-Warrenville School District 200 in Illinois has used a low cost strategy to implement SEL districtwide. SEL implementation is led by the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and an SEL Design Team, with support from other district leaders. Key to their strategy is providing SEL training and support to principals who guide a consistent SEL approach at their schools.
If you followed this model, you would have:
Click here to read more about Wheaton-Warrenville School District’s budget and plan during their initial years of districtwide SEL implementation.
| Cost Model | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Year Four | Year Five | Year Six |
| Leadership Personnel | ||||||
| Specialists | ||||||
| Other costs (with per student factor) | ||||||
| Projected Annual Cost | ||||||
| Projected Number of Students Served | ||||||
| Projected Per Student Cost | ||||||
| Wheaton Warrenville Students Served | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,500 |
| Wheaton Warrenville Per Student Cost | $3 | $3 | $3 | $4 | $6 | $3 |