Guiding Principles – A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline

These guiding principles from the U.S. Department of Education are organized around concepts of creating positive school climate, providing evidence-based supports, promoting social and emotional learning, providing training on positive engagement with students and equitable practices, and adopting an instructional approach to school discipline.

TAGS alternatives to suspension anti-bias student discipline

SEL Action Guide – District Professional Learning Offerings

This example from a school division in southeastern Virginia shows how they planned and provided professional learning for all district staff to strengthen understanding and investment, and later build skills, collaborate, and apply SEL in their context. The original version of this document included links for their staff to sign up for in-person learning or experience an online module.

TAGS staff onboarding teacher training professional learning

Planning Professional Learning for Evidence-Based Programs

This tool from CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL helps a team answer important questions, assign tasks, and set a timeline to provide initial training and ongoing support for any evidence-based SEL program.

TAGS paraprofessionals security staff budgeting implementation support toolkit counselors teacher training implementation plan evidence-based programs out of school professional learning

Planning Professional Learning for Evidence-Based Programs

This tool from CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL helps a team answer important questions, assign tasks, and set a timeline to provide initial training and ongoing support for any evidence-based SEL program.

Social and Emotional Learning in the Daily Life of Classrooms

Facilitator guide and materials for a 6 hour session aimed at state and district leaders, outlining ways to integrate an SEL emphasis into policy and planning, draw connections between SEL and instructional priorities, and support school leaders to guide teachers to reflect on their own teaching practices and SEL competencies.

TAGS Adult SEL CCSS professional learning integrate with district priorities district SEL expertise

Oregon’s Recommended Criteria for Adoption of Transformative SEL Materials and Practices

As you work with your community to develop unique, local criteria for selecting an evidence-based program, the Oregon Department of Education's recommendations can provide a model, especially when a commitment to equity and culturally responsive pedagogy are at the forefront.

TAGS implementation support evidence-based programs

Washoe County SEL Needs Assessment Report

This baseline report shared by Washoe County includes findings and recommendations from a districtwide program inventory, counselor focus groups, student SEL skills assessments, school climate surveys, and behavior-related data.

TAGS human and financial resource alignment counselors parent leadership student leadership assessment evidence-based programs data dashboards conducting local SEL research PK-12 implementation monitoring implementation evaluation MTSS student discipline youth voice

Practices of Promise: Exploring Ways to Share the Power Toward Equitable Decision-Making in Portland Public Schools

How can a school district select an SEL program that aligns with its commitment to equity and social justice through an inclusive process that also demonstrates and deepens that commitment? This brief describes Portland's approach that brought many voices to the table, shared decision-making power, built trust, and centered the district's equity work.

TAGS evidence-based programs family and community engagement youth voice

Relationships First: Creating Connections that Help Young People Thrive

Young people deeply benefit from developmental relationships with a variety of people including program leaders from community organizations, mentors, parents, teachers, and friends. This resource lays out a framework for building strong relationships with young people, and concludes with 55 concrete ideas.

TAGS family partnerships community partnerships relationship skills advisory/homeroom

Oakland Mills Scholars SEL Integration (Video)

A program collaboration between the district and a college that uses teacher collaborative inquiry to understand the intersection of SEL and academic learning.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration videos SEL partnerships lesson planning teacher training instructional practices classroom level building community integrate with district priorities