Enacting Social-Emotional Learning: Lessons from “Outlier Schools” in California’s CORE Districts

This research brief looks at the commonalities among California middle schools that reported stronger-than-typical social emotional learning outcomes. These 6 characteristics are elaborated into recommendations for school districts supporting SEL at scale.

TAGS model SEL schools implementation plan restorative practices advisory/homeroom community relations instructional practices culture and climate building community out of school student discipline

Schoolwide Observation Tool for Climate, Classroom Management, and Instruction

Washoe County's 1 page tool for recording observations about how SEL is present in the school and classroom environment, instruction, and interactions, and a sample activity for debriefing observations in a circle setting.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration classroom management model SEL schools school visit/observation tool classroom level culture and climate professional learning

School Climate Survey Compendia

The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments maintains this list of valid and reliable surveys, assessments, and scales of school climate.

TAGS define SEL metrics assessment continuous improvement PK-12 implementation evaluation

School Climate Improvement: What do Teachers Believe, Need and Want?

A research report from the National School Climate Center shows 90% of educators believe that a positive school climate is very important, and educators wanted tools and "roadmaps" for improving school climate.

TAGS journal article SEL coaching for staff culture and climate building buy-in for SEL

Social and Emotional Learning in Out-of-School Time Settings

Brief from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Wallace Foundation providing guidelines and considerations for adapting leading SEL programs to out-of-school settings.

TAGS SEL partnerships research brief evidence-based programs out of school

Key Responsibilities of a School-Family Partnership Lead

This tool from CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL defines the role of a parent leader who is a member of the school's SEL team and coordinator of school-family partnerships. Also available in Spanish.

TAGS family partnerships SEL partnerships toolkit parent leadership culturally responsive communications family and community engagement

In Oakland, Reinventing School Policing

Article and video about Oakland schools' partnership with police and special SEL training for school-based officers.

TAGS community partnerships alternatives to suspension anti-bias SEL partnerships relationship skills restorative practices building community student discipline

Sample School Report – Staff Survey on SEL Implementation

To support schools in their process of SEL continuous improvement, provide school leaders with data that gives insight relevant to their SEL goals and action plans. This report is an example of what a district might provide to a school, summarizing staff responses to CASEL's survey on SEL implementation.

TAGS implementation support continuous improvement implementation monitoring

Finding Common Ground: Connecting Social-Emotional Learning During and Beyond the School Day

Brief from the Partnership for Children and Youth providing language and strategies to support alignment between schools and expanded learning programs to impact SEL, featuring examples from San Francisco Unified School District.

TAGS SEL partnerships research brief MTSS out of school

Metro Nashville Public Schools: Integrating Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (video)

Part of Edutopia's larger feature on Nashville, this video provides an overview of the district's approach to supporting all schools to integrate SEL into school culture and instruction.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration videos model SEL schools building buy-in for SEL