School-Family Partnership Strategies to Enhance Children’s Social, Emotional, and Academic Growth

This brief provides educators with strategies and examples to build and nurture successful school-family partnerships and create an engaging and supportive climate for learning in school and at home.

TAGS family partnerships SEL partnerships parent leadership research brief culturally responsive community relations family and community engagement

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

SPARK Approach to Positive School Climate

Guide and toolkit for Sacramento's comprehensive school climate model which intertwines principles of restorative disciplinary practices, social and emotional learning, and PBIS. Includes details on school teaming and training.

TAGS PBIS alternatives to suspension anti-bias board policies toolkit relationship skills SEL coaching for staff equity implementation plan restorative practices culture and climate building community student discipline youth voice

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

Using an SEL lens to review the vision and/or mission of a school district or organization

This short activity can be led by a superintendent after a presentation about SEL to board members, or by any leader who wants to facilitate a discussion of how/whether SEL is already positioned within the mission and vision of the district, school, or organization.

TAGS school board integrate with district priorities building buy-in for SEL

SEL 3 Signature Practices introductory video – Out of School Time version

Video describing the SEL 3 Signature Practices (welcoming inclusion activity, engaging practices, and optimistic closure) and how to use them in before and after school settings.

TAGS three signature practices building community out of school

Partnering with School Boards to Promote SEL

Successful districtwide SEL implementation engages board members as partners in the process. This tool includes five considerations for creating robust district and school board partnerships.

TAGS school board

Washoe County School District Communications Plan, 2013

Communications plan covering four months in the early stages of Washoe County School District's SEL implementation rollout; includes plans to communicate via web, in-person presentation, and print resources with WCSD staff, students, families, and the Board of Trustees.

TAGS school board communications community relations

School Leaders Say Plan for Remote Teaching. But Take Care of Students First.

EdSurge interviews school and district leaders who emphasize that student mental health and wellbeing should be the first priority of distance learning.

TAGS COVID-19 distance learning coronavirus

Integrating Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (SEAD): An Action Guide for School Leadership Teams

The guide provides practical advice, curated resources, and action steps for school leaders to improve the student experience, calling out specific equity implications in every section to give these issues priority in planning.

TAGS Adult SEL equity culturally responsive culture and climate