A Case for School Connectedness

Short article from Educational Leadership describing the impact of strong school connectedness on academic achievement, behavior, absenteeism, and school completion, as well as and practices that enhance it.

TAGS bullying prevention mental health journal article relationship skills research brief advisory/homeroom middle school grades high school grades culture and climate building community integrate with district priorities

Federal funds that can be leveraged to support academic, social, and emotional learning

List of federal funding sources across the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which states and districts can leverage to support students’ academic, social, and emotional learning (August 2024)

TAGS budgeting fundraising human and financial resource alignment

Austin’s MAPS Course for Freshmen (video)

MAPS (Methods for Academic and Personal Success) is a credit-bearing course for freshmen at Austin High School and other district high schools to support the transition into high school by teaching students how to organize for success, manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, build and maintain positive relationships, and other critical social and emotional learning and student success skills.

TAGS advisory/homeroom high school grades college and career readiness

Families as Partners Manual

Families as Partners (FAP) is an Austin ISD initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation with the goal of creating sustainable and effective school-family partnerships for academic success. The initiative is grounded in the principle that authentic engagement flourishes when families and faculty build trusting relationships and see each other as equal partners.

TAGS family partnerships parent leadership

The Academic Impact of Responsiveness to Student Voice

A study of Chicago Public Schools found that academic performance is related to schools' responsiveness to student concerns. This research brief shares how outcomes were measured and why these may be connected.

TAGS student leadership research brief youth voice

District SEL Best Practices: Cultivating Shared Leadership for Schoolwide SEL

A district SEL leader from Austin, TX describes their leadership structure and approach to supporting SEL implementation through district SEL specialists who provide coaching and training for cohorts of school-based SEL leaders who in turn work with an SEL steering committee that is representative of the broader school community. This model has been shown to significantly improve implementation.

TAGS implementation support SEL coaching for staff implementation plan

El Paso SEL Implementation Report

This report on El Paso's first year of SEL implementation answers the questions: How was SEL capacity built? How has SEL impacted climate and perception? How has SEL impacted discipline and attendance? and How do school stakeholders view their implementation success?

TAGS define SEL metrics data dashboards conducting local SEL research implementation evaluation

Snapshot of SEL in Washoe County

Washoe's 2 page snapshot flyer defines SEL, summarizes the impact SEL has had in Washoe schools, and describes key SEL implementation priorities.

TAGS fundraising SEL overview implementation plan communications community relations conducting local SEL research building buy-in for SEL family and community engagement

The Neuroscience of SEL (Video)

20 minute lecture by Richard Davidson on the neuroscience of emotions and emotional response, and how SEL trains and changes the brain. Best for educating SEL leaders or building buy in with audiences looking for a scientific basis for SEL.

TAGS Adult SEL mental health videos research brief teacher training evidence-based programs professional learning district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL

SEL Central Office Professional Learning Community Agenda

An agenda from Sacramento's SEL professional learning community for central office staff to better align district departments to improve adult practices and student SEL outcomes.

TAGS Adult SEL implementation support PLC SEL partnerships professional learning district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL