Social and Emotional Learning, Explained (video)

Education Week staff writer Evie Blad briefly and humorously explains some of the core ideas of SEL, how districts approach implementation, and the challenge of measuring SEL -- a simple and neutral video summary for district stakeholders beginning to think about SEL implementation.

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

Naperville, IL – One District’s Journey from Commitment to Assessment

Naperville's presentation sharing their SEL implementation timeline, process of curriculum development, and measurement plan.

TAGS define SEL metrics implementation plan assessment continuous improvement implementation evaluation SEL leadership

SEL Assistant Director Job Description

Job description for Austin's assistant director of SEL, managing planning, implementation, and supervision of the SEL department coaches.

TAGS job descriptions hiring practices implementation support human and financial resource alignment SEL leadership

Track Your School’s Progress Toward Implementing Schoolwide SEL

Part of CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL, this page includes a rubric and planner, a walkthrough protocol to look for signs of high-quality implementation, and a staff survey to gather staff perceptions to inform decisions and next steps.

TAGS define SEL metrics assessment school visit/observation tool implementation monitoring

Systems-Wide Reflection: Indicators of Schoolwide and Districtwide SEL

This chart sets CASEL’s Indicators of Districtwide SEL and Indicators of Schoolwide SEL side by side, with links to further information, suggested implementation processes, and examples. District leaders can use this tool to guide reflection, conversation, and planning about how social and emotional learning (SEL) is integrated throughout systems at the school level and at the district level.

Developing Effective Social and Emotional Learning Communication Strategies for your District

This guide from Collaborative Communications will help an SEL team plan a multi-media, 4 step communications outreach plan.

TAGS toolkit media relations communications community relations planning family and community engagement

The District Resource Center: Essentials

The DRC Essentials is a mini-book that contains a printable summary of the 4 focus areas and 14 key activities that make up CASEL's District Theory of Action, along with a set of core planning tools to help districts organize priorities and goals and build a robust action plan to guide their work.

Continuous Improvement for Social and Emotional Learning: Establishing Your Goals (video)

This video summarizes a process for setting clear, measurable goals for SEL. For more information and tools about goal setting, explore:
- for school leaders: https://bit.ly/SELactionplan
- for district leaders: https://bit.ly/districtSELplan

TAGS implementation plan continuous improvement

SEL Inventory – Elementary Interview

This interview protocol was used by evaluators at elementary school sites in Sacramento City to gather baseline data on the implementation of SEL programs and practices. Includes handouts that were provided to interviewees.