CASEL Program Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs

To support educators in selecting a high-quality SEL program, our Program Guide serves as a Consumer report-style product that showcases well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs (pre-kindergarten through high school) and the impact they have on student and/or teacher outcomes.

TAGS evidence-based programs elementary school grades classroom level SEL leadership

Students with Strong Social Skills in Kindergarten More Likely To Thrive As Adults

Short article describing a 20 year study connecting students' social skills in kindergarten to their well-being as adults.

TAGS reading lists - staff SEL competence research brief evidence-based programs district SEL expertise building buy-in for SEL

CDI District Standards

Links to SEL standards adopted by 9 districts within the Collaborating Districts Initiative.

TAGS SEL standards SEL competence middle school grades high school grades elementary school grades PK-12

Edutopia’s How Learning Happens Video Series

Videos that combine the science of brain development and real examples of practices explicitly designed to integrate social & emotional skills in classrooms and schoolwide settings, including trauma-informed practices, co-developed class norms, Socratic circles, makerspaces, student-led conferences and more.

TAGS PLC videos SEL competence student leadership research brief culturally responsive teacher training model SEL schools PK-12 instructional practices classroom level culture and climate building community professional learning building buy-in for SEL youth voice

Districtwide SEL Program and Initiative Inventory

This tool is designed to help district social and emotional learning (SEL) teams learn about past and current SEL-related work being implemented across the district. In combination with the Districtwide SEL Implementation Rubric, this tool serves as a needs and resources assessment to bridge the gap between the district's shared vision and long-term SEL goals and an implementation plan.

TAGS needs and resources assessment implementation plan continuous improvement planning

2011 to 2021: 10 Years of SEL in U.S. School Districts

Ten years ago, CASEL began collaborating with school district SEL leaders to explore the question - Is it possible to implement SEL systemically to positively impact students across a large urban school district? Not only did districts demonstrate that it was possible, but every district has deepened and expanded SEL implementation since joining the collaborative. This anniversary report details 6 key insights from these districts about how they were able to sustain SEL over the long term, even as the people and contexts within the district changed.

Fellowship Spotlight – Spreading the Word About SEL

SEL Fellow and district leader in Florida Daniel Shapiro describes the effort to communicate about the what, why, and how of SEL in a persuasive and accessible way. Visit https://casel.org/series/sel-fellows-briefs/ for more briefs from SEL Fellows.

SEL Alignment Tools

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction invited SEL program providers to share crosswalks to show the alignment between their evidence-based programs and Wisconsin's SEL standards. This page includes information about each program, alignment charts, and webinars to introduce program consultants.

TAGS SEL standards evidence-based programs

Develop a Long-term SEL Implementation Roadmap

This tool provides a template and step-by-step instructions to help district SEL teams develop a three to five-year roadmap for SEL implementation to achieve the district’s long-term SEL goals and shared vision.

TAGS define SEL metrics implementation plan planning

What Is SEL? A Two-Page Summary

This example from a school division in southeastern Virginia provides a quick and accessible look at the 5 SEL competencies, benefits of SEL, and ways school staff support SEL.

TAGS communications community relations building buy-in for SEL