Strengths and Needs Inventory: Vision, Priority, and SEL Alignment

This initial activity walks your team through a high-level inventory of your district’s social and emotional learning (SEL) strengths and needs. The goal is to obtain clarity about your district’s long-term vision, current district priorities and how SEL aligns with them.

Chicago Student Code of Conduct (video)

This short video helps students and their families understand Chicago's student code of conduct and highlights the district's SEL-infused approach to student discipline.

TAGS alternatives to suspension restorative practices student discipline

The Impact of Social and Emotional Learning (video)

The research is clear: SEL is essential for academic and life success. In this video, district and CASEL leadership highlight data that demonstrates improvements in attendance, drop out rates, suspensions, expulsions, and academic growth.

TAGS videos define SEL metrics continuous improvement building buy-in for SEL

SEL Toolkit for Parent Champions

A quick guide for parents and caregivers to share accurate information in support of SEL, including tools to ground conversations in facts and data, dispel misinformation, and advocate for high-quality SEL.

TAGS family partnerships parent leadership

Measuring SEC: How to select a tool for assessing student social and emotional competencies

Use this tool to determine if a social and emotional competency assessment will meet your data needs (as opposed to a mental health screener), and prepare a list of questions to ask when choosing a high-quality assessment for your district.

Social and Emotional Learning Practices: A Self-Reflection Tool for Afterschool Staff

Part of AIR's Beyond the Bell series, this tool aimed at out-of-school time staff includes reflections on social practices, program implementation practices, and personal SEL competencies, built upon the framework of 10 practices that promote social and emotional learning.

TAGS SEL partnerships reading lists - staff SEL competence implementation plan conducting local SEL research continuous improvement out of school professional learning

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

Restorative Practices: Fostering Healthy Relationships & Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools

Definitions and demonstrations of the impact of restorative practices with guidance for implementing at the classroom and school level, sponsored by the NEA and AFT.

TAGS classroom management alternatives to suspension security staff toolkit social awareness relationship skills responsible decision making reading lists - staff equity restorative practices classroom level culture and climate building community student discipline

MTSS SEL School Model

Chicago Public Schools' model for how social and emotional learning should be integrated into a multi-tiered system of supports for all students.

TAGS MTSS

Practices of Promise: Exploring Ways to Share the Power Toward Equitable Decision-Making in Portland Public Schools

How can a school district select an SEL program that aligns with its commitment to equity and social justice through an inclusive process that also demonstrates and deepens that commitment? This brief describes Portland's approach that brought many voices to the table, shared decision-making power, built trust, and centered the district's equity work.

TAGS evidence-based programs family and community engagement youth voice