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

Selecting an Evidence-Based Program

This tool offers guiding questions and a rating table template to determine whether an evidence-based program answers the needs of your students, families, teachers, school, and district.

TAGS culturally responsive implementation plan evidence-based programs planning SEL leadership

What Does Evidence-Based Instruction in Social and Emotional Learning Actually Look Like in Practice?

This brief answers the question: What do school staff actually do in the classroom and school to help students achieve the goals laid out in SEL standards? Describes 4 approaches that together form a comprehensive plan.

TAGS SEL standards research brief implementation plan evidence-based programs instructional practices

Partnering with Community Organizations to Support SEL

This tool from CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL describes 3 main ways schools can partner with community organizations: by bringing partners into the school, linking families with their resources, and organizing community-based experiences for students.

TAGS community partnerships SEL partnerships toolkit MTSS SEL leadership

American Institutes for Research Conditions for Learning Survey

Contact information to use this no-cost survey, appropriate for grades 2-12. It gathers students' views on climate, support, challenge and expectations, and social and emotional skills.

TAGS student assessment define SEL metrics assessment continuous improvement implementation evaluation culture and climate

Partners in Education: A Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships

A framework for creating the right conditions for engagement and designing scaffolded family engagement initiatives that build capacity for both educators and families to partner to support students. Includes 3 school and district case studies.

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

Sample SEL Integrated Lesson Plans for each Grade Band

Sample lesson plans from a variety of grade levels and subject areas that integrate SEL through instructional practices, discussion prompts, student reflection, and routines for interaction.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration Science english/language arts math social studies lesson planning teacher tool toolkit CCSS teacher training PK-12 instructional practices youth voice

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

Teaching Restorative Practices with Classroom Circles

San Francisco's guide focused on the use of Circles as a proactive measure to build trust and community in a classroom. Includes sample activities and lesson plans for introducing students to restorative practices.

TAGS teacher tool toolkit reading lists - staff culturally responsive teacher training restorative practices advisory/homeroom instructional practices classroom level culture and climate building community professional learning youth voice

Oakland’s Teacher Growth and Development System

Oakland's teacher evaluation and growth framework includes goals around equity, classroom community, growth mindset, culturally responsive teaching, student collaboration/communication/& choice.

TAGS teacher evaluation board policies human and financial resource alignment equity instructional practices classroom level integrate with district priorities