Policy

CASEL’s policy team works to ensure that education policies at the federal, state, and local levels support evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) so that more students have access to safe, engaging, and effective learning environments.

Federal and State Advocacy

In a time of rapid change, it’s critical to track legislation, regulations, executive actions, court decisions, and agency guidance that affect schools, students, families, and SEL implementation. The team supports our ability to respond to new developments in federal guidance about SEL, funding, and state legislation that could support or limit or support SEL implementation. 

CASEL also encourages policies that support and advance SEL by building relationships with supportive lawmakers, participating in webinars and panels to discuss the need for policies supportive of SEL, and through National SEL Week, our signature annual advocacy event that raises awareness about SEL among legislators and for the wider public through:

• The annual introduction of a National SEL Week Senate Resolution
• A congressional briefing
• Visiting the offices of members of Congress to discuss the importance of social and emotional learning
• Bringing student voice to Capitol Hill

Policy Scans

We also conduct research and provide a bird’s-eye view of SEL policy work across the country through our SEL State Scan, which provides a national picture of SEL momentum to help identify patterns and highlight key policies states should adopt to create those conditions for success. One example of our past work in this area is our 2022 CASEL State Scan. 

Technical Assistance for States

Our centerpoint for supporting states is the Collaborating States Initiative, a community of practice dedicated to promoting the development of supportive state education policies and knowledge sharing among state leaders. Learn more about the Collaborating States Initiative. 

Coalition-Building

CASEL serves as the founder and facilitating member of the Leading With SEL Coalition, which includes nearly 40 organizations that represent key voices in education, all of which share a vision for a high-quality education that includes SEL. The Coalition aligns advocacy and messaging across organizations to elevate shared policy priorities and strengthen support for SEL at the federal, state, and local levels.

To stay informed about SEL and education policy, subscribe to Connections, CASEL’s monthly newsletter.