CSI Resources: Vision & Communications

EXTERNAL

National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development: From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope. The final report includes key findings, recommendations, and examples from the multisector coalition whose goal was to build national consensus on the need to integrate SEL and academics into the fabric of American education. Separate, more detailed agendas for policy, research, and practice also are available. (January 2019) NEW

2. COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS

CASEL

Feel free to download, customize, and use with attribution, e.g., “Developed by Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and used with permission.”

Making the Case PowerPoint. Customizable slides summarize the evidence supporting SEL as well as rising demand among teachers, principals, students, employers, parents, and others. Great for making the case. (January 2019) NEW

An update on social and emotional learning outcome research. Article in Kappan magazine summarizes key findings from four meta-analyses on SEL. Helpful for making the case. (November 2018) NEW

CASEL’s District Resource Center provides numerous resources related to communications about SEL, including development of a comprehensive district communications plan. More here. 

Emerging Insights from States’ Efforts to Strengthen SEL. This report shares lessons learned in the first two years of working with states. It includes a section on communications (Key Insight 6, page 14) and how states are customizing messaging. (June 2018)

EXTERNAL

National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development: Communications Resources.  Posters, videos, infographics and other tools that help explain the benefits on SEL. In English and Spanish. (January 2019) NEW

National Commission: Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (SEAD) Fact Sheet. A two-page overview of “fast facts” about SEL from the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development. Useful in communicating about SEL to audiences unfamiliar with what it is. (2018)

3. OPINION SURVEYS

CASEL

Feel free to download, customize, and use with attribution, e.g., “Developed by Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and used with permission.”

Respected: Perspectives of Youth on High School & Social and Emotional Learning. Survey conducted for CASEL finds that current and recent high school students see the benefits of attending schools that emphasize SEL, but majority believe their schools could have done better. Helpful for making the case from youth’s point of view. (November 2018) NEW

The Missing Piece. This report, developed for CASEL by Civic Enterprises and Hart Research Associates, shares results of a national survey of teacher attitudes and experiences with SEL. It is unique in prioritizing the views of teachers. Use it to help make the case for SEL among teachers. (2013)

Ready to Lead: A National Principal Survey on How Social and Emotional Learning Can Prepare Children and Transform Schools. Developed for CASEL by Civic Enterprises and Hart Research Associates, this report presents findings from a national survey of school principals that shows strong support for SEL and a need for resources for implementation and professional learning. (2017)

Employer Support Infographics: Six of the Top 10 skills identified by the World Economic Forum involve social and emotional competence. In another survey, 92% of surveyed executives say skills such as problem-solving and communicating clearly are equal to or more important than technical skills. Companies such as Allstate, Bank of America, and Google are prioritizing SEL.

EXTERNAL

NASBE: Gauging Support for Social and Emotional Skill Building in School. Influential stakeholders in five states view SEL favorably, according to the survey. But they also express reservations about overburdening teachers and labeling students. (April 2019). NEW

McGraw-Hill Education: 2018 Social and Emotional Learning Report. Extensive survey of 1,100-plus educators, administrators, and parents about the professional development, resources, and support for social and emotional learning (SEL) in PreK-12 classrooms. Provides good insights on SEL implementation. (Fall 2018) NEW

Wallace Foundation: Social and Emotional Learning: Feedback and Communications Insights from the Field. Market researchers explore the linguistic landscape of the many terms used to describe nonacademic skills, including SEL. This resource is useful in exploring the numerous terms and concepts related to SEL. (December 2016)

4. STATE EXAMPLES

Many states have developed processes and recommendations for communicating a vision for SEL in their approach to defining SEL competencies/guidelines. See our Frameworks/Competencies/Standards page for examples.

To see how some states are communicating about SEL, check out these sites:

California’s Social and Emotional Learning Guiding Principles. This document builds on the implicit and explicit SEL practices already happening in many schools to promote the intentional use of evidence- and research-based practices to guide decision-making about SEL. It can help to empower local stakeholders to continue to advance SEL in ways that meet the needs of their specific contexts and populations.

Social and Emotional Learning in Wisconsin PreK-12 Schools. This two-page infographic makes a clear case for SEL by showing key data from recent reports and summarizing Wisconsin’s “Pyramid Model” of SEL in action.