SEL

For many students, classroom instruction is not enough to ensure success in school. Hunger, homelessness, worry or sadness over a difficult family situation can interfere with a student’s readiness to learn. To create schools that fully support students and improve learning outcomes, , we need to break down barriers to learning by building a system—guided by proven practices—that harnesses the power of both school- and community-based resources.

We've already discussed the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) in schools and its link to improved academic performance and life outcomes. Perhaps you’ve had a chance to read Rennie’s Social-Emotional Learning: Opportunities for Massachusetts, Lessons for the Nation report or our Condition of Education Action Guide, which focuses on SEL. By now, you’ve heard so many within the education community call for a focus on the needs of the whole child. We all know how important SEL is, now it’s time to take action.