What is SEL and why should we be concerned about it?

Originally aired: June 22, 2022

Resources from show:

According to CASEL, At the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, we envision all children and adults as self-aware, caring, responsible, engaged, and lifelong learners who work together to achieve their goals and create a more inclusive, just world. How? Through a commitment to SEL.

“Today, 27 states have adopted K-12 SEL competencies and all 50 have adopted pre-K SEL competencies. Learn more in our 2022 CASEL State Scan. Interested in what your state is doing? Click on a state in the interactive map below to learn more about SEL policies in that community.

Hawaii: https://casel.org/systemic-implementation/sel-policy-at-the-state-level/#HI

Free Standing Competencies/Standards: Hawaii’s Early Learning and Development Standards (2014) include SEL competencies/standards for children birth to kindergarten. The Hawaii Department of Education has developed K-12 Nā Hopena A‘o Statements HĀ: BREATH (2015).

Guidance/Resources: The Hawaii Department of Education provides resources on SEL in their HĀ: BREATH framework, including the HĀ: Assessment Guide.

State of Hawaii Data Book: http://arch.k12.hi.us/reports/hidoe-data-book
Take a look at page 5 where it shows the scores for Hawaii’s students.  Note the drop.  This is significant because proponents put SEL ahead of academics (i.e., a student’s behavior, values, beliefs and mindset are considered more important)