Advancing Equity Through Social and Emotional Learning

Overview 

Wisconsin’s State Superintendent’s Equity Stakeholder Council (Council) studied social and emotional learning (SEL) through an equity lens from January to June of 2018. This Council, comprised of education and community leaders committed to equity in education, sees great promise in SEL as one strategy to help close the persistent achievement gaps that remain a part of Wisconsin’s educational landscape.

After a deep examination of salient research, school visits, and conversations with national leaders, the Council recommends all districts and schools consider the strategies presented in Advancing Equity through Social Emotional Learning to implement high-quality SEL services and systems, keep equity at the forefront of their work, and maintain our shared commitment to disrupting systemic educational inequities across Wisconsin. The strategies are organized into four domains—student experience, district and school engagement, coherence and alignment, and community partnerships—and include a general belief statement for each of the corresponding domains.

The Council’s hope is that districts and schools use these strategies as they plan and work to improve the educational experiences for all students, remove barriers to student success, and ensure educational equity throughout all educational systems in Wisconsin.

Equity and SEL: What Does This Mean?

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning's (CASEL) 2018 February 5th webinar with Rob Jagers shares some of the ways in which CASEL is advancing work on equity and SEL.

Minnesota Great Lakes Equity Center SEL Implementation Guidance