More School Climate Improvement News
MDE Social and Emotional Learning Resources Make an Impact in Minnesota and Beyond
Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Guidance and resources developed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) School Safety Technical Assistance Center are not only helping schools in Minnesota, but making an impact throughout the nation as well.
MDE’s Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Guidance and resources are designed to help Minnesota schools put in place proven strategies to develop students’ social and emotional skills, which improve students’ capacity to learn and boost student academic achievement, said MDE School Climate Specialist Heather Hirsch, who led efforts to develop MDE’s SEL resources. Since the release of MDE’s SEL resources, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Rand Foundation and the Aspen Institute have used MDE’s guidance and resources to create national SEL assessment guidance. Read the national SEL Assessment Guide and the accompanying practitioner brief, Choosing and Using SEL Competency Assessments: What Schools and Districts Need to Know. The brief will help schools and districts choose and use SEL competency assessments. Hirsch contributed to both the CASEL assessment guide and brief. She also serves on one of two work groups formed to engage practice leaders in addressing the pressing issues and challenges surrounding SEL assessment and efforts to use data to inspire SEL practices. Out of a field of 200 SEL practitioners who applied, Hirsch was one of 21 people who were selected to serve on the National Practitioners Advisory Group (NPAG).
Hirsch and the other advisory group members are advising, reviewing and engaging with the work of the Establishing Practical Social-Emotional Competence Assessments of Preschool to High School Students project. As a key priority, the project is focused on advancing efforts in establishing practical SEL assessments that are scientifically sound, feasible to use and actionable. In other words, school districts and schools will be able to use data gleaned from the SEL assessments to make decisions.
As one of the original eight states chosen to be part of CASEL’s Collaborating States Initiative (CSI), MDE center staff had access to experts when developing its SEL resources. Today, other states and organizations are looking to MDE’s SEL toolkit of resources as they work to integrate SEL into schools. This includes the Kansas State Department of Education, Orange County Department of Education, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Center on Great Teachers and Leaders, CASEL, NPAG the Aspen Institute and the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization.
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Inaugural Conference on Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Set for October in Chicago
Submit Conference Session Proposals by January 25
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) will host the inaugural conference on Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning on Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 2019, in Chicago. The conference is expected to draw at least 1,200 educators, students, parents, scholars, program developers, policymakers, civic leaders, and funders from around the world. CASEL has asked for sessions, and the deadline for session proposals is Friday, Jan. 25. Read about the conference and propose a session.
Students Want More SEL Skill Development
High school students see the benefits of attending schools that emphasize social and emotional learning (SEL), but more work can be done to help students develop SEL skills, according to a report recently released by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning.
The report, “Respected Perspectives of Youth on High School & Social and Emotional Learning,” came out of the results of a nationally representative survey of 1,300 high school students and recent graduates. Results indicate that about 75 percent of current high school students say attending a school with a strong focus on SEL would help them: improve student/teacher and peer relationships, reduce bullying, learn academic material and real-world skills, prepare them for college and jobs/careers and to give back to their communities. The Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Guidance and resources developed by MDE’s School Safety Technical Assistance Center can help schools put in place proven strategies to develop students’ social and emotional skills, which improve students’ capacity to learn and boost student academic achievement. For technical assistance involving SEL, contact the center, 651-582-8364.
If you’re looking for ways to improve the climate in your school, tune into the School Safety Technical Assistance Center’s School Climate Improvement Webinar Series. The webinars are designed for school district staff, school staff, district leaders and school leaders. School climate improvement is an evidence-based practice that fosters student engagement and school connectedness. It is also the most effective way to support student learning by preventing disruptive behaviors such as bullying and harassment.
Upcoming Webinar:
Special Olympics Minnesota: Creating Inclusive School Communities, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Nick Cedergren from Special Olympics Minnesota is partnering with the center for this webinar. Special Olympics Unified Schools is an education and sports-based strategy powered by an engaged youth community. The program aims to increase athletic and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities, while creating inclusive school communities.
There’s no need to pre-register for the webinars and there's no fee. Log in to Special Olympics Minnesota: Creating Inclusive School Communities shortly before the webinar begins. If you have questions, contact the MDE.SSTAC@state.mn.us, 651-582-8364.
Other Events
February 12: School Safety Technical Assistance Council meeting, 3–5 p.m., Minnesota Department of Education, Conference Center A, Room 13.
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