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To: School Counselors, School Social Workers, School Psychologists and other Student Services Personnel
From: Colt Gill, Oregon Department of Education Director
Date: June 20, 2023
Re: Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework and Standards Adopted
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Dear Comprehensive School Counseling Program Personnel,
As we close out the school year, we want to thank you for another year of learning and service to students, staff, and families in your community. The beginning of summer is a time for celebration, reflection, and pause as we also look ahead to planning and preparing for the upcoming school year.
We are excited to share Oregon's Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework & Standards, adopted by the State Board of Education on Thursday, June 15th. Social and Emotional Learning is an integral part of teaching, learning, and human development. “It is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” (CASEL, n.d.)
Benefits of Social and Emotional Learning
The benefits of social and emotional learning are well-researched, with evidence demonstrating that an education that promotes SEL leads to positive outcomes for students, adults, and school communities by:
- Improving students’ academic achievement with higher levels of “school functioning,” as reflected by their grades, test scores, attendance, engagement, and homework completion;
- Contributing to healthy well-being and safe schools with a decrease in emotional distress, depression, anxiety, bullying and discipline problems;
- Developing skills that promote future readiness with higher graduation rates and post- secondary enrollment and completion; and
- Demonstrating that focusing on educator social and emotional competence can also improve teacher well-being.
Oregon’s Transformative SEL Framework & Standards
Oregon’s Transformative SEL Framework and Standards help build capacity for strengthening school cultures that center equity, and support student and adult well-being through a systemic approach. The framework and standards create coherence and clarity for Transformative SEL in Oregon that:
Background of Oregon’s Transformative SEL Framework and Standards
Passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2021, with support from the Governor’s Racial Justice Council, community-based organizations, and the Oregon Department of Education, House Bill 2166 directed the Oregon Department of Education, in consultation with the Early Learning Division and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, to convene an advisory group to develop and bring forward proposed SEL standards, and an SEL framework for K-12 students. The legislation also established that the State Board of Education adopt the SEL standards and framework no later than September 15, 2023 and shall require school districts to implement the standards and framework no later than July 1, 2024.
Implementation and Next Steps
ODE staff will provide guidance, resources and other supportive materials for implementation, and further communication will be forthcoming. Materials will be posted at Oregon’s Social & Emotional Learning webpage.
Some next steps you can take are:
- Read and familiarize yourself with the standards and framework.
- Use this Overview document to begin discussions with your counseling teams and leadership.
Please email questions regarding Oregon’s Transformative SEL Framework and Standards to ODE.SEL@ode.oregon.gov.
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