Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Contact Information

Social Emotional Learning

Tammy Bolen

SEL/Title IV Assistant Director
360-701-0575

Salina James

Administrative Assistant 3
360-725-6078

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process through which individuals build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships, and making responsible decisions that support success in school and in life. 

Washington SEL Framework

The Washington SEL Framework was developed by the SEL Advisory Committee under direction of SB 5082, to promote and expand social emotional learning across Washington state.

Guiding principles, the essential elements are key implementation practices that lead to successful SEL implementation and sustainability. These components are critical to ensuring that SEL efforts in schools stay true to Washington State’s commitment.

Three Essential Elements

  • Create the conditions to support student SEL through climate and culture.
  • SEL requires collaboration among families, educators, community partners, and young people in its design and implementation. 
  • Build adult capacity.

Four Guiding Principles

  • Equity: Each child receives what they need to develop their full potential. 
  • Culturally sustaining: Culture is viewed as a resource for learning, not a barrier.
  • Universal design: Learning differences are planned for and accommodated. 
  • Trauma-informed: Knowledge of the effects of trauma is integrated into policy and practice. 

SEL Advisory Committee

The Washington state Legislature authorized the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Advisory Committee to continue to develop statewide support to advance and promote SEL.

SEL Highlights

Every other school year, school districts must use one of the professional learning days funded under RCW 28A.415.445 to train staff on SEL or SEL-related topics. For more information on this requirement, please review the Professional Learning Day Guidance. This menu of professional learning options and resources was co-developed with over 30 district leaders, educators, instructional professionals, coaches, and content experts. 

SEL Resources

Review SEL resources to help implement social emotional learning, including equity tools, learning activities, and related briefs.

From September to December 2018, Education Northwest conducted a landscape scan of social and emotional learning (SEL) activities across Washington state. The purpose of this landscape scan was to provide the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the legislatively appointed SEL Indicators Workgroup with information regarding activities and trends related to SEL for K-12 students across the state. 

Washington SEL Standards, Implementation, Alignments, and Crosswalks

 The Washington Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards and benchmarks were developed and adopted in January 2020 through the lens of four guiding principles: equity, universal design, culturally sustaining, and trauma-informed practices. SEL implementation is crucial in building SEL in education and providing whole-child support for our students. This section provides a variety of documents that can help walk through the SEL implementation process and tools to integrate SEL into academic content areas. 

SEL Implementation is crucial in whole-child support for our students. The section includes the adopted SEL Standards, Benchmarks, & Indicators, Implementation resources, Alignment & Crosswalk documents to help educators truly embed SEL within content areas.

Review the SEL Standards Adoption Letter | Chinese (Simplified) | Spanish.

Professional Learning

Every other school year, school districts must use one of the professional learning days funded under RCW 28A.415.445 to train staff on SEL or SEL-related topics. For more information on this requirement, please review the Professional Learning Day Guidance.

Learning Modules

      This online module provided strategies and tools for educators to integrate social, emotional, and academic learning. Educators will also learn about building a supportive classroom environment that focuses on equity.

This online module is designed to build knowledge and awareness for teachers, administrators, and school staff of what social-emotional learning (SEL) is and why it is important. In addition, the module explains how to implement and integrate SEL into different contexts using the SEL Framework.

This online module provided strategies and tools for educators to integrate social, emotional, and academic learning. Educators will also learn about building a supportive classroom environment that focuses on equity.

Webinars and Associated Materials

Teaching practices, strategies, and topic specific webinar recordings and accompanying resources were developed for educators to focus on building conditions that support students in developing and applying social emotional skills.

Implementation

Additional Resources

Trauma-Informed SEL Practices

A trauma-informed child and family service system responds to the impact of traumatic stress on children, caregivers, and service providers. Programs and agencies within these systems infuse and sustain trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into their organizational cultures, practices, and policies.

A trauma-informed school recognizes that trauma affects staff, students, families, communities, and systems. A trauma-informed child and family service system responds to the impact of traumatic stress on children, caregivers, and service providers. Programs and agencies within these systems infuse and sustain trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into their organizational cultures, practices, and policies.

By implementing a trauma sensitive approach, school personnel act as a protective factor in the lives of students - beginning the journey to health, building resilience, and supporting student success.

Training Resources

Downloadable Infographics

Home - Sanford Harmony Academy (harmony-academy.org)

The Harmony SEL modules are free. Sanford Harmony Academy provides educators with professional learning and curriculum resources that support healthy relationships both inside and outside of the classroom.

SEL and Equity

SEL and equity work hand-in-hand! Below are resources to help understand how both are integrated in schools.

Open Education Resources

The Washington OER Hub is an online platform for sharing K-12 open educational resources- providing equitable access to standards-aligned, high-quality instructional material at your fingertips! Units include supplemental materials, educator guidance documents, and professional learning resources curated by educators, for educators.

Social Emotional Learning Collection Resources | OER Commons

 

Briefs

The briefs in this section are high-level overviews of SEL, geared toward a specific audience or topic.

Mental Health Literacy 

As the need for mental health information and resources continues to grow, integrating Mental Health Literacy (MHL) with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is essential for supporting the whole student. By support schools in delivering clear and intentional social and health content, while fostering a safe and positive learning environment grounded in evidence-based practices and strong implementation strategies, students’ health, safety, and overall well-being will improve, allowing for consistent school engagement. Whether you’re an educator or district staff member, SEL and MHL will quickly become interchangeable tools for empowering students in the classroom and beyond.