Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Contact Information

Social Emotional Learning

Tammy Bolen

SEL and Title IVA Assistant Director
360-701-0575

Debra Parker

SEL Program Supervisor
360-972-4074

Emme Williamson

Administrative Assistant
360-725-6078

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is broadly understood as 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. When we think of educating the whole child, their social and emotional development must be considered as a part of overall instruction

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.

Washington SEL Framework

When grounded in 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 to every child.

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

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 Bright Spot

Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods and members of the school board introduced “Great Kindness Week” programming into every school this year. Shannon Gubser, SEL Specialist, shared that "schools have shown a decrease in discipline and bullying incidents since its implementation nine years ago." There were so many kind acts that occurred within the schools, spreading out to the Yelm community as well. To learn more about the challenge and the activities it inspired, you can read the coverage the Nisqually Valley News article here. 

​​​SEL Resources

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

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.

Briefs

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