An equitable, inclusive education that promotes critical thinking is under attack.
SEL and its Benefits
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. State law requires districts to integrate social-emotional learning or character education into the school curriculum.
People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and communities.
Well-implemented SEL programs positively affect students’ success in school. Studies show that social-emotional skills—such as problem-solving, self-regulation, impulse control, and empathy—help improve academic performance, reduce negative social behaviors like bullying, and create positive classroom climates.
Social-emotional skills also help kids successfully manage everyday life. They help students focus, make good decisions, and become supportive members of their community well beyond school.
Children thrive. Schools win. Workplaces benefit. Society strengthens. All due to social-emotional learning.
People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and communities.
Well-implemented SEL programs positively affect students’ success in school. Studies show that social-emotional skills—such as problem-solving, self-regulation, impulse control, and empathy—help improve academic performance, reduce negative social behaviors like bullying, and create positive classroom climates.
Social-emotional skills also help kids successfully manage everyday life. They help students focus, make good decisions, and become supportive members of their community well beyond school.
Children thrive. Schools win. Workplaces benefit. Society strengthens. All due to social-emotional learning.
You can read all about the data-driven research on SEL. A couple of highlights:
- One study shows that 3.5 years after their last SEL intervention, students fared markedly better academically than their peers in control groups by an average of 13 percentage points. Researchers also found that conduct problems, emotional distress, and drug use were much lower for students with SEL exposure than those without.
- Another study from Columbia University details a benefit-cost analysis evaluating six SEL interventions that shows an average return on investment of $11 for every dollar spent. Known benefits of the interventions studied include: reductions in child aggression, substance abuse, delinquency, and violence; lower levels of depression and anxiety; and increased grades, attendance, and performance in core academic subjects.
Inclusion & Equity and their Benefits
“Diversity is being asked to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” - Verna Myers
Inclusion is about individuals with different identities feeling and/or being valued and welcomed within a given setting. You can have a diverse organization, but that doesn’t mean that everyone feels welcome or valued and is given opportunities to grow and develop.
Equity is an approach that ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that advantages and barriers exist and that, as a result, we all don’t start from the same place. Equity is a process that begins by acknowledging that unequal starting place and makes a commitment to correct and address the imbalance.
The idea of “advantages" and "barriers” can feel intangible, so here are a few real examples. A highly-regarded study found that applicants with “white-sounding names” (Greg and Emily) were 50% more likely to receive a call back during the hiring process than candidates with “African-American-sounding names” (Lakisha and Jamal). These results have been replicated in similar studies. Another study asked scientists to evaluate applicants’ competencies, whether they would mentor the applicant, and what they’d suggest as a starting salary. The study found that female candidates with resumes and criteria identical to male candidates were deemed less competent, less worthy of being hired, offered less career mentoring, and offered a lower starting salary. These are just a couple of examples of many, many documented instances of similar findings.
If we look at these studies, an “advantage” may be having a white-sounding name or being male during the hiring process. Having an African-American-sounding name or being perceived as female would, in turn, be a “barrier” in the hiring process. Equity in this context means identifying these imbalances and implementing a process where the disparate outcomes wouldn’t exist.
Inclusion & Equity in the Classroom
Equality in the classroom is beneficial, but it often doesn’t address specific needs. Giving each student a take-home laptop, for example, would not address students who don’t have internet in their houses. Equity, on the other hand, provides students with resources that fit their circumstances to address possible barriers to learning, like poverty, limited transportation, or disability.
Our own school board trustee Shannon Braun stated "we" need to be anti-equity. Contrary to her statements, equity is not a zero-sum game. Helping some students overcome barriers does not mean having to take away from others.
Academic Achievement
Providing equitable access to education and supporting tolerance of those who look different or have special needs creates a positive effect on learning. Diverse and inclusive classrooms promote critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. Schools with the smallest achievement gaps between demographics have the highest overall test scores. This means that when the most disadvantaged student scores improve, students from more privileged backgrounds improve, too.
Classroom Environment
When schools provide their students with resources that fit individual circumstances, the entire classroom environment improves. Classroom management falters when students experience friction with other students. By actively engaging in learning activities that instill respect for diversity, the classroom can become a place where respect is a cornerstone.
Health and Social-Emotional Development
Equity can also strengthen a student’s health and social-emotional development. In a study involving over 4,300 students in Southern California, the children who felt safer, less lonely, and reported less bullying also had higher diversity levels in their classes.
Community Strength and Economic Growth
Surrounding communities benefit from equity in schools. Equity is linked to stronger social cohesion, meaning that individuals connect with each other better and are more compassionate. It also leads to long-term economic growth. Additionally, equitable communities are linked to better health and longer average lifespans.This means that promoting equity in schools can be one of the most effective social investments.
Inclusion is about individuals with different identities feeling and/or being valued and welcomed within a given setting. You can have a diverse organization, but that doesn’t mean that everyone feels welcome or valued and is given opportunities to grow and develop.
Equity is an approach that ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that advantages and barriers exist and that, as a result, we all don’t start from the same place. Equity is a process that begins by acknowledging that unequal starting place and makes a commitment to correct and address the imbalance.
The idea of “advantages" and "barriers” can feel intangible, so here are a few real examples. A highly-regarded study found that applicants with “white-sounding names” (Greg and Emily) were 50% more likely to receive a call back during the hiring process than candidates with “African-American-sounding names” (Lakisha and Jamal). These results have been replicated in similar studies. Another study asked scientists to evaluate applicants’ competencies, whether they would mentor the applicant, and what they’d suggest as a starting salary. The study found that female candidates with resumes and criteria identical to male candidates were deemed less competent, less worthy of being hired, offered less career mentoring, and offered a lower starting salary. These are just a couple of examples of many, many documented instances of similar findings.
If we look at these studies, an “advantage” may be having a white-sounding name or being male during the hiring process. Having an African-American-sounding name or being perceived as female would, in turn, be a “barrier” in the hiring process. Equity in this context means identifying these imbalances and implementing a process where the disparate outcomes wouldn’t exist.
Inclusion & Equity in the Classroom
Equality in the classroom is beneficial, but it often doesn’t address specific needs. Giving each student a take-home laptop, for example, would not address students who don’t have internet in their houses. Equity, on the other hand, provides students with resources that fit their circumstances to address possible barriers to learning, like poverty, limited transportation, or disability.
Our own school board trustee Shannon Braun stated "we" need to be anti-equity. Contrary to her statements, equity is not a zero-sum game. Helping some students overcome barriers does not mean having to take away from others.
Academic Achievement
Providing equitable access to education and supporting tolerance of those who look different or have special needs creates a positive effect on learning. Diverse and inclusive classrooms promote critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. Schools with the smallest achievement gaps between demographics have the highest overall test scores. This means that when the most disadvantaged student scores improve, students from more privileged backgrounds improve, too.
Classroom Environment
When schools provide their students with resources that fit individual circumstances, the entire classroom environment improves. Classroom management falters when students experience friction with other students. By actively engaging in learning activities that instill respect for diversity, the classroom can become a place where respect is a cornerstone.
Health and Social-Emotional Development
Equity can also strengthen a student’s health and social-emotional development. In a study involving over 4,300 students in Southern California, the children who felt safer, less lonely, and reported less bullying also had higher diversity levels in their classes.
Community Strength and Economic Growth
Surrounding communities benefit from equity in schools. Equity is linked to stronger social cohesion, meaning that individuals connect with each other better and are more compassionate. It also leads to long-term economic growth. Additionally, equitable communities are linked to better health and longer average lifespans.This means that promoting equity in schools can be one of the most effective social investments.
In the graphic above, the part of the community with subpar infratstructure needs additional resources to bring the infrastructure up to par with the rest of the community. When one part of the community is improved, everyone in the community benefits.
Below, the young child needs additional resources to be able to see over the fence. However, in the last picture, the source of the inequity has been removed. This is ideal but not always achievable in the short run.
Below, the young child needs additional resources to be able to see over the fence. However, in the last picture, the source of the inequity has been removed. This is ideal but not always achievable in the short run.
Sources:
https://www.cfchildren.org/what-is-social-emotional-learning
https://generalassemb.ly/blog/diversity-inclusion-equity-differences-in-meaning/
www.waterford.org/education/equity-vs-equality-in-education/
Gorard, S., and Smith, E. An international comparison of equity in education systems. School Comparative Education, 2004, 40(1), pp. 15-28.
OECD Observer Staff. Ten Steps to Equity in Education. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, January 2008, pp. 1-8.
Community Resource Graphic: Matt Kinshella
Baseball Graphic: City for All Women Initiative (CAWI), Ottawa