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Dear Carolina,
Backpack? Check. Number two pencils? Check. Caring teachers and social and emotional skills? Check!
As communities return to school, social and emotional learning (SEL) is just as essential as school supplies. District leaders cite it as a top priority. Parents are calling for more focus on SEL in schools. Students are asking for time to build friendships and connect with teachers.
But with midterm elections looming this fall, politics has also shined the limelight on SEL. As young people return to classrooms, we need to put children—not politics—at the center of our conversations. Let’s give the microphone to families, students, and educators who understand the real impact of SEL on their lives. CASEL and the Allstate Foundation partnered with families across the country on the reasons they believe in an education that prioritizes SEL. Why?
The reality: 88 percent of parents want their students to learn social and emotional skills like respect, cooperation, perseverance, and empathy.
The distraction: A narrative that prioritizes politics over students—drowning out our voices and putting at risk our children’s education and future.
We can’t do it without you. As champions of SEL, consider:
How can families, educators, community partners, and policy leaders rise to the moment to protect every child’s social, emotional, and academic learning?
Read on for key actions you can take this back-to-school season in your community, including helpful resources.
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