Resources

Here are some additional resources  for deeper reading and research.

Funding SEL

  • Social and Emotional Learning Interventions under ESSA – This free eBook from RAND discusses the opportunities for supporting SEL under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the standards of evidence under ESSA, and SEL interventions that meet the standards of evidence and might be eligible for federal funds through ESSA.
  • Supporting Social-Emotional Learning with Evidence-Based Programs – This resource from the Annie E. Casey Foundation is a guide for funding evidence-based SEL programs for district administrators, funding partners, and providers. Includes examples and strategies for funding, implementing, and sustaining.
  • 30+ Funding Resources to Implement SEL – This article from Classroom Champions provides information on federal resources, demographic-specific funding, nationwide grants, crowdfunding sites, and community funding resources outside the educational arena.
  • CASEL Webinars on Funding for SEL – Sign up for a free account on the District Resource Center to access a 2020 webinar on funding streams for SEL and a 2015 webinar about philanthropic funding for SEL.
  • Tips and Resources for Funding an SEL Program – This 2016 article shares examples of local, state, and federal funding opportunities along with practical recommendations for making a strong case for your initiative.

Making the Case for Investment in SEL

  • The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning – Researchers examined the use of six evidence-based SEL programs, and found, on average, that every dollar spent yielded $11 in benefits.
  • The Case for SEL – These presentation provides a library of slides with research on SEL, which can be used to introduce the importance of SEL to staff, community partners, families, potential funders, and other stakeholders.  In the notes section, you’ll see talking points to help you plan a presentation.
  • Benefits of SEL – CASEL’s page summarizing research documenting the impact of SEL and support for SEL.

Organizations Participating in the CASEL SEL Financial Sustainability Project

  • CASEL – The Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning leads the Collaborating District Initiative (CDI). The CDI is funded by NoVo Foundation and the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust and involves the American Institutes for Research (AIR) as an external evaluator.
  • Center on Reinventing Public Education, Dr. Marguerite Roza – Along with a summary of Dr. Roza’s background, there are links to dozens of publications regarding school finance.
  • Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University – This research center focuses on exploring and modeling complex education finance decisions and provided valuable insight as the SEL Financial Sustainability Project got started.
  • Center for Health and Health Care in Schools and Center for Education Policy at George Washington University – School-based mental health information and resources for grants seekers, make this a useful site for those planning for districtwide systemic SEL.
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation This foundation strives “to bring about meaningful, lasting change—with the goal of building a Culture of Health that enables all in our diverse society to lead healthier lives, now and for generations to come. The SEL Financial Sustainability Project was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Austin Independent School District (Austin, Texas) AISD began their districtwide SEL initiative in 2011, phasing in SEL over five years through high schools and their feeder schools. This highly structured implementation features explicit social and emotional skills instruction through evidence-based programs, expanding school site SEL to include integration with academic learning, and improving climate and culture.
    Austin SEL Website
    Austin SEL Facebook Page
  • Chicago Public Schools (Chicago, Illinois) – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has invested in 14 network SEL specialists who provide professional development and guidance to 664 schools. Along with explicit social and emotional skills instruction and focusing on school culture and climate, SEL is the umbrella for multi-tiered systems of support, student behavior and mental health, and restorative practices. They began their districtwide SEL initiative in 2012.
  • Washoe County School District (Reno/Northern Nevada) – Washoe County School District (WCSD) integrates SEL into their Common Core instructional framework and professional development, and as a central strategy for improving the graduation rate. With training and support from the district, each principal and leadership team implements SEL in the context of their school. Washoe County began their districtwide SEL initiative in 2012.
    Washoe County School District SEL Website