Take Action
Join the movement for social and emotional learning. Take simple, meaningful actions to make a difference today.
Across the country, students, teachers, and families agree: Social and emotional learning belongs in schools. Here are simple actions you can take to make sure every child has a quality education.
Sign up to join the movement
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share Your Support
- Key Messages: Use these three key messages to ground conversations in facts and evidence.
- Make a presentation: Use this template for presentations and speaking engagements in your community.
- Engage local media: Submit a letter to the editor or op-ed to your local paper or media outlet to inform your community about social and emotional learning. Here’s guidance you can use.
- Share on social media: Use social media to spread the word about SEL! Here are social media graphics you can use.
Contact Decision-Makers About Social and Emotional Learning
Sharing your SEL story is needed now, more than ever, to protect and advance social and emotional learning. Lawmakers and decision-makers need to hear from you and your community on what your experience has been like and why it is important that your community has access to SEL. Curious if your state is prioritizing social, emotional, and academic development? Explore this scan.
For school boards:
Advocate for an SEL resolution: Ask school board members to affirm the school district’s commitment to SEL by passing a resolution. You can customize this example school board resolution.
Engage with policy leaders:
Have 2 minutes? Use this pre-written message to introduce yourself and share why SEL is important to your legislators, via Committee for Children.
Have about an hour? Download this worksheet to write and share your social and emotional learning story with decision-makers.
Have more time? Engage with policymakers in person. Use this guidance via SEL4US.
Social and Emotional Learning Resources, Curated for You
- Free course: An introduction to Social and Emotional Learning
- Video: What is Social and Emotional Learning?
- Video: Students agree: Social and Emotional Learning is Important
- Video: Parents agree: Social and Emotional Learning is Essential
- Video: Commitment to SEL from Superintendents Nationwide
- Article: Five facts: What does social and emotional learning really mean?
- Developing Life Skills in Children (2018)
- Benenson SEL Research Findings (2022)
- Fordham Politics of SEL Messaging Guide (2021)
- Learning Heroes Guide to communicating with parents (2018)
- DQC SEL communications report (2018)
- Wallace Report on SEL Terms (2016)
- The Debunking Handbook (not SEL specific) (2012)
- Leading with SEL Parent Toolkit – supports parents and caregivers in communicating about SEL with their communities.
- Family and Caregiver Conversation Tool – free resource to help families have conversations about social, emotional, and academic development
- Confident Parents, Confident Kids – Free tools, resources and strategies at each and every age and stage.
- Parenting Montana – Parenting tools or processes based on social and emotional learning at home research
- PBS Parenting Minutes – Video shorts for parents of young children to learn simple ways to promote social and emotional skills.
- The Power of Parenting with Social and Emotional Learning (Huffington Post) – Short explanatory article.
- Family Resources & Activities to Promote Social and Emotional Development – National PTA resources includes family games and activities to promote social and emotional learning.