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Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

Known as "SEL" for short, social and emotional learning is the process through which individuals acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to:

  • Understand and manage emotions
  • Set and achieve positive goals
  • Feel and show empathy for others
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships
  • Make responsible decisions

For children, this process provides an environment that helps foster supportive relationships that make learning challenging, engaging and meaningful.

To achieve this, all classrooms within District 401 have incorporated an SEL curriculum:

  • Grades PK-8 use the Second Step program.
  • Grades 9-12 use the RULER program.

Core Competencies and Our Vision for SEL

One of the nation's leaders in SEL research, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, has identified five core competencies that systematic SEL instruction seeks to develop in students:

Self-Awareness

  • The ability to know one's strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism and a "growth mindset"

Self-Management

  • The ability to effectively manage stress, control impulses and motivate oneself to set and achieve goals

Social Awareness

  • The ability to understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures

Relationship Skills

  • Among other skills, the ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed

Responsible Decision-Making

  • The ability to make constructive choices about behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety and social norms

With these competencies in mind, District 401 has engaged in a multi-year initiative to build a continuum of SEL supports across all grades. 

Our vision is to seamlessly integrate SEL into the academic environment by using a variety of research-based programs, along with staff development, to teach students the social and emotional skills they need to be successful learners.

The five core competencies serve as the foundation for our SEL instruction at each grade level, from early childhood to high school.

District 401's Policy on SEL

Our implementation of SEL curriculum and instruction is governed by District 401's policy on student social and emotional development, which can be found in Section 6:65 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual.