Working Group on Learning Differences and Social Emotional Learning
The Center for Global Education (CGE) at Asia Society has developed a series of learning opportunities to share and apply effective global practices to transform education for students with learning differences and to ensure healthy social emotional development for all students. In partnership with Digital Promise, the goal is to use collaborative networked learning strategies proven effective in the past to build the knowledge of key decision makers, with the goal of catalyzing systemic changes within a group of American and international school districts serving diverse and high poverty communities. The impetus of the work is to assist district systems in addressing the extensive social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health needs of students brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ultimate aim of this work is to promote greater equity and to ensure all students are well prepared for college, careers, and informed, active citizenship in a global era.
The GCEN SEL/Learning Differences working group will focus on the design of an effective system. We acknowledge that the school context is critical, but that schools are embedded within the larger education system. Therefore the overarching goals of the GCEN SEL/Learning Differences Working Group are:
- To collaboratively develop knowledge drawn from working group cities and elsewhere on effective systems approaches to SEL;
- To use this knowledge to plan and develop an agenda and action plan for innovation and systemic improvements in their SEL systems; and
- To disseminate knowledge on effective policies and practices generated by the working group, including insights on “how cities learn” to adapt best practices to their context.
Members
This 18-month project, beginning in January 2021, will join members of the Global Cities Education Network together with ten American school district teams from the League of Innovative Schools, a Digital Promise initiative. Together, these 15 teams will investigate international best practice, share their own challenges and failures, formulate an action plan, and ultimately, adapt best practices to improve the SEL systems in their jurisdictions.
Resources
COVID and SEL
An Initial Guide to Leveraging the Power of Social and Emotional Learning As You Prepare to Reopen and Renew Your School Community
by CASEL, May 2020
CASEL Cares: SEL Resources During COVID-19
Resources gathered by CASEL
Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening Schools
by CASEL, July 2020
Supporting School Community Wellness with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) During and After a Pandemic
(packed with resources) by Christina Cipriano et al, PSU Issue Brief, August 2020
Equity and SEL
Why We Can't Afford Whitewashed Social-Emotional Learning
by Dena Simmons, ASCD Education Update, April 2019
Learning Differences/Special Ed and SEL
Educating All Learners During the COVID-19 Disaster: A Resource Database.
Educating All Learners website.
Special Ed Students Have Lost Many Services. Here’s How SEL Strategies Can Help. (3 part series)
by Christina Cipriano and Gabrielle Rappolt-Schlichtmann, EdSurge, June 2020
Systemic SEL Resources
Systemic Social and Emotional Learning: Promoting Educational Success for All Preschool to High School Students
by Joseph L. Mahoney et al, American Psychological Association, 2020
Videos
Videos: Surrey Schools SEL Initiatives
These short videos feature interviews with administrators from Surrey Schools in British Columbia, Canada, discussing their districtwide SEL strategies.
SEL in Surrey Part 1
This first video shares an overview of SEL initiatives in British Columbia and Surrey specifically. Watch on Vimeo.
SEL in Surrey Part 2
In this video, Jordan Tinney, Superintendent, Surrey Schools in British Columbia, Canada, gives an overview of Surrey Schools. Watch on Vimeo.
SEL in Surrey Part 3
This video features Christy Northway of Surrey Schools providing a systems-level overview of SEL in Surrey. Watch on Vimeo.
SEL in Surrey Part 4
This fourth video features Kathy Puharich of Surrey Schools discussing professional development for SEL in Surrey Schools. Watch on Vimeo.
SEL in Surrey Part 5
This fifth video features Taunya Shaw of Surrey Schools sharing what SEL looks like in schools. Watch on Vimeo.