Social and Emotional Learning: Why Students Need It. What Districts are Doing About It.

In this publication, we highlight social-emotional learning (SEL) successes in three leading school districts—Anchorage School District (AK), Bridgeport Public Schools (CT) and Sacramento City Unified School District (CA). The publication is divided into two main parts. In the first part, we explore six key implementation questions and offer recommendations based on these districts’ approaches. In the second part, we present three in-depth case studies—one for each district—that describe the challenges and successes each city is experiencing with SEL implementation. The publication provides insights, recommendations and glimpses into the ground-level challenges that will resonate with teachers, school and district administrators, policymakers, funders and SEL advocates implementing or hoping to implement SEL.