“We will build together”: Sowing the seeds of SEL statewide

Abstract: 
Social and emotional learning (SEL) has been lauded as important for student success. However, little guidance is available for how educators, scholars, and policymakers can work together to improve SEL implementation in public schools across a state. Here, we describe CalHOPE Student Support – an effort to “sow the seeds” of SEL across California. Invoking the metaphor of a garden, we first discuss the historic developments in California that readied the ground for such work. Then, we lift up the voices of education leaders who have been catalysts for transforming the landscape. Next, we describe our collective vision for a “thriving garden” – the process and outcomes we aim to achieve. We then explain how we harmonized essential elements (e.g., information, support, values, and action) into a comprehensive system for statewide SEL implementation. Then, we share information about our garden’s yield – our successes and ongoing struggles, through the voices of our collaborators. We end with a synthesis of lessons learned (e.g., build capacity for change-making, differentiate support, plan for turnover) for use by other educational leaders seeking to advance SEL in their regions.
Author: 
Addison M. Duane
Mai Xi Lee
Tiffany M. Jones
Ashley N. Metzger
Sobia Khan
Channa M. Cook
Sophia H.J. Hwang
Brent Malicote
Alejandro Nuñez
Juyeon Lee
Mike McLaughlin
Jonathan A. Caballero
Julia E. Moore
Christopher Williams
Amy L. Eva
Colleen Ferreira
Pamela McVeagh-Lally
Jim Kooler
CalHOPE Research Committee
Publication date: 
February 2, 2024
Publication type: 
Journal Article
Citation: 
Shapiro, V. B., Duane, A. M., Lee, M. X., Jones, T. M., Metzger, A. N., Khan, S., Cook, C. M., Hwang, S. H. J., Malicote, B., Nuñez, A., Lee, J., McLaughlin, M., Caballero, J. A., Moore, J. E., Williams, C., Eva, A. L., Ferreira, C., McVeagh-Lally, P., Kooler, J., & CalHOPE Research Committee. (2024). “We will build together”: Sowing the seeds of SEL statewide. Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy, 3, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2023.100014