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This Month's SEL Conversation / December 2022

Dear Carolina,

The past year offered no shortage of social and emotional learning (SEL) stories. Looking back, 2022 was a year full of conversations, actions, and headlines around academic recovery, mental well-being, school safety, family engagement, and more. But as we collected and shared stories in this newsletter throughout the year, one powerful throughline emerged: relationships.

“Relationship Skills” is one of our core social and emotional competencies because communication and collaboration are essential in every interaction, every class, and every career. In 2022, we witnessed the power of relationships to make classrooms welcoming, to engage families, to raise a collective voice against misinformation, and to support each other’s mental health. As more and more communities prioritized SEL this year, they were investing in a strong foundation to help ensure everyone has the opportunity for long-term success. The SEL field will continue to take on big challenges next year, but as we take them on together, we ask:

How did relationships make a difference for you and your community this year? How can we bring that with us into 2023 to strengthen our connections?

Read on for our end-of-year reflection (access the entire 2022 Year in Review), and join us in the new year for a “State of the Field” webinar on January 27. 

Warm wishes,

The CASEL Team

SEL in 2022: A Vote for Family Voice

In many ways, 2022 was the year of family voice and engagement as we saw parents and caregivers rightfully demand a seat at the table when it comes to their children’s education. The lead-up to midterm elections cast a bright—and often heated—spotlight on SEL. Despite a rise in misinformation and political rhetoric, parents were strong in their support for SEL: 93% of parents polled by Pew Research Center this year said it is important that their children’s schools teach social and emotional skills. CASEL—along with 20+ leading organizations representing parents, educators, and others—came together as the Leading With SEL coalition to amplify support for SEL. Together, we led a national conversation that not only centered on research and evidence, but one that listened and learned from families to share their stories.

SEL in 2022: A Focus on Academic Recovery and Joyful Schools



The concerning drops in national test scores fueled debates over where schools should spend their time. But parents and educators made clear: SEL is a core component of long-term academic recovery, as evidenced by decades of research that connects SEL and academic achievement. In fact, 84 percent of educators said SEL had a positive impact on student academic outcomes this year, and states and districts nationwide continued to push for a focus on both learning recovery and relationship recovery because academic growth takes more than subject knowledge. As CASEL President & CEO Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel summarized, “What is clear is that real recovery will require schools to help students engage, connect with content, set and achieve goals, and focus on learning.”

SEL in 2022: A Priority on Wellness and Healing

This year, the long-term impact of the pandemic on students’ lives continued taking shape, and 44 percent of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. While SEL is not a replacement for mental health services, a top reason that education leaders prioritized SEL in 2022 was to support mental wellness. Research shows that SEL buffers against mental health risks by promoting healthy skills, responsive relationships, and supportive environments. Meanwhile, federal support and resources created greater opportunities for evidence-based SEL investments to support students’ well-being. Students themselves also spoke out about the need to prioritize their mental wellness and SEL. As one high school student shared, “What my school can do to help me during this period of change is make me feel like I’m not alone, and that people actually care about me and let people know that I am here as a friend.”

View CASEL’s 2022 Year in Review

Community Spotlight

View the top education studies of 2022

Share With Your Network

• Education Week: Top 3 Barriers to Teaching Social-Emotional Learning. And One Big Takeaway

• K-12 Dive: 4 Strategies for Unlocking the Value of SEL

• Now through January 11: Registration for "Leading Schoolwide SEL" Workshop Series



• Now through April 14: Purchase on-demand access to the 2022 SEL Exchange

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