Social and Emotional Learning Research Alliance (Historical)

Research suggested a positive association between students’ social and emotional skills—such as self-awareness and responsible decision making—and their academic and career outcomes. Reflecting these findings, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allowed states and districts to use federal funds on evidenced-based programs that promote students’ social and emotional learning (SEL). Yet information about evidence-based SEL interventions and reliable measures were not easily accessible to practitioners. In response, the Social and Emotional Learning Research Alliance supported state and district leaders as they sought to identify and synthesize emerging evidence about SEL measures and interventions to inform their own policies and practices. Alliance members’ priority research topics included measurement, supports for SEL in and out of school (family and community engagement), instructional strategies, and professional learning.