What is Social and Emotional Learning?

Social and emotional learning (S.E.L.) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

It is the basis of our Portrait of a Graduate.

S.E.L. advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. S.E.L. can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

For more information about S.E.L., visit the Collaborative for Academic, Social,
and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

S.E.L. in Oxford School District

As part of a focus on our Whole Child Initiative, Oxford School District has defined a strategy for integrated and explicit social and emotional learning (S.E.L.) opportunities for students and adults in our system. We know from research that social-emotional competence can be achieved in the following ways:

1. Positive climate and culture focused on empathy, respect, and equity
2. Direct S.E.L. instruction
3. S.E.L. integrated into academic lessons and extracurricular activities
4. Educative and restorative discipline practices that build community and repair harm

S.E.L. in Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has also made Social-Emotional Learning a focus for all schools across the state. According to the MDE website,  the department  “is committed to helping educators learn more about S.E.L. and how to make this a part of every child’s school experience. Here is the link to the MDE S.E.L. Statewide Plan