Social and Mental Health Resources

What is Social Emotional Learning?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the ongoing process of helping students—and adults—develop the skills to understand and manage emotions, set and reach goals, show empathy, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions. Social Emotional Learning is anchored on the CASEL 5 as a shared framework: self-awareness (naming feelings and recognizing strengths), self-management (regulating emotions, managing stress, and goal-setting), social awareness (empathy, respect for differences, perspective-taking), relationship skills (communication, cooperation, conflict resolution), and responsible decision-making (ethical, safe, and data-informed choices).

Why is Social Emotional Learning Important?

SEL matters because it improves classroom climate and peer relationships, reduces behavior incidents, boosts attendance, and supports academic growth by helping students focus, persist, and collaborate. In practice, it looks like daily classroom routines such as brief check-ins or morning meetings, explicit mini lessons on skills, and co-created norms; schoolwide systems aligned with PBIS/MTSS that teach and reinforce expectations and use restorative responses; and family partnerships that use a shared language for emotions and simple home practices. 

Second Step

Second Step is a research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum created by the Committee for Children. It’s a family of grade-banded programs that teach skills like emotion management, empathy, communication, problem-solving, goal-setting, and responsible decision-making through teacher-led, lesson-based instruction (digital and/or kit materials). Committee for Children Second Step

Second Step offers core SEL for Early Learning (Pre-K), Elementary (K–5), Middle School, and High School, with complementary units such as Bullying Prevention, Child Protection, Out-of-School Time, and SEL for Adults. The program aligns with CASEL’s competencies and state/national standards.

Delaware Social-Emotional Competency Scale (DSECS-R2)  Screener

Our school is committed to supporting the whole child. One way we are addressing the whole child is by identifying student strengths and areas for growth relative to emotional and behavioral well-being. How students engage socially and emotionally with their peers, educators, and their school affects learning and long-term success in life. In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all students, we will administer a universal assessment of emotional and behavioral health. Just as students participate in assessments in reading, math, and other academic areas, an emotional and behavioral health assessment provides an indicator of whether a student is on track or has areas for growth. The results of the evaluation will be used alongside other sources of information (teacher referrals, grades, student attendance) to help us understand the needs of all students and to develop effective plans to support those needs at the school, class, and individual levels.