The Education Week Spotlight on The Science of Self-Regulation: The Missing Foundation of Academic Success is a collection of articles hand-picked by our editors.
Schools across the country are grappling with a rise in emotional and behavioral challenges among young learners who are showing more frequent tantrums, shutdowns, and difficulty with basic skills like listening and sharing. These struggles matter not only for students’ well-being but also for their learning, as strong self-regulation is a foundational predictor of academic success throughout elementary school and beyond. Research continues to underscore the long-term benefits of early-childhood education. Many teachers affirm the value of SEL in helping students build the self-management skills they need for future success. This Spotlight brings these threads together to support educators working on the front lines of this growing challenge.