Social-Emotional Learning

How schools can help children learn to understand and manage their emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions

See also: Life Skills

Explainer

Social-Emotional Learning, Explained
What is social-emotional learning?
Photo collage of three diverse teens looking at their phones with social apps ghosted in dark blue background
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week + Canva
Student Well-Being & Movement What SEL Can Do to Help Kids Manage Their Online Lives
It's important to show students how social media can be helpful and harmful.
Arianna Prothero, April 30, 2026
4 min read
Children drawing images of faces with emotions.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement From Our Research Center 6 Reasons Teachers Don’t Feel Equipped to Teach SEL
Lack of time and limited resources make it hard for teachers to emphasize social-emotional skills.
Arianna Prothero, April 30, 2026
1 min read
Four-year-old Ethan Quinn leaves home for his daycare center in Concord, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Ethan's parents opted to keep him in a private daycare center instead of enrolling him in “transitional kindergarten” — a program offered for free by California elementary schools for some 4-year-olds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A four-year-old prepares to leave home for his daycare center in Concord, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2023. His parents chose private daycare over California’s free “transitional kindergarten” program for some 4-year-olds—a decision that reflects how families often navigate limited time, work demands, and early education options in shaping school readiness.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Early Childhood Teachers Blame Parents for Young Learners' Deficits. But There's a Bigger Story
Teachers and parents are experiencing similar levels of stress caring for and educating kids.
Elizabeth Heubeck, April 30, 2026
5 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Spotlight Spotlight on the Athletic Advantage: How Districts Are Turning School Sports Into Community Assets
Find out how you can improve student engagement, belonging, and mental health through inclusive sports programs, esports, and gaming.
April 30, 2026
Watercolor illustration of a diverse group of young kindergarten through 3rd grade school children all holding their own digital device.
Illustration by Gina Tomko/Education Week + Canva
Early Childhood 'Addicted to Screens': Teachers Sound the Alarm on Their Youngest Students
Too many students are entering school unprepared to learn, according to a national survey of early educators.
Elizabeth Heubeck, April 2, 2026
4 min read
Red sports barbell on the background of a concrete wall
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion The Weight Room Is the Best Classroom in a School
The lessons I’ve learned as a strength and conditioning coach make me a better classroom teacher.
Alexander H. Han, March 31, 2026
4 min read
Illustration of AI robot manipulating a child's mind like a puppet on a string, the girl is using a laptop and interacting with an AI chatbot.
iStock
Artificial Intelligence What the Research Says AI Chatbots Tend Toward Flattery. Why That's Bad for Students
Flattering technology can make people less willing to admit they are wrong.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 26, 2026
6 min read
This June 8, 1993 file photo shows Fred Rogers during a rehearsal for a segment of his television program Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood in Pittsburgh.
Fred Rogers rehearses a segment of his television program "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in Pittsburgh in this June 8, 1993 file photo.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Teachers Keep the Lessons of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' Alive in the Classroom
Teachers say Fred Rogers' work has informed how they weave together academic and SEL lessons.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 25, 2026
4 min read
032026 AI SEL support 2162238913
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + DigitalVision Vectors
Artificial Intelligence Q&A How a School Uses AI to Address Student Behavior Problems
AI has helped streamline the development of behavior intervention plans, a school leader said.
Lauraine Langreo, March 23, 2026
4 min read
Happy woman meditating on smiling ball among other gloomy balls. Being optimistic, cheerful and happy. Positive thinking, Break time, calm and relax. Time out, stop burnout. Good mood, various emoji.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock
Teaching Opinion We Train Teachers to Deliver SEL. They Should Also Know How to Live It
Researchers share three practical moves that educators can start doing right now.
Marc Brackett, Robin Stern, Nicole Elbertson & Patricia (Tish) Jennings, March 19, 2026
5 min read
Photo of cheerful dreamy girl dressed in checkered shirt closed eyes practicing yoga, SEL skills
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Student Well-Being & Movement Educators Want Schools Delivering Broad Array of SEL Skills, Survey Shows
An EdWeek Research Center survey finds support for building students' communication and problem-solving.
Arianna Prothero, March 12, 2026
5 min read
Two young people standing in speech bubbles and shaking hands. Meeting an make deals online. Concept of partnership, business acquisition, deals, cooperation, teamwork. SEL communication skills.
Education Week + Anton Vierietin/iStock
College & Workforce Readiness What SEL Skills Do High School Graduates Need Most? Report Lists Top Picks
A review of "portrait of a graduate" documents from hundreds of districts identified key skills.
Arianna Prothero, March 6, 2026
5 min read
Figures tend to a student shaped garden
Mary Hassdyk Vooys for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Is Your School’s SEL Strategy Working? The Questions Every Educator Should Ask
The evidence for social and emotional learning is strong, but the field is messy.
Christina Cipriano, March 2, 2026
5 min read
Students visit the Alaqua Animal Rescue in Freeport, Fla., for an SEL-based curriculum on Aug. 23, 2025.
Students visit the Alaqua Animal Rescue in Freeport, Fla., for an SEL lesson on Aug. 23, 2025. Social-emotional learning can be a powerful tool for boosting student engagement and improving behavior and academic performance, but experts say it has to be implemented well.
Micah Green for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Looking for SEL's Benefits? Good Implementation Is Key, Experts Say
How well an SEL program is implemented is critical for achieving the outcomes that research promises.
Arianna Prothero, February 25, 2026
6 min read