Social Emotional Learning in Oregon
What is Social Emotional Learning?
Social emotional learning (SEL) is "an integral part of education and human development. Social emotional learning is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
Social emotional learning 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. Social emotional learning 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." (CASEL, 2022)
Oregon's Social Emotional Learning Standards
The Oregon legislature passed HB 2166 in 2021, requiring the Oregon Department of Education to develop statewide SEL framework and standards by September 2023. A multi-year process involving OEA members and leaders has worked on this framework and the standards for the past two years. School districts must implement them starting in the 2024-25 school year.
OEA offers several professional learning opportunities on SEL and will continue to develop resources as Oregon rolls out these standards.
