Resources on Social-Emotional Development and Student Character Growth

This month's updates from The BELE Network [View this email in your browser]( Greetings, BELE family: It’s been four years since the first celebration of International [Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Day]( — since then, support for SEL has only grown. This month, governors in [eight states]( recognized SEL Day on March 10th and [President Biden and Dr. Biden]( also wrote a letter honoring SEL Day for the second year in a row. The [U.S. Senate also introduced a resolution]( with bipartisan support to recognize National SEL Week, and the vital role SEL plays in promoting academic achievement, culminating in this year's SEL Day. [CASEL]( and their partners have conducted research on SEL for decades, proving that it is effective for students’ educational and emotional development. [SEL]( is how young people and adults acquire social and emotional knowledge, skills, and attitudes to create caring, just, inclusive, and healthy school environments. Those working directly with students also know that SEL is integral to enhancing student experiences — [82% of educators]( agree that an integrated approach to SEL improves student outcomes. This is why we need to continue building momentum to integrate SEL in schools so students can learn how to manage their emotions, establish supportive relationships, and reap other benefits from SEL. Students will thrive emotionally, socially, and academically by creating opportunities within our education system to build these skills. We look forward to working and learning alongside you to enhance how students experience their education. The BELE Network The BELE Learning Series District-Level Learnings From the Field: What Needs to be True When Redesigning School District Systems and Structures for Human Thriving? | CASEL & National Equity Project CASEL and NEP authored the first learning brief in the BELE learning series, exploring insights from their equity initiatives in partner districts. It focuses on the conditions necessary to create equitable learning environments that enhance the student experience, and pinpoints where districts should focus their efforts to sustain meaningful change. If you missed it, read it [here](. The Latest from the BELE Network “Research and the latest in brain science shows us that students are more engaged and motivated as learners when their school experiences are shaped by their interest, their needs, and their perspectives.” – Dr. Gisele Shorter Collaborating in Community: Philanthropy’s Role in Cultivating Equitable K-12 Learning Environments | 16:1 Dr. Gisele Shorter, Director of National Education Strategy at the Raikes Foundation, was recently featured on the [16:1 Podcast](. In the episode, Dr. Shorter discusses what centering student experience looks like, how educators shape the classroom, challenges in the education landscape, and the work the BELE Network is pushing forward. Listen to the full episode [here](. Fostering Relationships and Well-Being Through Advisories | Transcend Transcend’s[Innovative Models Exchange]( covers several practices educators can adopt to further support students, including the use of advisories — a model that seeks to build strong relationships and emotional support for middle and high school students by placing them in peer groups led by an advisor to ensure they have an advocate. Read more in Transcend’s latest blog post [here](. Building Character: EL Education Students Experience More Care and Purpose, Study Finds | EL Education EL Education’s new research brief includes five key findings from the Excellence in Character Education (ExCEL) Project, a multi-year study to compare student character growth and related conditions in middle schools. Learn how EL Education’s model develops students’ ethical character by checking out the brief [here](. Upcoming Events & Opportunities April 12-14: Make the Moment a Movement | National Partnership for Educational Access Boston, MA Join NPEA in-person for their annual conference to deepen your shared commitment to access, equity, and justice in education. Featuring promising practices and successes, the conference will center sharing and learning around student voices and experiences. Register [here](. April 13-16: AERA Annual Meeting | American Educational Research Association Chicago, IL Themed “Interrogating Consequential Education Research in Pursuit of Truth,” this year’s AERA Annual Meeting will provide attendees with opportunities to see innovative research studies and ideas, network, and develop professional skills. For those who can’t attend in person, AERA will also hold a virtual component from May 4-5. Register [here](. April 17-19: ASU+GSV Summit | Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley San Diego, CA or Virtual Connecting leading minds focused on transforming society and business around learning and work, this year’s ASU+GSV Summit is focused on Imagining a new era in which all people have equal access to the future. Join educators, industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs in a space to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop resources needed to create and accelerate impact. Register [here](. April 23-24: Carnegie Summit on Improvement in Education | Carnegie Foundation San Diego, CA The Carnegie Summit is an opportunity to engage with a diverse group of educational professionals including school and district leaders, faculty, students, parents, and community leaders. Together, attendees will share best practices to address complex problems and issues of inequity in educational outcomes. Register [here](. April 26-27: BARR National Conference | Building Assets, Reducing Risks Rancho Mirage, CA This year’s BARR National Conference theme is “Leading with Culture.” Educators, national leaders, education advocates, and officials from state, district, and school levels will share ideas and learn from each other to help implement and enhance the BARR model in schools. Register [here](. Submit to the BELE Network Newsletter We’re always looking for new content from the BELE Network to include in the newsletter. Please share any relevant news, upcoming events, or case studies with us from your organization that you would like to share with the BELE Network. To submit, complete the form [here](. BELE in the News Conservatives’ War on Emotions in the Classroom | Vox Justina Schlund, director of content and field learning at CASEL, was interviewed for a recent article on social and emotional learning (SEL). The article discusses what SEL is, the value of SEL, and how it has become a political issue. Read more [here](. Schools Can Know and Reach Each Student | StarTribune Two principals highlighted their experiences with the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) model — a proven approach to improving school environments — and discussed bipartisan legislation filed in Minnesota that could provide funding for more schools to implement the model. Read the op-ed [here](. New to BELE? Start Here [The BELE Framework: A Guide to Building Equitable Learning Environments]( We may have inherited a public education system that nurtures racial and class-based inequities, but it is ours to redesign. The BELE Network created a framework that gives educators, administrators, and policymakers the tools that are needed to create an equitable learning environment. [The BELE Resource Library: Find the Best Resource for Your Needs]( This new, collaborative space is an evolving repository of resources and recommendations from across the BELE Network, curated to help educators, parents, and policymakers create classrooms where every student feels valued and has what they need to thrive. [BELE Services Information]( Learn about the organizations that make up the BELE Network and the services they provide to see how you can partner with them for your organization's needs. Have a question? Contact us at info@BELENetwork.org Follow us on social media below! Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. 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