Leveraging Medicaid to Fund School-Based Prevention Programs and Services This brief investigates the opportunity for states to leverage Medicaid coverage to help young people build essential social and emotional skills as a part of prevention services in a full continuum of care.Read More Download Now (PDF)
CSEC Education This brief examines research and laws that address Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) prevention education, and recommends legislation, policy, and practice that should be implemented to improve CSEC prevention education efforts in US schools.Read More Download Now (PDF)
SEL and Racial Equity This brief is a non-exhaustive investigation of social-emotional learning policy and how it can contribute to evidence-based, in-school equity strategies. An addendum to this brief examines research-based prevention of interpersonal racism and how social-emotional learning policies and practices can contribute to such prevention. The addendum is available upon request. For a copy, please email jposamentier@cfchildren.org. Read More Download Now (PDF)
State Efforts to Elevate SEL During the Pandemic As states respond to the COVID-19 pandemic—and transition from school building closures to re-imagining a new academic year—and policymakers redefine what school looks like so learning is more equitable for all students, now is the time to rethink how we keep SEL front and center.Read More Download Now (PDF)
Politics May Not Impede SEL Development Partisanship is not necessarily an impediment to passing state SEL standards. In this brief, we analyze the political affiliations of states that have adopted SEL K–12 standards and suggest next steps for policymakers as they approach SEL in other states.Read More Download Now (PDF)
Social-Emotional Learning and Preventing Youth Suicide Suicide is one of the leading causes of premature death for youth today. We recommend that policymakers continue to expand support for youth suicide prevention efforts, including by offering funding for comprehensive prevention that includes SEL, with additional funding to evaluate its efficacy.Read More Download Now (PDF)
Funding Social-Emotional Learning at the State Level Social-emotional learning (SEL) isn’t well supported at the state level. We recommend that states move toward incorporating SEL into core educational funding, and also that they narrow the scope of school climate and safety grants so SEL is one of fewer options to choose from and is therefore prioritized.Read More Download Now (PDF)
Why SEL and Employability Skills Should Be Prioritized in Education Self-motivation, communication, problem-solving, and relationship building—some common aspects of social-emotional learning (SEL)—are the skills needed for 21st-century jobs. Research shows that the skills taught in SEL curricula have wide-ranging benefits that affect a young person’s future success. Read More Download Now (PDF)
Recent Trends in State Legislative Exclusionary Discipline Reform Every year, millions of students are suspended and expelled from school. We tracked whether states were supporting educators in proposing replacement strategies, such as SEL or restorative justice practices, and if so, whether they are providing funding, implementation guidance, and professional learning.Read More Download Now (PDF)
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse The effects of child sexual abuse and assault are traumatic, long-lasting, and costly. New policies that result in smart investments in prevention programs, research, and education are needed to ensure that our children are safe, healthy, and successful in school and have productive and rewarding futures.Read More Download Now (PDF)