Los Angeles School Board Expands Work on Social Emotional Learning (6-14-22)

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Megan VandenBos,                                        213-241-6388                                                                                                           June 14, 2022

Los Angeles School Board Expands Work on Social Emotional Learning

LOS ANGELES, June 14, 2022 – The Los Angeles Board of Education took a critical step to deepen Social Emotional Learning (SEL) across its schools in passing a resolution today authored by Board President Kelly Gonez. Board Members Scott Schmerelson, Jackie Goldberg and Tanya Ortiz Franklin cosponsored the resolution. The resolution establishes a process for the District to adopt a set of SEL competencies and standards. The forthcoming SEL roadmap will include strategies for teacher, staff, and family support, the development of consistent SEL standards, and the revision of the annual School Experience Survey to better monitor social emotional outcomes.

“As we work to recover from the pandemic, it’s more critical than ever that our schools strive to meet the holistic needs of our students,” Board President Gonez said. “Deepening the work of Social Emotional Learning by establishing consistent standards and expanding instructional support will ensure that our students master critical social emotional skills to succeed both in our classrooms and beyond.”

“I am happy to support this affirmation of our Board Goal and Strategic Plan priority to invest in the socio-emotional learning, growth, and development of all our students—especially important as we continue to navigate the path to recovery in our school communities,” Vice President Nick Melvoin said.

SEL teaches concepts like self-awareness, growth mindset and interpersonal skills that have been shown to support both personal growth and improved academic outcomes. The resolution builds on strategic goals set out by the Board in 2021 that prioritized Social Emotional Learning and students’ wellbeing.

“Graduation season is evidence that Los Angeles Unified does know what works,” Board Member Mónica García said. “Los Angeles Unified must support the wellness of students and families as a strategy to achieve even greater academic and workforce readiness and interrupt poverty in Los Angeles.”

“In light of the unprecedented and turbulent times we are living in, our students, staff and community continue to show resilience, perseverance and compassion,” Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson said. “In order to prepare our students to thrive and become competitive in the rapidly changing global economy, we must begin with ensuring the health and wellbeing of every child. This resolution will allow us to establish a roadmap and updated standards to help support the needs of all our students and school communities.”

“Our students’ holistic preparation for college requires us to strengthen social emotional learning,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “I look forward to the positive impact our students will experience as a result of the District’s commitment to cultivating our students’ social emotional learning competencies and investment in our staff’s ability and resources to do so.”

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