1. Social and Emotional Learning
Office of Student Support Services
Social and Emotional Learning
in New Jersey Schools
March 1, 2017

2. Purpose of Today’s Presentation
To share the Department’s ongoing collaborative efforts to support the social and emotional learning competencies;
To present newly created NJ Social and Emotional Learning Competencies; and
To seek adoption of a resolution to support and encourage school district implementation of the NJ Social and Emotional Learning Competencies.

3. What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Background
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) helps students develop the understanding, strategies and skills to:
Support a positive sense of self
Promote respectful relationships
Recognize and manage their own emotions
Make responsible decisions
These competencies:
Promote positive school climates
Prepare students for post-secondary success

4. Why SEL?
Why is SEL Important?
SEL programs are shown to reduce student high-risk behaviors.
Students in SEL programs are more likely to attend school, less likely to have conduct problems and receive better grades.
Students with explicit SEL instruction:
Gain self-discipline and initiative
Improve their communication skills and ability to advocate
Are better able to work with others, understand differing viewpoints and collaborate
Have an understanding of social responsibility and their role as citizens

5. Other External Partners
Stakeholders
SEL Stakeholders
NJDOE Offices
School Staff
Other External Partners
Student Support Services
Early Childhood Education
Career Readiness
Teaching and Learning
Special Education
Regional Achievement Centers
Holocaust Commission
County Offices
District Administrators
Principals
Teachers
Counselors
School Psychologists
School Climate & Culture Specialists
Center for Prevention & Counseling
Center for Supportive Schools
College of St. Elizabeth
Governor’s Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Juvenile Justice Commission
Peace Praxis
NAMI NJ
National School Climate Center
New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional & Character Development
NJ School Counselor Association
NJ Association of School Psychologists
NJ ASCD
NJ Dept. of Children and Families
NJ Dept. of Human Services
NJ Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services
NJ PTA
NJ Positive Behavior Support in Schools
NJ Principals & Supervisors Association
NJ School Health & Climate Coalition
Rider University
Rutgers University
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (University Behavioral Health Care) 
United Way of Northern New Jersey

6. SEL Working Group: Stakeholder Engagement
NJDOE Efforts
SEL Working Group: Stakeholder Engagement
1. Determine the appropriate framework for your state.
2. Determine the structure of and terminology for the SEL competencies you want to articulate.
3. Identify and articulate overarching SEL goals or competencies.
4. Identify and articulate the sub-goals or strands.*
5. Identify and articulate the developmental benchmarks.
6. Write an introduction to the SEL goals or competencies.
7. Review.
8. Obtain feedback from stakeholders and experts, and then revise.
*sub-competencies
American Institutes for Research and Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning:
“Steps to Developing and Articulating Learning Goals for Competencies for SEL”

7. Combined SEL Working Group
Timeline
Action Steps
Sept. 2014
Jan. 2016
Feb. 2016
June 2016
July 2016
Aug. 2016
Sept. 2016
Present
Initial Working Group
Reviewed research
Examined current requirements
Evaluated SEL in other states
Drafted NJ SEL Competencies
Combined SEL Working Group
Provided additional feedback
Plan to support development of supplementary resources
NJDOE
Obtaining feedback from experts and stakeholders
Preparing resources to support dissemination of competencies
Subcommittees
Researched evidence-based practices
Drafted indicators, teacher strategies, and resources to support competencies
Review Teams
Utilized a rubric to evaluate draft NJ SEL Competencies

8. Key Decisions Develop SEL competencies rather than SEL standards
SEL Working Group
Key Decisions
Develop SEL competencies rather than SEL standards
Competencies must demonstrate developmental progression
Teachers should be provided with strategies they can utilize to support the development of each competency
SEL should be implemented across the curriculum at all grade levels
Schools must be provided with user-friendly resources to support implementation

9. SEL Competencies NJ SEL Competencies © Collaborative for Academic,
Social, and Emotional Learning

10. SEL Sub-Competencies NJ SEL Competencies
Manage emotions, thoughts & behaviors
Establish & achieve goals
Persevere to overcome obstacles

11. SEL Sub-Competencies NJ SEL Competencies Identify feelings & thoughts
Recognize impact of feelings & thoughts
Recognize traits, strengths & limitations
Demonstrate self-confidence in handling daily tasks & challenges

12. SEL Sub-Competencies NJ SEL Competencies
Identify thoughts, feelings & perspectives of others
Demonstrate awareness of other’s cultural backgrounds & respect for differences between individuals & groups
Understand social & ethical norms in order to interact effectively

13. SEL Sub-Competencies NJ SEL Competencies
Establish & maintain healthy relationships
Utilize positive communication & social skills to interact effectively with others
Identify ways to resist inappropriate social pressure
Prevent & resolve conflicts
Know how to seek help for self & others

14. SEL Sub-Competencies NJ SEL Competencies
Develop effective problem-solving skills
Identify consequences associated with one’s actions
Evaluate personal, ethical, safety & civic impact of decisions

15. NJ SEL Competencies

16. Next Steps for SEL in NJ Schools
Future Actions
Next Steps for SEL in NJ Schools
Public comment and review of NJ SEL Competencies
Resolution to support and encourage school district implementation
Development of additional resources to support SEL:
Indicators for all competencies
Strategies for teachers
Toolkits by subject areas
Regular updating of the NJDOE SEL website

17. NJDOE Resources
NJDOE Resources on SEL