What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the ongoing process of developing skills to understand and manage our emotions, make thoughtful decisions, and sustain meaningful relationships.
SEL has always been an integral part of education and human development.

Nevada’s SEL Competencies & Essential Skills provide common language for understanding and supporting the innate process of social and emotional growth.

Prioritizing social and emotional learning in Nevada is essential for promoting individual well-being, fostering positive relationships, and creating physically and emotionally safe learning environments for all.

Decades of research affirm that evidence-based SEL practices:

• Lead to Improved Academic Outcomes, Behaviors, and Graduation Rates
• Sustain Long-Term and Global Impacts
• Demonstrate a 11:1 Return on Investment
• Help Reduce Poverty, Improve Economic Mobility
• Improve Lifetime Outcomes and Overall Wellness
• Combat Chronic Absenteeism
• Reduce Teacher and Student Stress
• Create Safe Schools and Climates
• Promote Mental Health Supports

In the era of emerging AI technologies, teaching and practicing social-emotional skills is critical. We must prioritize the development of human skills like self-awareness, communication, and empathy, which are irreplaceable in a digitally driven world. As Pedro Noguera of USC notes, we must, “preserve the inherently relational and emotional aspects of teaching and learning." (place holder quote) How is SEL supported and promoted in schools? Social, emotional, and academic skills are developed through the learning experiences, interactions, and relationships that people have in all the places they live and learn. The Nevada Department of Education works to equip educators, families, and communities with tools and resources to support students in developing social emotional skills throughout their educational journey.

Here are some examples that are specific, observable, and measurable:

1. Academic Integration: Practice and reinforce Nevada’s 15 essential skills throughout the academic day. Incorporate opportunities for students to collaborate with peers, lead learning activities, discuss and debate, reflect, and problem-solve. Highlight social and emotional themes in content and help students draw comparisons to their own lives.
2. Explicit Instruction: Model and teach students Nevada’s15essential skills in dedicated lessons about self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
3. Youth Voice and Engagement: Empower young people to become agents of positive change in their communities by participating in community service projects, advocacy campaigns, youth-led initiatives, and through peer mentoring.
4. Family and Community Involvement: Engage parents and community partners by providing resources and workshops to reinforce Nevada’s 15essential skills at home and with our out-of-school-time partners.
5. Supportive and Restorative Practices: Teach strategies for collaborative problem-solving and resolving conflicts peacefully, communicating effectively, and working through challenges together.