Implementation in Austin ISD
For the last ten years, the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness (CP&I) teams have been growing awareness, deepening relationships, and building momentum throughout the district in parallel courses.
- Beginning in 2010, SEL implementation began rolling out systems and strategies through AISD’s vertical team structure. A vertical team consists of a high school and all of its feeder middle and elementary schools. As of 2015–16, all schools in AISD are officially implementing SEL.
- Also established in the 2010–11 school year, Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness worked to embed depth of thought and action among adult educators by providing professional learning sessions on how to interact with students and their families in a manner that considers the diverse needs of all.
In recent years, the two groups have been working more closely and collaboratively together. Through these interactions we found that the two initiatives work most effectively in tandem. In 2021, AISD reorganized the department to form one SEL and CP&I team with one mission focused on creating deeper, richer, more inclusive, and equitable experiences and environments for our students, staff and the community at large.
Today, each campus has an assigned SEL and CP&I specialist who supports implementation on campus by observing practices and giving feedback to educators and leaders, co-creating lessons with teachers, and integrating SEL skills and CP&I concepts into academic instruction. Specialists work closely with campus administration and facilitators to develop equity-centered goals and action plans with the steering committee. Together, the team also provides campus and district-wide SEL and CP&I focused professional learning opportunities.
- SEL and CP&I Statement of Purpose (pdf)
- Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Guide (pdf)
- Social and Emotional Learning Competencies Wheel (pdf)
- CP&I Development Timeline in Austin ISD (pdf)
- MindfulAISD
- AISD Department of Research & Evaluation
Access the most current research on the Social and Emotional Learning Department within AISD published by our devoted research and evaluation team.
CASEL Website
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning is the nation’s leading organization advancing the development of academic, social and emotional competence for all students. CASEL Roadmap link
Committee for Children
Committee for Children creates research-based SEL materials to help children succeed in school and in life. Their website has information on a variety of SEL curricula, including Second Step, the SEL resource that AISD uses in Pre-K through eighth grade.
Kids in the House
This educational website aims to help teachers, parents and caregivers learn new skills and strategies. This free resource contains over 8,000 videos from 450 leading experts, including doctors, pediatricians, psychologists, educators, best-selling authors, celebrities, and parents themselves.
Respect for All
AISD's Respect for All initiative focuses on building awareness and encouraging tolerance through social and emotional learning, student-led initiatives and ongoing dialogues, as well as resources for parents, students and educators.
School-Connect
School-Connect develops, publishes, and trains educators in implementing School-Connect: Optimizing the High School Experience, a program for boosting students' social, emotional and academic skills. This explicit instructional resource is being used at high schools across the district.
Second Step
Second Step offers numerous online resources for school staff and families using the Second Step program. Second Step is the explicit SEL resource used by teachers in Austin ISD PK–8.
Social and Emotional Learning Parent Toolkit
This website focuses on helping families grow healthy, successful children who can excel in many areas – in the classroom, on the court, and in their relationships with peers and adults. This site uses a developmental lens and the SEL framework to organize their strategies. It is available in English and Spanish.
Transforming Education
An assessment work group in partnership with CASEL, the CORE Districts, Harvard University, the RAND Corporation, and others. This group seeks to learn more about existing SEL measures, and provides an assessment guide to help practitioners select measures of social and emotional competence.
Austin ISD is proud to be recognized as a leader in urban education and one of the first districts in the nation to commit to the development of the whole child by incorporating social and emotional learning.
Interested in a tour? Interested in taking a tour of our Seed Model Campuses and learning more about SEL and CP&I in Austin ISD? Tours are provided periodically during the school year.
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