#  SEL Analysis Project 

 



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 Over the past two decades, there has emerged a growing consensus among researchers who study child development, education, and health that social and emotional skills are essential to learning and life outcomes. Furthermore, research indicates that high-quality, evidence-based programs and policies that promote these skills among students can improve academic achievement as well as positive behavior, physical and mental wellbeing, college and career readiness, and economic productivity. However, there are a great number of SEL programs available for educators to choose from, and those programs vary widely in skill focus, teaching strategies, implementation supports, and general approach toward SEL.

 The SEL Analysis Project looks *inside* leading SEL programs to identify key features and attributes of SEL programming and make general comparisons across varying approaches. The project involves conducting a rigorous content analysis of SEL programs to identify and summarize the skills targeted, instructional methods used, and programmatic features included within each program.

 The goal of this work is (1) to provide schools and out-of-school-time organizations with the resources to make informed choices about which programs are most adaptable, doable, and feasible within their particular settings, and (2) to identify common strategies of effective SEL practice across programs.

 In 2017, the EASEL Lab published results from the first phase of this work in [Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out](http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/Navigating-Social-and-Emotional-Learning-from-the-Inside-Out.aspx), a guide designed to help schools and out-of-school time organizations better understand the content and focus of SEL programs for grades K-5. The guide provides comprehensive program profiles and cross-program analyses for 25 SEL programs focused on grades K-5. Following the success of the first guide, our team is now working to update and expand the Navigating SEL guide to include additional programs with a focus PreK and middle/high school), with expected release dates in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

 **Funder**

 [The Wallace Foundation](http://www.wallacefoundation.org/)



 

##  News & Resources 

 



  [### Social-Emotional Learning: What It Is, What It Isn’t, And What We Know

 ](/news/social-emotional-learning-what-it-what-it-isn%E2%80%99t-and-what-we-know) April 30, 2019 

 From members of the EASEL Lab, this response piece in Education Next highlights the misfocus of concerns raised about current approaches to social and emotional learning in an article by Grover Whitehurst, and further describes the strong evidence behind... 

 

 

   ![Children in line](/sites/g/files/omnuum4486/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/gse-easel-lab/files/ednext-april19-web-jones-sel-img01_square.jpg?itok=cEMO8lmV) 

 



 

 

   [### Social and Emotional Learning in Out-of-School Time Settings

 ](/news/social-and-emotional-learning-out-school-time-settings) December 08, 2017 

 From the EASEL Lab, as a part of series commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, learn about out-of-school SEL programs and way to adapt school-based SEL programs. Download the report here. 

 

 

   ![brief](/sites/g/files/omnuum4486/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/gse-easel-lab/files/social-and-emotional-learning-out-of-school-time-settings-brief-a.jpg?itok=0cOaTdEe) 

 



 

 

   [### Selecting the Right SEL Program

 ](/news/selecting-right-sel-program) June 20, 2017 

 How can you choose the right SEL program for your school or organization? Learn more about our new guide that takes a deep dive into 25 evidence-based SEL programs. 

 

 

   ![Selecting the Right SEL Program](/sites/g/files/omnuum4486/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/gse-easel-lab/files/uk_sel_report_news.png?itok=JpojyjJK) 

 



 

 

   [### As Schools Adopt Social-Emotional Programs, a New Guide Offers Help

 ](/news/schools-adopt-social-emotional-programs-new-guide-offers-help) May 14, 2017 

 With increasing interest in social and emotional learning, this piece in EdSource highlights our new report, Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out, a resource that takes a deeper look into leading social and emotional programs. 

 

 

   ![EdSource Article](/sites/g/files/omnuum4486/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/gse-easel-lab/files/edsource.png?itok=Buf68CDL) 

 



 

 

   [### Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out

 ](/news/navigating-social-and-emotional-learning-inside-out) May 02, 2017 

 Learn more about our new report, a practical resource for schools and out-of-school time providers that looks inside and across 25 leading SEL programs. Download and read the report here. 

 

 

   ![Navigating SEL From the Inside Out](/sites/g/files/omnuum4486/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/gse-easel-lab/files/sel_report_2.png?itok=Zb_kll5K)