Learning Community Mission
CASEL SEL Learning Communities are a launching pad and a landing pad for Initiating (early stage), Improving (scaling) and Innovating (maximizing) school districts to benefit from and contribute to best practices to complete high quality implementations of evidence-based SEL in schools across America so children can succeed.
35 Replicable SEL Learning Communities to Support a 5-Year Roll Out of High Quality, Evidence-Based, Systemic SEL in 150 Collaborating School Districts, for 6.6 Million Students, and a National Online SEL Status Report to Track it All.
Learning Community Activities
Learning Communities help educators across America collaborate, plan and implement SEL for life success in schools and classrooms across America.
Learning Community Roll Out Schedule
35 SEL Learning Communities of Practice
With at least one local SEL Learning Community established for each of 33 states, and the work on one national community, included within our five-year scope, and a network of SEL Master Districts cultivated from CASEL’s Collaborating Districts Initiative, CASEL will facilitate and organize best practices sharing on a large-scale as a concerted implementation support effort that recognizes there is not a “one size fits all” solution, but a variety of implementation models that can benefit from and be propelled by a shared set of replicable best practices. CASEL’s network will include regional leads, reporting to CASEL and supporting best practices sharing on a local, regional and national level.
A Human-Centered Collaboration Platform
Recognizing that SEL centers on human relationships, the learning and collaboration platform to support and facilitate the nationwide network of SEL Learning Communities of Practice, includes in-person, video, phone and online touch points to serve the varied information needs we see across districts (some want online self-service tools, some want in-depth in-person consultation, and most want something in between). Using a best-in-practice enterprise distance learning platform, resources are available at the touch of a button and forums and processes are engaged for sharing expertise between and among districts and model schools.
SEL Status Report
By 2018, a nationwide online map-based status report will be available 24/7 to the public, updated monthly, with an additional annual report to be published by CASEL to document the annual status of SEL in America, along with findings, lessons learned, and continuous improvement approaches for the next year.
Learning communities will be rolled out in order of readiness level as determined CASEL’s systemic SEL rubrics & Theory of Action. Detailed listing to be made available, should CASEL be requested to provide the next level of detail.
Learning Community Leadership
LEADERSHIP TEAM
4 dedicated staff + Advisory and Support Committees manage each Learning Community along a replicable organizational blueprint.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Design, recruit and administer the Learning Community for the duration of its Charter. Provide ongoing support nationwide SEL status reporting.
SKILLS
Project & relationship management and organizational leadership, strong knowledge of CASEL's tools & methodologies.
Learning Community Committees
ACTIVE COMMUNITIES
SEL Learning Communities consist of CASEL consultants, district leaders and staff, school staff, partners and program providers involved with the scale up of SEL in these locations.

ADVISORY
Leadership, Organizational Design, Steering.

WELCOMING
Recruit, Communicate with New Members (Relationship Building, Collaboration).

BEST PRACTICES
Manage Q&A Forums, Monthly Best Practices Call, Surveys, Share Tools.

EVENTS
Support launch events, local events.

MODEL SCHOOLS
Continually support, get to know, and find ways to share model schools & case studies within the LC and state.
Key Milestones
Detailed Design:
- Proposals from Online Platform Providers
- Plan Learning Community “Semesters”
- Finalize a replicable, second generation SEL Learning Communities model and organizational blueprint based on lessons learned from CASEL's existing 8 district pilots.
Launch
- Launch SEL Learning Communities.
- Complete additional grant-based funding applications.
Scale and Improve:
- Complete Supplemental Hiring
- Internal Training Events
- Learning Community Launches in Phases ➡ 1st SEL Weekend is an LC Launch Event
- Fall and Spring LC Semesters 2018-2021
- National Status Tracker SELStatus.com
- National Communications / PR
- Begin planning LC long term transitions
- Continue design, development and refinement of resources based on monitoring and evaluation lessons learned
Replan:
- Develop next 3yr plan
- Develop plan to support remaining districts
- And/or start supporting worldwide rollouts
Leadership Transition:
- Transition LCs to state or local leadership
- Continuous improvement on social enterprise
Learning Community Sustainability
For more information or details on the funding requirements for this effort, please see our budget narrative or contact Jennifer Schneider, Development Director for CASEL, at jschneider@casel.org. Thank you