Social–emotional learning

Transformative SEL aims to guide students to "critically examine root causes of inequity, and to develop collaborative solutions that lead to personal, community, and societal well-being.

[21] According to Ammar Al-Ghabban, an independent education consultant, SEL fosters empathy and compassion, and is imperative for a successful school that effectively supports the mental wellbeing of staff and students.

[24] The implementation of SEL is shown to be statistically associated with improving the social dynamics of schools by decreasing physical aggression[25] and reducing bullying of students with disabilities.

[27] Additionally, the implementation of SEL programs in schools as early as kindergarten is associated with decreasing likelihood of students growing up to use public housing, having involvement with the police, or spending time in a detention facility.

Things like responsible decision making and positive relationship building are much easier to learn for students who are constantly exposed to examples of the behavior.

[30] Robert Pondiscio of the right-leaning think tank the American Enterprise Institute also criticized SEL for changing "the role of the teacher, from a pedagogue to something more closely resembling a psychotherapist, social worker, or member of the clergy - no less concerned with a child's beliefs, attitudes and values.

"[32] In some school districts, students are asked to enter their current mood or feelings into an app every day, as part of the social-emotional learning curriculum.

[36] In April 2022, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) published a list of mathematics instructional materials that aligned with the state's Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (BEST) standards.