Parents, teachers, researchers, and policymakers have a growing interest in supporting students’ social and emotional learning and development in the classroom. Decades of research show that a focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) can lead to positive outcomes, from increased test scores and graduation rates to improved prosocial skills that support student success in school and beyond. Educator preparation needs to prepare teachers and leaders to integrate social, emotional, and academic learning in their schools and classrooms to support the growth and development of all students. This includes knowledge that allows them to identify and address individual needs that may be associated with learning barriers, adverse conditions or trauma. Moreover, educator preparation also needs to attend to candidates’ social emotional learning and model those practices they want candidates to embrace with pk-12 students.
