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About Social Emotional Learning

What is SEL?

According to CASEL, "social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions."

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However, in practice, SEL compels unlicensed therapy for children in non-therapeutic settings.

All about CASEL

What is CASEL?

 

CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, is the organization that provides the

framework that Social Emotional Learning Programs follow. The framework hides the Critical Race Theory agenda of SEL and psychologically manipulates children to believe the radical ideology through Culturally Responsive Teaching.

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SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to

establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

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Concerns with CASEL's SEL​
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  • Top-down approach (National organization dictating standards to states and schools)

  • Massive mental health data collection from invasive surveys and assessments without parental consent

  • Surveys are connected to student identification numbers (which are connected to SSN)

  • Data is interpreted through a Critical Race Theory viewpoint and always returns results with systemic oppression

  • SEL uses a Critical Race Theory framework that is implemented through Culturally Responsive Teaching which emphasizes the idea that Americans belong to one of two groups, oppressor or oppressed

What to do & how to help

Questions to ask your child's teacher​
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Utilize parent conference opportunities other parent/teacher communications to inquire about SEL programs and the use of surveys to collect information about your child.

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  • Could you tell me about the SEL program you utilize in my child's classroom?

  • Is the program mandated by the school, or are you able to independently determine what program to use?

  • Do you use supplemental materials (that you identify as helpful as a part of the program?

  • Are you administering surveys as a part of the SEL program?

Questions to ask school leaders​
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  • Are you utilizing an SEL program in the school?

  • Is it mandated by the school board or superintendent, or have you implemented it on this school site?

  • Does the school district have a policy on SEL programs? May I have a copy What SEL program is the school implementing?

Opt-out!​
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Your state or school district may have specific policies/forms for opting out. If so, use those forms in some situations, federal law may apply to the SEL survey being implemented by the school. Here is opt-out language based on the Federal FERPA and PPRA laws:

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I/We, ______________________________ (parent(s)/guardian(s) names) elect to opt-out my/our _______________________(Child(rens) Names and Grade Level) under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) from any survey or questionnaire at any of the schools of ___________________________________ school district that requires my/our children to answer questions specifically regarding race gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, family structure, and/or socio-economic status...

Get Information​

 

Review Your Child's Student Handbook

  • Schools may include "Consent Forms" for participation in surveys in the Student Handbook or even Back to School Policies Make sure you are not consenting to the participation of surveys or other data collections when you sign and return an acknowledgment form

 

Know Your Local Policies

  • Schools often have policies on the collection and use of student data. Some policies will be posted online Know your school district policies.

  • Follow your local school board and monitor the agenda for agreement contracts with third parties to collect data or administer SEL Programs

Helpful links

The Trouble With SEL

by Max Eden |  AEI

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