SEL Unit

What is SEL?

Social-Emotional Learning (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.

Why SEL?

Students who participate in SEL programs increase their overall grades and have better attendance. The skills learned within a SEL program have been shown to help students better cope with emotional stress, solve problems, and avoid peer pressure to engage in harmful activities.

How do we do SEL?

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is foundational and multidimensional.

In LAUSD, we approach SEL instruction in three ways. First, we focus on building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging for all students. Then, we ensure that students receive direct SEL instruction. To learn about our evidence-based approved programs, see our linked resource for more information on which program best supports your student's needs. Students must be provided with explicit instruction in the SEL skills necessary for their current and future success. We embed SEL into practices throughout the day through intentional support using SEL strategies, routines, and structures that enhance students' wellness and learning. Once students have learned these skills, we must integrate the practice of these skills into our content instruction. Incorporating strategies and activities into all academic subjects and content areas offers multiple opportunities for our students to practice these essential skills.

Explore our website for further information.

The Summer Bridge programs are tailored for rising 6th / 7th (i.e., current 5th / 6th) and 9th (i.e., current 8th) grade students transitioning into middle and high schools to prepare them for success in their new academic settings. The Summer Bridge Readiness Programs offer an opportunity for school sites to facilitate transitional summer activities, aiding incoming students in achieving academic readiness, nurturing their identity, fostering new relationships, engaging in social-emotional learning, and igniting motivation for the upcoming academic year.

L.A. Unified has taken proactive measures to prioritize the overall well-being of students. The Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program provides a curriculum for teachers to support students in developing a culture of student-to-student mentoring for critical challenges that they face. Select Priority secondary schools have been given the opportunity to enhance student support through the implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program designed to address the significant challenges adolescents encounter.

The Social Emotional Learning Unit works to increase awareness of social emotional learning skill development and practices in the daily lives of educators, students, and their families. The SEL Unit supports teachers' practice and efficacy in developing SEL competencies in themselves and their students.

It provides professional development and access to evidence-based curriculum that supports direct instruction, integrated lessons for all content areas and grade levels as well as signature practices that help to foster community building in the school community. The SEL Unit works to provide support for the implementation of SEL Tier 1 instruction. We prioritize SEL competencies to build teacher efficacy in teaching explicit SEL curricula for students.

Dr. Justin Lauer

Director of Middle School Instruction

Division of Instruction

333. S. Beaudry Ave

25th Floor, 25-161

Los Angeles, Ca 90017

Office (213) 241-8234

email: [email protected]

Karla Lopez Maribel Macias Contreras, M. Ed

Social Emotional Learning Adviser, TK- 12 Social Emotional Learning Adviser, TK- 12

Division of Instruction Region North

office: (213) 241-3409 email: [email protected]

email: [email protected]

Nancy Palomera M. Ed

Social Emotional Learning Adviser, TK- 12

Region East

email: [email protected]