Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
SEL & Character Development
The skills of emotion regulation, behavior management, and healthy social interaction builds the foundation for immediate wellbeing and lifelong character development. While character education provides the deeper purpose behind these skills by connecting daily actions to personal values, guiding individuals to choose honesty and integrity as expressions of who they are rather than responses to external consequences. In CMS, we provide instruction in both social and emotional skills and character development for the purpose of enhancing the overall wellbeing or wellness of our students.
Student Wellness resources are aligned to the vision and mission of our district and are utilized to create “an innovative, inclusive and student centered environment that supports the development of independent learners…[who will] lead the community in educational excellence...so that all students reach their full potential”
Student Wellness Specialists support schools and all school staff with emotional, behavioral, social and character development of our staff and students by:
- Providing guidance on integrating social and emotional and character development into academic instruction
- Advocating and demonstrating creative ways to incorporate student voice
- Providing guidance on the relevance of SEL to foundational practices of MTSS
- Providing professional development for adults and students to create and maintain a healthy culture and climate
- Collaborating with community partners to deliver effective, efficient and relevant professional development
Student Wellness Video:
Social Emotional Learning
"Social Emotional Learning (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." (CASEL, October 2020)
The CMS Student Wellness Ecosystem
Why is this Important?
CASEL 5: Core Competencies
CASEL stands for the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. CASEL offers an evidence-based framework for SEL and guides SEL best practices and resources that lead to student success. They have identified five core competencies as a foundation to providing high-quality SEL. The "CASEL 5" are as follows:
Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
Self-Awareness
Understand one's own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.
Self-Management
Manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.
Social Awareness
Understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds.
Relationship Skills
Establish and maintain healthy, supportive relationships and effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals/groups.
Responsible Decision-Making
Make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.
Benefits of SEL Instruction (from https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/casel-new-definition-of-sel-what-you-need-to-know)
- 50% more likely to graduate high school
- Twice as likely to earn a college degree
- Improved positive attitude toward self-and others while reducing aggression and emotional distress
- Increases helping behaviors and student engagement
- SEL provides the context and the opportunities for students to establish and maintain supportive relationships by developing and practicing skills that are applicable to various settings
- Academic learning accelerates and students’ academic performance increases by 11 percentile points in comparison to those who don't participate in social and emotional learning
(Durlak et al., 2011 & Committee for Children)
SEL is aligned with the Superintendent's 3-E Goal that at the end of each student's academic career, they leave prepared to be Enrolled, Enlisted or Employed.
Social and Emotional Learning Supports Local Priorities
Schools, families, and communities work together to create shared goals for SEL.
Supports Academics
With social and emotional learning, students scored 13 points higher academically compared to students without SEL.
Supports Workforce Development
6 of the top 10 in-demand career skills involve SEL, like complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
Supports Public Service
77% of high school students from schools that prioritize SEL would engage in military, national, or public service.
Supports Mental Health
SEL promotes supportive relationships, safe environments, and skills development that can buffer against mental health risks.
From "How Does SEL Support Your Priorities?" on casel.org
CASEL Resources:
CMS Resources:
Curriculum:
- Caring School Community (K-5)