State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact

What does it mean to promote social and emotional learning (SEL) across all 50 states? That was the visionary question of Dr. Roger Weissberg when he and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) set out to collaborate with state policymakers, funders, and experts over t...

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Main Authors: Nick Yoder, Caitlin Dermody, Andy Tucker, Asher A. Miller, Ruth Cross, Pat Conner, Dana Godek, Chi Kim, Linda Dusenbury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773233925000592
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author Nick Yoder
Caitlin Dermody
Andy Tucker
Asher A. Miller
Ruth Cross
Pat Conner
Dana Godek
Chi Kim
Linda Dusenbury
author_facet Nick Yoder
Caitlin Dermody
Andy Tucker
Asher A. Miller
Ruth Cross
Pat Conner
Dana Godek
Chi Kim
Linda Dusenbury
author_sort Nick Yoder
collection DOAJ
description What does it mean to promote social and emotional learning (SEL) across all 50 states? That was the visionary question of Dr. Roger Weissberg when he and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) set out to collaborate with state policymakers, funders, and experts over the past 20 years. As a result of the deep learning and collaboration that Roger inspired, the strategies of promoting state systemic SEL evolved across time. To create policy change for SEL, Roger recognized the need to unite state policymakers with experts and funders to develop and share policies in support of both students and adults. Leading with the experience of deep collaboration in one state, the success of implementing systemic SEL through the Collaborating Districts Initiative (CDI), and the unwavering collaborative mindset that was uniquely Roger, his vision led to a network, The Collaborating States Initiative (CSI). The CSI enables states to work together to create the conditions necessary for districts, schools, and educators to support the whole child. Through this collaborative network and Roger’s expertise, the concepts of SEL, resilience, character education, and youth development have spread to nearly every state, and the process of implementing systemic SEL continues to thrive, even within various political environments. Roger’s bold vision for systemic SEL lives on with CASEL’s work with states today and has formed a strong foundation for the future. In this article, Roger's collaborators reflect on the history, progress, and future directions of state policy work and its extensive impact on millions of students and adults.
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spelling doaj-art-5e04454597e44cfc8c31f0d571d6e29c2025-08-20T03:40:41ZengElsevierSocial and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy2773-23392025-12-01610013510.1016/j.sel.2025.100135State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impactNick Yoder0Caitlin Dermody1Andy Tucker2Asher A. Miller3Ruth Cross4Pat Conner5Dana Godek6Chi Kim7Linda Dusenbury8National University, United States of America; Corresponding author.Harvard Graduate School of Education, United States of AmericaCollaborative for Academic Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), United States of AmericaCollaborative for Academic Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), United States of AmericaCollaborative for Academic Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), United States of AmericaIndependent Consultant, United States of AmericaEdu Solve, United States of AmericaPure Edge, United States of AmericaIndependent Consultant, United States of AmericaWhat does it mean to promote social and emotional learning (SEL) across all 50 states? That was the visionary question of Dr. Roger Weissberg when he and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) set out to collaborate with state policymakers, funders, and experts over the past 20 years. As a result of the deep learning and collaboration that Roger inspired, the strategies of promoting state systemic SEL evolved across time. To create policy change for SEL, Roger recognized the need to unite state policymakers with experts and funders to develop and share policies in support of both students and adults. Leading with the experience of deep collaboration in one state, the success of implementing systemic SEL through the Collaborating Districts Initiative (CDI), and the unwavering collaborative mindset that was uniquely Roger, his vision led to a network, The Collaborating States Initiative (CSI). The CSI enables states to work together to create the conditions necessary for districts, schools, and educators to support the whole child. Through this collaborative network and Roger’s expertise, the concepts of SEL, resilience, character education, and youth development have spread to nearly every state, and the process of implementing systemic SEL continues to thrive, even within various political environments. Roger’s bold vision for systemic SEL lives on with CASEL’s work with states today and has formed a strong foundation for the future. In this article, Roger's collaborators reflect on the history, progress, and future directions of state policy work and its extensive impact on millions of students and adults.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773233925000592Social and emotional learningPolicyCollaborationSystemic SEL
spellingShingle Nick Yoder
Caitlin Dermody
Andy Tucker
Asher A. Miller
Ruth Cross
Pat Conner
Dana Godek
Chi Kim
Linda Dusenbury
State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy
Social and emotional learning
Policy
Collaboration
Systemic SEL
title State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
title_full State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
title_fullStr State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
title_full_unstemmed State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
title_short State education policies as a critical component of systemic SEL: Roger Weissberg’s vision and continuing impact
title_sort state education policies as a critical component of systemic sel roger weissberg s vision and continuing impact
topic Social and emotional learning
Policy
Collaboration
Systemic SEL
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773233925000592
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