Focus on Families: Understanding Roles, Obstacles, Perspectives, and Best Practices for Caregiver Engagement in Social and Emotional Learning

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Families and caregivers play a pivotal role in promoting students’ social and emotional development. However, SEL has faced backlash in recent years from caregivers who question the intentions behind SEL, the roles schools and families should play in SEL, and conflate of SEL with political ideologies. In this session, we will illuminate the voices of caregivers to better understand these concerns around SEL. Furthermore, we will discuss their current practices, wants, and needs, and share strategies that can be used to mitigate concerns and promote authentic school-family partnerships. The overall goal of this session is to better understand caregivers’ concerns about SEL and engage participants in a discussion on how to combat these concerns and successfully engage families in SEL.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Social and Emotional Learning

Chair

• Dana Murano, ACT, Inc.

Papers

• Family Engagement With Social and Emotional Learning: Evidence From a Survey of Parents - Adam Tyner, Fordham Institute

• Understanding Family and Caregiver Concerns About Social and Emotional Learning - Dana Murano, ACT, Inc.; Nola Daley, ACT, Inc.; Jeremy Burrus, ACT, Inc.; Kate Walton, ACT, Inc.

• How Do Caregivers Develop Social and Emotional Skills With Their Child at Home? - Nola Daley, ACT, Inc.; Dana Murano, ACT, Inc.; Jeremy Burrus, ACT, Inc.; Kate Walton, ACT, Inc.; Alex Casillas, ACT, Inc.

• Transformative SEL: Building Capacity for Authentic Caregiver-School Partnerships - Briana Coleman, CASEL; Alexandra Skoog-Hoffman, NewSchools Venture Fund; Tyrone Martinez-Black, CASEL

Discussant

• Alex Casillas, ACT, Inc.