Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Toward SEL in Service of Educational Equity and Excellence

TLDR

Transformative SEL is grounded in justice‑oriented citizenship, emphasizing culture, identity, agency, belonging, and engagement as expressions of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning core competencies. The article aims to develop transformative SEL to promote equity and excellence across ages and outlines next steps for advancing research and practice. The authors focus on race/ethnicity as an entry point, highlight promising programs and practices for cultivating competencies, and emphasize the role of adult professional development in maximizing effectiveness for diverse youth.

Abstract

This article seeks to develop transformative social and emotional learning (SEL), a form of SEL intended to promote equity and excellence among children, young people, and adults. We focus on issues of race/ethnicity as a first step toward addressing the broader range of extant inequities. Transformative SEL is anchored in the notion of justice-oriented citizenship, and we discuss issues of culture, identity, agency, belonging, and engagement as relevant expressions of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning 5 core competencies. We also point to programs and practices that hold promise for cultivating these competencies and the importance of adult professional development in making these efforts maximally effective for diverse children and youth. We conclude by offering a few next steps to further advance transformative SEL research and practice.