Beyond the Mask: Promoting Transformation and Healing in School Reopening: Social Emotional Learning Supports
The U.S. Department of Education required each state to submit a reopening plan outlining how they were using and planned on using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) conducted an analysis of 37* state plans to better understand if and how schools were prioritizing Tier 1 social and emotional learning supports.
In their reopening plans, the U.S. Department of Education asked schools to explain how they planned on meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. Social-emotional learning (SEL) was a key strategy identified by many states. However, most states are not explicitly prioritizing racial equity in these supports.
*CLASP analyzed the 37 plans that were available as of July 5th, 2021. Plans submitted after this date were not included in our analysis.
