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Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning occurs when teachers and school staff help students develop the interpersonal skills they need to succeed in school and work. This skill-building happens in the course of everyday instruction, when teachers pause to encourage students to pose a question in a more respectful tone, imagine how others feel, take a deep breath to calm themselves down, break a goal into manageable pieces and more. Social and emotional self-management is thought to set the stage for productive, cooperative learning.
June 21, 2018

Discipline reform gets boost in California budget

Efforts to expand California's ban on suspending students for “willful defiance," now limited to K-3 grades, also still in play.

David Washburn
June 11, 2018

How rewarding positive behavior turned around our school

Breaking the chain of misbehavior and punishment by recognizing students for what they do right.

Chelsea Ramirez and Jacob Rosario
June 6, 2018

Gavin Newsom knows what it is like to struggle with reading

The likely future governor of California opens a window to the painful world of dyslexia experienced by millions of children and adults.

Louis Freedberg
May 16, 2018

The art of engagement: classroom management now matters more in teacher training

The current era of discipline reform in California is putting greater emphasis on an aspect of teaching that has long gotten the short shrift in teacher credentialing programs.

David Washburn
May 15, 2018

Resources often don't match rhetoric for restorative justice in California schools

While awareness of restorative justice is high among school officials statewide, budgets for programs remain tiny in most school districts.

David Washburn
May 14, 2018

A South LA high school's journey back from the brink

Augustus F. Hawkins High, which is situated at the crossroads of multiple gang territories, almost died at its birth. A commitment to restorative justice helped save it.

David Washburn
May 13, 2018

The rise of restorative justice in California schools brings promise, controversy

Many tout the practice as a groundbreaking alternative to zero-tolerance policies and a way to alleviate discipline disparities, while some say it's being oversold as a quick fix.

David Washburn
April 25, 2018

Abuse, violence common among LGBT homeless youth, study finds

A new national survey reveals a complex trajectory of how LGBT youth become homeless.

Carolyn Jones
April 3, 2018

California districts to take part in groundbreaking school safety study

Researchers will spend five years studying California schools in order to get a better picture of how they can become places where people feel safer and more connected.

David Washburn
March 26, 2018

Great teachers make every student feel included

A public school teacher’s job is to provide a safe, supportive learning environment for all students.

Jillayne Antoon
March 22, 2018

With increased focus on students' social and emotional skills, teachers turn to class pets to help lead the way

In some schools, class pets do more than help children learn about animals. They are also being integrated into teachers' efforts to help young students learn social and emotional skills, such as self-awareness, responsibility and empathy.

Ashley Hopkinson
March 21, 2018

California tops in suspension reform, but still not properly targeting disparities, report says

The report finds no other state does a better job than California at holding districts accountable for reducing overall school suspensions. But districts still don't adequately prioritize cuts in suspension rates for students of color and other marginalized groups.

David Washburn
March 15, 2018

Oakland Unified initiative for African-American girls follows years of focus on the boys

Like the boys’ initiative, the goal is to boost cultural pride and academic performance, lower suspension and dropout rates and create greater understanding of the students’ singular experiences and needs.

Lee Romney
February 28, 2018

Forecast for California school climates remains cloudy without good data, advocates say

School districts are trying a variety of strategies aimed at creating safe and welcoming school environments, but there is controversy over the role and frequency of student surveys, and how to use them.

David Washburn
February 5, 2018

​Contrary to critics, parents tell pollster they find California’s school dashboard useful

Depending how the question is framed, they also favor rating schools on multiple factors, not issuing a single grade.

John Fensterwald