SEL Demonstration Initiative: Measuring Social Emotional Learning in Out-of-School Time

What supports are necessary to integrate new, explicit SEL supports into a continuous quality improvement system? What are the staff experiences with these supports? What recommendations do providers have for other networks or organizations that want to measure SEL in relation to both youth outcomes and youth program quality?

While positive youth development and out-of-school time programs have long sought to create settings where youth can develop talents, build relationships and connect with caring adults, an increased focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) in these programs has created a strong call for understanding measurement both of social and emotional outcomes and SEL program quality.

From 2017 to 2018, the Forum for Youth Investment and our David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality partnered with the Susan Crown Exchange and four out-of-school time networks to learn more about integrating social and emotional measures and improvement supports into a continuous quality improvement process.

Lessons learned are highlighted in a newly released report – SEL Demonstration Initiative: Measuring Social and Emotional Learning in Out-of-School Time. In the report, program providers and network leaders will find insights and recommendations that are designed to serve as a platform to support networks in the successful design of their own SEL measurement and quality improvement systems.

Review the report.