Since the release of the National Commission on Social, Emotional & Academic Development’s final report, we have received dozens of comments from organizations who – many for the first time – see themselves, their priorities and their suggestions reflected, at least in part, in the language, examples and recommendations of a report designed for educators.  We have been able to craft and respond to opportunities to bring the key ideas and frames from the report to large audiences.

The response is strong and positive.  The field is ready to engage in and expand the shared understanding of how, where and when learning happens.  If aggressively leveraged, we believe this momentum can catalyze the field to work together in new ways to address the glaring disparities in learning opportunities and conditions that exist within and between schools, neighborhoods and communities.

We are working to develop simple, accessible and effective tools that draw from research in the youth development, brain science and education fields that help all of us translate the National Commission on Social, Emotional & Academic Development’s work into action agendas that resonate with community partners. There is more to come, but for now, we hope you will find the following tools we have used over the past few months useful in making the case for engaging, equitable learning across all settings.