What Is the CASEL Framework? - CASEL

The CASEL Framework: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The CASEL Framework (often called the "CASEL wheel") is designed to cultivate social and emotional competence and establish equitable learning environments. It was updated in 2020 to emphasize educational equity and excellence.

Five Areas of Social and Emotional Competence

• Self-Awareness: Understanding one’s emotions, thoughts, values, and how they influence behavior; recognizing strengths and limitations.
• Self-Management: Effectively managing emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve goals; includes stress management, self-discipline, and motivation.
• Social Awareness: Understanding the perspectives of others, empathizing, and recognizing diverse social norms and community resources.
• Relationship Skills: Establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, communicating clearly, listening actively, and negotiating conflict.
• Responsible Decision-Making: Making constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and well-being.

Four Key Settings for SEL Implementation

• Classrooms: Focuses on explicit instruction, cooperative learning, and integrating SEL into academic curricula. High-quality instruction follows the SAFE acronym:
  • Sequenced: Coordinated training approaches.
  • Active: Hands-on learning.
  • Focused: Intentional emphasis on SEL competencies.
  • Explicit: Targeting specific skills and attitudes.
• Schools: Involves schoolwide planning and continuous improvement to foster a climate where students and adults feel respected and supported.
• Families & Caregivers: Emphasizes authentic partnerships, inclusive decision-making, and extending SEL practices into the home.
• Communities: Focuses on aligning SEL efforts between schools and community partners to provide safe, relevant learning opportunities outside of school hours.

Key Takeaways

• Evidence-Based: The framework is designed to be adapted to local contexts, strengths, and cultures.
• Equity-Focused: Effective SEL requires inclusive processes that engage historically marginalized groups and reflect the values of the community.
• Implementation Tools: CASEL provides reflection protocols and guides for schoolwide implementation to help districts and schools coordinate practices across all four settings.