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| Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning |
| Formation | 1994 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Leader title | CEO |
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a US-based nonprofit established in the 1990s to advance social and emotional learning in schools and communities. It engages with educators, researchers, policymakers, philanthropies, and foundations to develop standards, research syntheses, and implementation guidance. CASEL's work intersects with districts, state departments, professional associations, and global initiatives to scale programs that target student competencies and school climates.
CASEL was founded in 1994 amid policy debates involving the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and advocacy by figures associated with Chicago Public Schools reform and philanthropic efforts in Illinois. Early collaborations involved researchers affiliated with Harvard Graduate School of Education, University of Chicago, Stanford University, and Yale University to translate developmental psychology into classroom practice. In the 2000s CASEL connected with initiatives supported by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and engaged with state education agencies such as the California Department of Education and the New York State Education Department. Over time CASEL expanded networks to include international organizations like the UNICEF and the World Bank for cross-national dissemination.
CASEL states its mission to promote evidence-based social and emotional learning across institutions such as school districts, state agencies, and teacher preparation programs. The organization's governance has involved leaders from academic institutions including University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and Columbia University teacher education units, alongside board members from philanthropic entities like the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and corporate partners. CASEL operates regional offices and works with intermediaries such as the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers to coordinate implementation and professional development.
CASEL developed a widely cited framework identifying core competencies and standards used by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University to evaluate program outcomes. Their framework has been referenced in systematic reviews by bodies such as the What Works Clearinghouse and incorporated into meta-analyses produced by scholars connected to London School of Economics and University College London. The framework aligns with measurement work conducted by psychometric groups at Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has informed randomized trials in partnership with researchers from Duke University and University of Pennsylvania.
CASEL curates a program guide and implementation supports used by school districts including Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Initiatives have included professional learning collaboratives modeled on work from Teach For America alumni networks and district-led pilots funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Ford Foundation. CASEL has convened summits featuring leaders from National PTA, civil society groups like Save the Children, and international research centers including Child Trends.
CASEL has partnered with federal and state entities such as the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and state legislatures in Massachusetts and Washington (state) to inform standards and guidance. Collaborations extend to policy organizations such as the Brookings Institution, the RAND Corporation, and advocacy groups like the American Institutes for Research. CASEL's policy briefs have been cited in legislative hearings alongside testimony from representatives of Chalkbeat, the Hechinger Report, and state education chiefs.
Evaluations of CASEL-aligned programs have been conducted by research teams at RAND Corporation, WestEd, and university labs affiliated with Northwestern University and University of Texas at Austin. Reported outcomes include measures of classroom climate, attendance, and disciplinary referrals tracked in studies connected to National Center for Education Statistics datasets. Meta-analyses by scholars associated with University of Edinburgh and Monash University have assessed effect sizes and implementation fidelity across diverse contexts, including urban districts such as Detroit Public Schools Community District.
Critiques have emerged from commentators in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and policy scholars at American Enterprise Institute and Cato Institute regarding measurement validity, cultural adaptation, and the role of philanthropy in shaping school priorities. Debates have involved civil rights advocates linked to NAACP and education reform critics associated with StudentsFirst over resource allocation and accountability. Academic critiques from researchers at University of Chicago and Princeton University have questioned evidence standards and urged more rigorous randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chicago Category:Educational organizations in the United States