69ý

Student Well-Being

What New Research Shows About the Link Between Achievement and SEL

By Lauraine Langreo — July 07, 2023 2 min read
Photo of elementary school teacher working closely with student.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

69ý’ social-emotional skills are positively correlated with their reading and math performance, according to a study by Branching Minds, an ed-tech company that provides multitiered system of supports software.

That means if a student’s SEL skills are strong, their reading and math performance tends to be higher. If their SEL skills are weak, their reading and math performance tends to be lower. Between 60 percent and 70 percent of students who were identified as needing additional social-emotional support were also identified as needing additional academic support, the study found.

To understand the links between social-emotional learning and academic outcomes, the Branching Minds’ study analyzed student screening assessments for social-emotional skills (DESSA-Mini) and reading and math performance (NWEA MAP Growth) of nearly 4,000 K-8 students in the 2021-22 school year. The findings were presented at the last month.

The findings come as educators are grappling with large declines in math and reading performance on the test known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” as well as other measures of academic achievement. They’re also dealing with an increase in student behavioral problems and other social, emotional, and mental health challenges.

Because of the greater focus on student well-being in recent years, “we’ve really seen a growing interest in social-emotional screening tools to use alongside academic screening tools,” said Essie Sutton, the director of learning science at Branching Minds.

The study’s findings are in line with previous research that shows social-emotional learning has a positive impact on students’ academic achievement, but there’s still a gap in “understanding how those pieces of data [academic and social-emotional strengths] should be integrated and used together” when creating intervention plans for students, Sutton said.

The study also found that social-emotional skills may act as “a protective factor” for some students performing below academic standards, meaning that students’ social-emotional strengths could be used to boost their academic achievement, Sutton said. Therefore, “it would be beneficial for educators to think about more integrated support plans for struggling students,” she added

See Also

A student in Stephanie Brugler, during the educational development of SEL with her students of Jefferson PK-8 school.
A student in Stephanie Brugler 3rd grade class participates in an SEL lesson on emotions at the Jefferson PK-8 school in Warren, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 2022.
Daniel Lozada for Education Week

For example, if a student is struggling with reading, but they are very social, “how can we build that into a support plan, and perhaps make these targeted or individualized reading support groups more social and play to that strength that they have?” Perhaps the student could take on the role of teacher and explain something to their peers in order to help them practice reading comprehension, as well as social skills, Sutton said.

The study also recommended that results from academic, social-emotional, and behavioral screeners should be used when developing intervention plans for students.

“It’s really important to look at students’ strengths and needs holistically,” Sutton said. To do that, district and school leaders should ensure that their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support teams are in collaboration instead of being in their own silos, and that all stakeholders—students, parents, and teachers—are part of the process of creating intervention plans.

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69ý
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Student Well-Being Download Traumatic Brain Injuries Are More Common Than You Think. Here's What to Know
Here's how educators can make sure injured students don't fall behind as they recover.
1 min read
Illustration of a female student sitting at her desk and holding hands against her temples while swirls of pencils, papers, question marks, stars, and exclamation marks swirl around her head.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being How Teachers Can Help LGBTQ+ 69ý With Post-Election Anxiety
LGBTQ+ crisis prevention hotlines have seen a spike in calls from youth and their families.
6 min read
Photo of distraught teen girl.
Preeti M / Getty
Student Well-Being 69ý Are Eerily Quiet About the Election Results, Educators Say
Teachers say students' reactions to Trump's win are much more muted than in 2016.
6 min read
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump greets Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump greets Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Evan Vucci/AP
Student Well-Being Student Journalists Want to Cover Politics. Not Everyone Agrees They Should
Student journalists are grappling with controversial topics—a lesson in democracy that's becoming increasingly at risk for pushback.
7 min read
Illustration of a paper airplane made from a newspaper.
DigitalVision Vectors