Major National SEL Report Released

The Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development released a major national report yesterday, From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope, calling on all sectors of society to hasten efforts to ensure that ALL students have access to quality social and emotional learning (SEL). WINGS has been part of the movement for more than 20 years and we are thrilled to be in alignment with the recommendations included in this report. 

“In our two decades of work, we’ve seen firsthand the power of SEL and its positive impact on the lives of children both in and out of the classroom. WINGS is proud to be a part of this movement dedicated to developing the whole child, and we are eager to continue working with the Commission and partners in the field to advance this important work on behalf of all kids.” - Bridget Laird, CEO

We are working with organizations across the country to provide equitable access to high-quality SEL through the afterschool programs we operate, through SEL implementation projects with partners, and by equipping teachers and youth workers with the knowledge and skills to strengthen their own programming with social emotional learning. 

We help organizations implement and build capacity for SEL initiatives that are high-quality and high-impact. > Learn more

We provide a number of professional development opportunities based on our evidence-based practices. > Learn more

This summer we will launch WINGS Across America, an initiative with Discovery Education, to make SEL accessible for elementary schools nationwide by providing SEL classroom content and practical strategies for incorporating SEL into any environment. Our goal is to reach 1.5 MILLION elementary students over the next 3 years. 

The report outlines evidence that confirms supporting students’ social and emotional development has a direct impact on academic development and overall well-being. Our recent randomized control trial research study, the gold standard of education research, shows similar positive effects on children who participated in WINGS’ afterschool SEL program for two years.

We strongly endorse this report and hope that it serves to catalyze the adoption of effective SEL practices nationwide. As someone dedicated to improving the lives of children we trust you will find this report as inspiring as we do.