Transformative Social Emotional Learning | Riverside County Office of Education

Understanding CASEL's TSEL Framework

Why SEL Matters for Students and Adults

Research consistently shows that when schools and districts create learning environments that are safe, supportive, nurturing, and predictable for both adults and students, everyone benefits. These conditions foster greater engagement, promote academic success, and strengthen the capacity of adults and young people to manage stress while developing a healthy sense of self. When Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is implemented with fidelity, the outcomes are significant:

SEL programs grounded in CASEL’s five core competencies have been shown to raise student academic performance by an average of 11 percentile points compared to peers who did not participate.
Students in SEL programs demonstrate improved classroom behavior, stronger stress management, and more positive attitudes about themselves, others, and their school community.

Together, these findings underscore that SEL is not an “add-on”; it is a foundational approach that helps both adults and students thrive in school and beyond.

CASEL Framework

CASEL has created a framework for TSEL that is represented by what is known as the CASEL Wheel.

The Wheel begins with SEL as its’ center and is surrounded by the 5 Core SEL Competencies. Self-Awareness and Self-Management are labeled orange to represent intrapersonal competencies. Social Awareness and Relationship Skills are labeled in green to represent the competencies that focus on interpersonal competencies and Responsible Decision-Making is labeled in yellow as it has elements of both intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies. Around the 5 Core Competencies are concentric blue circles that represent the context in which TSEL is built and those educational partners that are critical to the development of the TSEL framework.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a leader in the field of SEL. CASEL has worked extensively with districts and schools to encourage and empower educators in the implementation of SEL. As the research has expanded, so has CASEL’s definition of SEL. In 2020, CASEL updated its definition of SEL and the description of its 5 Core Competencies to center its work not only around SEL but also include identity development, educational opportunities, and adults and students working together to build learning environments that were more reflective of the communities they serve.

CASEL’S Definition of TSEL:

We define social and emotional learning (SEL) as an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various barriers of learning and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

The Riverside County Office of Education TSEL Vision Statement:

In order that all students graduate from high school academically and socially prepared for college, the workforce, and civic responsibility, Riverside County Office of Education prioritizes the development of transformative social-emotional competencies for students and adults to ensure everyone:

Develops the social-emotional skills necessary for the present and the future.
Experiences a safe, consistent, and accessible learning environment.
Has opportunities to seamlessly develop their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral competencies.
Cultivates ethical decision-making and responsibility about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.
Develops agency, identity, and belonging.
Discovers their purpose and passion.
Builds meaningful relationships to understand others’ perspectives, experiences, cultures and stories.

In early 2020, the CDE launched the Advance SEL in California Campaign to gather input from across the state on SEL practices, needs, and goals. The RCOE SEW Unit participated in this effort, contributing to recommendations that supported educators and families in addressing the social and emotional needs of both adults and students through a strength-based approach.

To put these recommendations into action, the CDE formed a new SEL Work Group later that year. The SEW Unit was selected to join this team and collaborated on the development key information and resources to support SEL implementation across California.

TSEL Competencies and Conditions for Thriving

SEL4CA

The Social Emotional Learning Alliance for California (SEL4CA) champions the well-being of schools, educators, and students by advancing transformative SEL as a foundation of education. SEL4CA supports this mission through initiatives such as SEL Day celebrations, professional learning events, a statewide job board for SEL-related roles, free resource libraries, and regional coordinators who provide networking and technical assistance.