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Assessing SEL in Students: The Challenges, What to Avoid & What’s New

Victoria Sambursky

According to a review on the current state of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) assessments, it states, “Although policies and programs designed to support the development of student SEL have advanced significantly, less work has been done to develop methods of assessing student social and emotional competence.”

This article uncovers the current challenges facing teachers when evaluating SEL skills – such as finding reliable assessment tools that align with their standards. We also highlight how leading educational organizations are developing guides to help tackle these issues. Finally, we reveal what’s new in this area and what parents and educators should look for when assessing student social and emotional competence.

The Latest Hurdles in Measuring SEL Competencies

An article in Ed Surge suggests, “As more schools recognize the importance of SEL curriculums, the question now being raised is: ‘Do we need to measure these competencies, and if so, how the heck do we do it?'” The article emphasizes how this challenge affects many educators, including Edward Chen, a Director of Technology at California’s independent The Nueva School. He tells Ed Surge, “The greatest difficulty in measuring SEL skills is having a true standard. Even if teachers could agree on what to assess, as many schools have, there’s still much room for interpretation.”

The Ed Surge article also highlights concerns from Jeremy Taylor, Director of Assessment and Continuous Improvement at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). According to the article, “For him [Taylor], the most prominent interests are around assessment accuracy and reliability. But he also points out other issues, including variability with student comprehension of questions, language barriers, the difficulty of self-reporting for children, and teacher biases.” The review mentioned earlier also discusses additional problems educators face when evaluating student SEL competencies, including:

  • Ensuring the decisions made from SEL assessment scores support the evidence of the assessment’s psychometric merit.
  • Balancing the priorities of assessment developers and educators.
  • Organizing conditions for SEL assessment and data use that maximize benefit while mitigating risks.
  • Coordinating standards, assessments, programs, and professional learning.

One important note to emphasize when assessing student SEL is to avoid using these tools for accountability or high stakes situations. According to the Buros Center for Testing–Spencer Foundation Project Scholars, “States and districts must avoid using SEL assessments for high stakes factors.” These decisions would involve measuring student learning to screen students in need of additional services or to identify those with a mental health problem.

Evaluating SEL Skills? Where to Begin

According to a recent report by the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, “SEL assessment data can help guide educators to build on identified student strengths and address student needs.” So how can teachers choose the right assessment for them? Leaders at CASEL and the RAND Corporation have developed guides to help educators start this journey.

For instance, The SEL Assessment Guide, created by CASEL, is an online resource that helps educators select and effectively use SEL student assessments. The guide offers information about the specific SEL competencies measured by widely used assessments. This resource is also used to help teachers decide which measures are good options for their particular situations. The RAND Education Assessment Finder is another guide that lists assessments of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and higher-order cognitive competencies. This information allows educators and researchers to learn what each tool is designed to measure and the demands each assessment places on students and teachers.

How to Find the Right SEL Assessment for Students

After reviewing guides from educational leaders and state agencies, teachers and administrators may still wonder how to decide which SEL assessment is best for their classroom or school. Below, we list suggestions from the organization Committee for Children, and other educational experts, to consider when evaluating SEL tools.

Focus on the Environment & Student Agency

Strong SEL assessments foster conversations about needed adjustments in the environment, such as adult supports and instructional practices. These tools should also help facilitate productive discussions between teachers, parents, and students. The Committee for Children also recommends staying away from assessments that lead to conversations about how to “fix” children. Finally, SEL tools should also promote student agency. According to RAND, “School staff can empower students in their own SEL development by including them in the use of assessments and data to support instruction and learning. Involving students in this process gives them a sense of ownership over their learning and likely will increase their motivation, engagement, and sense of agency.”

Explore Science-Based Tools

To find the right SEL assessment tool, start by looking into ones that are individualized, reliable, and valid. How long has the assessment been around? Is it evidence-based? Does it include individualized actionable insights? For instance, the science-based SELC (Social-Emotional Learning Competence) Report can support teachers and administrators in measuring SEL competency at the individual level. This information can help modify teaching strategies and support students to be their best selves. The SELC also allows parents and school counselors to discover which fields of education best suit high school students as they enter post-secondary education. Validation from government offices, corporations, schools, and universities – and 17 years of research helped create this evidence-based and reliable tool.

Learn from Others Who Already Use SEL Assessments

Many school districts have invested time and energy into SEL assessment planning and are immersed in the process of using data to inform their work. It may be helpful to learn from them by reading their stories. The Committee for Children suggests starting with these schools:  NapervilleCouncil Bluffs, and Washoe County Schools.

Bottom line, when choosing an SEL assessment, educators need to consider the goals and needs of their school district. Then, they should search for a tool that is research-based with high reliability and validity. Finally, the assessment needs to align with their standards and framework – after all, they know what’s best for their students.