Six policy areas state leaders can implement to create equitable SEAD-supportive learning environments¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief identifies six key policy issues for state and school leaders to create equitable and safe learning environments that promote positive SEAD: inclusive discipline and dress code policies, meaningful professional development for all adults, equitable access to rigorous and culturally sustaining curricula, engaging students and families as full partners, access to integrated wraparound services, and diversifying the educator workforce. The brief states these policies are 'integral to ensuring positive outcomes in school and beyond.'

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• State and district leaders coordinate across all six policy areas rather than treating SEAD as a single program

Constraints¶

• Many of these policy areas are led at the local level, with state leaders playing a supporting role

Target Learners¶

• P-12 students, particularly students of color and students from low-income backgrounds

Target Learning Goals¶

• Social, emotional, and academic development; equitable access to rigorous learning

Related Strategies¶

• Restorative-justice-aligned discipline policies to reduce exclusionary discipline disparities
• Six recommendations for school and district leaders to create equitable SEAD learning environments
• State leaders support local SEAD implementation through three levers: prioritizing SEAD in state goals, providing equity-focused guidance and funding, and making data public
• Three state levers for supporting local SEAD implementation
• Seven state-level policy actions to improve school discipline equity
• Professional development in asset-based pedagogies and adult SEL to build culturally affirming environments
• Family, community, and student engagement as full partners in SEAD policy and practice
• Equitable access to rigorous and culturally sustaining curricula, including automatic advanced-coursework enrollment
• Multi-pronged state investments to diversify and retain the educator workforce
• Embed a race-equity lens in all local discipline actions and invest in supportive personnel over school police

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• The Education Trust. (2023). How Does Massachusetts Support Students' Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (SEAD)?. EdTrust.org. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED630071