Louisiana to Provide SEL Courses to Middle High School Students
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 09/01/20
Louisiana
will be providing every student in grades 6-12 access to social and
emotional learning courses this school year. The state has licensed
content from Edgenuity,
an education technology company that produces online curriculum for
K-12. The content was developed by Purpose
Prep,
a division of Weld
North Education,
which owns Edgenuity as well. Purpose Prep specializes in creating
SEL curriculum.
Schools
will have access to a library of courses, taught by some 80 experts.
Teachers may choose to use the activities or full courses to
personalize the learning experience for their students. Topics cover
intervention on substance abuse, bullying, exploitation, depression
and hopelessness, peer pressure and similar areas of concern for
teens, as well as courses on fostering SEL development, such as
college and career readiness, finding a purpose and working for
social justice. The company has also introduced a new learning module
in response to COVID-19 that addresses the trauma and loss caused by
the pandemic. Students learn about healthy emotional responses and
strategies, building and maintaining relationships through chaos and
defining purpose through uncertain times.
"We
must support our students through the uncertainty of today's
environment. Their ability to learn well depends not only on
instruction, but also on a sense of belonging, positive relationships
and the feedback they receive," said Governor John Bel Edwards,
in a statement. "As students have been disrupted from their
school routine and disconnected from their teachers, social and
emotional support and skills are more essential than ever."
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.