Austin ISD: A District Embracing SEL

Austin students learn social-emotional “survival” skills

As with most large school districts, Austin Independent School District’s 87,000 students are culturally and economically diverse and, in some cases, working to succeed despite difficult circumstances. 

As part of their effort to help all their students succeed, AISD is implementing a 5-year initiative to implement social-emotional learning (SEL)—including the Second Step program--in every school. And their efforts are already paying off. 

For example, in the three years since O. Henry Middle School began implementing SEL, discipline referrals in the first six weeks of school have dropped by 87 percent. 

AISD educators and students alike love the program. Says third-grader Isabelle, “Some schools probably don’t do Second Step or social-emotional learning, and their school’s probably not as fun as ours.” 

Check out the video here or below.