A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of March 6 through March 10, 2023, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week" to recognize the critical role social and emotional learning plays in supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students, educators, and families.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 105 Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 6 through March 10, 2023, as ‘‘National Social and Emotional Learning Week’’ to recognize the critical role social and emotional learning plays in supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students, edu- cators, and families. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 14, 2023 Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. KING, Ms. DUCKWORTH, and Mr. BOOKER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 6 through March 10, 2023, as ‘‘National Social and Emotional Learning Week’’ to recognize the critical role social and emotional learning plays in supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students, edu- cators, and families. Whereas, according to research conducted by both the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention and Harvard University, the COVID–19 pandemic heightened the ur- gency to provide greater assistance to students, edu- cators, and families to address the mental health, behav- ioral, and other systemic challenges that impede the aca- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 105 IS demic and developmental improvement and success of students; Whereas decades of research demonstrate how social and emotional learning (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘SEL’’) promotes academic achievement, mental wellness, healthy behaviors, and long-term success; Whereas, according to a study by researchers at the Collabo- rative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, Loyola University of Chicago, and the University of Illi- nois at Chicago, SEL programs that addressed the 5 core competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making) increased academic performance by 11 percentile points, improved the ability of students to manage stress, and improved the attitudes of students about themselves, others, and school; Whereas a study in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis found that, on average, for every dollar spent on the evi- dence-based SEL programs examined, there was an $11 return on investment; Whereas, according to a study published by the American Public Health Association, the development of social and emotional skills in kindergarten has been associated with improved outcomes for young adults later in life, result- ing in reduced societal costs for public assistance, public housing, police involvement, and detention; Whereas, in response to a Pew Research Center survey of parents of K–12 students, 66 percent of the parents said that schools teaching children to develop social and emo- tional skills was ‘‘very important’’ and another 27 per- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 105 IS cent of the parents said that such teaching was ‘‘some- what important’’; Whereas EdWeek Research Center found that 83 percent of educators indicated that SEL is ‘‘somewhat’’ or ‘‘very’’ helpful for the academic learning of students; Whereas research from Yale University, the University of Cantabria, Jagiellonian University, and Pennsylvania State University indicates that educators who dem- onstrate greater social and emotional competence are fre- quently more capable of protecting themselves from burn- out; and Whereas the week of March 6 through March 10, 2023, would be an appropriate period to designate as ‘‘National Social and Emotional Learning Week’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Social 2 and Emotional Learning Week’’; 3 (2) recognizes the role that social and emotional 4 learning plays in promoting academic achievement, 5 mental and behavioral health, and future career suc- 6 cess for students; 7 (3) expresses support for expanding access to 8 social and emotional learning for each student and 9 teacher; and 10 (4) encourages the people of the United States 11 to identify opportunities among Federal agencies to 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •SRES 105 IS advance social and emotional learning to support 1 students, parents, educators, and their communities. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB