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, educators, 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, educators, and families. 

Whereas, according to research conducted by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Harvard 

University, the COVID–19 pandemic heightened the urgency to provide greater assistance to students, educators, and families to address the mental health, behavioral, and other systemic challenges that impede the acaVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105

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•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 Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, 

Loyola University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois 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 evidence-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, resulting 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 emotional skills was ‘‘very important’’ and another 27 perVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR105.IS SR105

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•SRES 105 IS 

cent of the parents said that such teaching was ‘‘somewhat 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 demonstrate greater social and emotional competence are frequently more capable of protecting themselves from burnout; 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Social 

3 and Emotional Learning Week’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the role that social and emotional 

5 learning plays in promoting academic achievement, 

6 mental and behavioral health, and future career suc7 cess for students; 

8 (3) expresses support for expanding access to 

9 social and emotional learning for each student and 

10 teacher; and 

11 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

12 to identify opportunities among Federal agencies to 


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•SRES 105 IS 

1 advance social and emotional learning to support 

2 students, parents, educators, and their communities. 

Æ 


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