III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 576 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 4 through 

March 8, 2024, 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 6, 2024 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

Mr. KING, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. BUTLER, Mr. SANDERS, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) 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 

4 through March 8, 2024, 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 05:20 Mar 07, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR576.IS SR576

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•SRES 576 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, according to a study by researchers at Yale University, the University of Rochester, the University of Maryland, and Loyola University of Chicago, students participating in SEL at school had higher ‘‘school functioning’’, 

including grades, test scores, attendance, homework completion, and engagement; 

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, resultVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:20 Mar 07, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR576.IS SR576

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•SRES 576 IS 

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 emotional skills was ‘‘very important’’ and another 27 percent 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 4 through March 8, 2024, 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; 


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•SRES 576 IS 

1 (3) expresses support for expanding access to 

2 social and emotional learning for each student and 

3 teacher; and 

4 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to identify opportunities among Federal agencies to 

6 advance social and emotional learning to support 

7 students, parents, educators, and their communities. 

Æ 


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