SELF Act of 2021

To establish a competitive grant program to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of successful teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement that will increase the capacity of teachers and school leaders to work with families to develop and support the social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of children. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Social Emotional Learning for Families Act of 2021 SELF Act of 2021 2. Grant program (a) In general From amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies to develop, implement, and evaluate teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement. Local educational agencies may work in partnership with the entities described in subsection (e)(3) (b) Grant awards (1) Maximum grant amount The total amount of each grant awarded under this section may not exceed $1,200,000. (2) Grant period A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years, and may be renewed. (3) Number of grants The Secretary shall award not more than 100 grants under this section. (c) Applications An application submitted by a local educational agency for a grant under this section shall demonstrate— (1) the ability to provide laboratory and instructional space for proposed programming; (2) a commitment to the development, implementation, and evaluation of successful teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement that will increase the capacity of teachers and school leaders to work with families to develop and support the social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of children; (3) a plan to ensure that the proposed programs will serve diverse groups, such as underrepresented or economically disadvantaged families; and (4) a long-term commitment to the proposed programs to be carried out with the grant, including a plan to continue the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (3) for a period of not less than 5 years. (d) Selection In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) give priority to high-need local educational agencies, as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1021 (2) ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, the projects funded under this section are located in diverse geographic regions of the United States. (e) Uses of funds (1) In general A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use such funds to carry out programs at elementary schools and secondary schools served by the local educational agency that— (A) involve instruction of research-based social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets through locally relevant materials for teachers and school leaders and families; (B) provide professional development for teachers and school leaders to engage families and support the development of the social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of families; (C) provide direct instruction on social emotional learning to families during times when families are available and in places that are convenient and easily accessible; (D) encourage participation of families in the programs offered by the local education agency under this section, including programs supported by partner agencies as described under paragraph (3) (E) are designed to result in improved measurable outcomes related to children, including positive social behavior and academic outcomes; and (F) may be provided virtually or online. (2) State educational agencies In the case of a local educational agency that is a State educational agency, such entity shall award subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies to carry out the program described in paragraph (1) (3) Public-private partnerships Each local educational agency awarded a grant under this section may carry out the program funded under the grant in partnership with one or more of the following: (A) Institutions of higher education. (B) Nonprofit organizations. (C) Community-based organizations. (f) Annual report to Congress Not later than 4 years after the first grant is awarded under this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and make publicly available, a report on activities and results under this section. Such report shall describe— (1) the total number of grant applications received during the year preceding the report; (2) the number and geographic distribution of the grants for such year and for all grants awarded under this section; (3) participation of minority-serving institutions; (4) participation of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged families; (5) overall program outcomes and issues of concern; and (6) recommendations for program revisions to achieve the desired program outcome. (g) Definitions (1) ESEA terms The terms elementary school local educational agency parent professional development secondary school State educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (3) Instruction The term instruction (A) emphasize communication of knowledge concerning social emotional learning in adults and children; (B) provide opportunities to practice social emotional learning through interactive activities between families and their children; and (C) are aligned with and integrated into family involvement and engagement standards that may exist in the applicable State or that may be developed. (4) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1067q (5) Teacher and school leader training programs The term teacher and school leader training programs (6) Teachers and school leaders The term teachers and school leaders (7) Secretary The term Secretary (8) Social emotional learning The term social emotional learning (A) self-awareness, or having a realistic perception of one’s own values, interests, and strengths, and being able to recognize one’s own emotions; (B) self-management, or how well one manages emotions, impulses, and stress, and is able to establish and achieve goals and exercise self-discipline; (C) social awareness, or the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with someone else and to appreciate and respect diversity; (D) relationship skills, or the ability to participate in healthy, cooperative, and caring relationships, and effectively resolve conflicts; and (E) responsible decision making, or the ability to recognize and generate good choices, evaluate the likely consequences of actions, and take responsibility for one’s decisions. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $130,000,000, of which not more than $10,000,000 may be used by the Secretary for reports and technical assistance.

Summary: Social Emotional Learning for Families Act of 2021 or the SELF Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to local educational agencies to develop, implement, and evaluate teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement.