Measuring social and emotional learning implementation in a research-practice partnership.

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Implementation Science
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• High-quality social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation is linked to improved student outcomes.
• Organizational practices supporting SEL include communication, collaboration, and evidence-based planning.
• Measuring SEL implementation and supporting its practice has lagged behind measuring student outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical strategies for measuring and utilizing SEL implementation data in schools.
• To demonstrate the integration of implementation science and research-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) for SEL.
• To address the gap in practical approaches for SEL implementation measurement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an RPP framework to guide SEL implementation.
• Applied implementation science practices to data collection and analysis.
• Focused on developing practical measures and data use structures for schools.

Main Results:

• Highlighted the importance of integrating implementation science and RPPs for effective SEL.
• Provided strategies for data collection, measure development, and data analysis in SEL.
• Emphasized the creation of structures to support the use of SEL implementation data.

Conclusions:

• Integrating implementation science and RPPs offers a promising approach to enhance SEL programming.
• Practical strategies are crucial for measuring and using SEL implementation data to improve educational practice.
• Further attention to the synergy between implementation science and RPPs can advance SEL effectiveness.