Social Emotional Learning & Enhancing Quality

On-Site Training Module

This module was developed as part of the Expanded Learning 360/365 project and revised in 2016 to specific language, examples and tips for summer and year-round learning programs and revised in 2019 to incorporate language to support mental health and wellness.

This session will introduce participants to social-emotional and character skills and their relationship to the California Quality Standards for Expanded Learning Programs. Participants will be able to articulate what social-emotional and character skills look like in youth and the California Quality Standards for Expanded Learning Programs that contribute to the skill development in youth. 

In this training participants will:

  • Strengthen understanding of social-emotional learning skills that out-of-school time and expanded learning programs support.

  • Articulate what social-emotional skills look like in youth.

  • Identify the connection between quality standards and social-emotional learning skills.

Content Overview:

Social-Emotional Learning and Character Skills in Out-of-School Time Programs

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the six social-emotional skills identified by the Expanded Learning 360/365 initiative that contribute to and that are interdependent with improved academic and well-being outcomes. 

Skills in Action

Participants will explore the six social-emotional skills in more depth by identifying what a young person may say or do if they possessed the skill. 

Quality Standards, Social-Emotional Learning  and Character Skills

Participants will identify the California Quality Standards that contribute to the skill development in youth. 

Training Length: 2 hours


eLearning Module

Expanded Learning Programs strongly support three foundational areas of Social-Emotional Learning and Character Building. A diverse body of research has shown that the skills listed below contribute to and are interdependent with improved academic and well-being outcomes.

California’s recently adopted Quality Standards are deeply rooted in youth development theory. With the implementation of legislation in 2015, programs that receive state grants are now required to demonstrate their efforts to reach these standards. In doing so they are intentionally implementing programming that supports social-emotional and character development of young people. These include the following Programmatic Quality Standards that describe programs’ structure, policies, organizational practices and partnerships:

  • Quality Staff

  • Clear Vision, Mission and Purpose

  • Collaborative Partnerships

  • Continuous Quality Improvement

  • Program Management

  • Sustainability

By the end of this course, participants will:

  • Strengthen their understanding of social-emotional learning skills that expanded learning programs support,

  • Be able to articulate what social-emotional learning looks like in children and youth,

  • Identify the connection between quality standards and social-emotional learning.