– Missouri’s State Board of Education is refining the proposed social-emotional-learning standards to focus more on student behaviour.
– The board reviewed over 1,800 public comments on the program, which significantly influenced this decision.
– The current standards’ draft is perceived as a “starting point,” and the board opted not to vote on it during its Tuesday meeting.
– Further public participation and consultation are invited for continuous norm improvement.
A Refinement in Focus – Missouri’s Social-Emotional Learning Standards
Putting the spotlight on students’ emotional wellbeing and behavior, Missouri’s State Board of Education is refining its socially-emotional learning (SEL) standards. This decisive move comes after the board poured over 1,800 public comments – putting people’s opinions and concerns front and center.
The Current Standards – A Leap Pad
The present draft of the standards, which some board members described as a “beginning,” seems to be a launchpad, a starting point, not the finish line. This perspective underlined the board’s decision not to cast a vote for the program’s enforcement at the recent Tuesday meeting.
A Continual Open Forum
Further public participation and consultation will be entertained in a bid to enhance norms continuously. The state is inviting more feedback and refining its standards based on said feedback; an open-door policy that proves that the public’s voice can – and does – influence state decisions.
The Breezy Take
In an admirable show of transparency and inclusivity, Missouri’s State Board of Education is proving that public consultation is more than just a token exercise. The tentative refinement of the SEL standards displays a commitment to a more focused approach towards student behavior. At the Board’s table, every opinion is taken into account, emphasizing the fact that creating such standards is a progressive journey, not a one-time event. The continual invitation for feedback posits that shaping beneficial learning conditions is an iterative, collective process. A worthwhile takeaway – when we listen, we learn, we grow.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/18/missouri-board-of-education-seeks-to-clarify-social-emotional-learning/