The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted a multicomponent approach to address learning and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Illinois has stressed that not only is social and emotional learning critical to do well, it is also critical to do first, so that other investments in instruction may have a better chance at taking hold among a currently stressed and disengaged population of students. ISBE has prioritized social-emotional learning, establishing Learning Renewal – Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs across the state. Learning Renewal-SEL comprises three activities: SEL Hub supports; REACH, a trauma-responsive education approach; and Community Partnership Grants to promote student, staff, and family well-being by connecting community-based organizations and mental health providers to schools.

The Evaluation of the Learning Renewal–Social Emotional Learning Programs for Supporting Pandemic Recovery is a partnership between the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and ISBE. The study has two main aims: (a) to examine the implementation, outcomes, and cost of the three Learning Renewal – SEL programs, and (b) to provide useful feedback about effective strategies for implementing and scaling programs that address students’ and staff’s social-emotional well-being.

The main outcome evaluation will use a quasi-experimental design (QED) with matching to compare student and teacher outcomes between schools that participate in the Learning Renewal-SEL programs and similar schools that do not participate in these programs. The study will examine whether the Learning Renewal-SEL programs lead to improvement in school climate; teacher attendance, retention, and well-being; and student academic and social-emotional outcomes.