The District of Columbia published its first-ever K-Adult Social and Emotional Learning standards in May 2024. Unanimously approved by the State Board of Education. Announced by Mayor Bowser. Mandatory for all DC Public Schools and all public charter schools.[1]
This is not guidance. This is not a framework schools may consider. These are mandatory standards, unanimously approved, publicly announced by the Mayor, implemented across all LEAs, and actively monitored through OSSE site visits.[2][3]
Standards Adoption Timeline
OSSE joins CASEL Collaborative State Initiative
Landscape analysis, writing groups, focus groups, surveys
Draft standards released for public comment
State Board unanimously approves standards
Mayor Bowser publicly announces standards
Implementation begins — all schools, site visits active
The Five DC SEL Standards
Built on the CASEL framework with two DC-specific modifications:[4]
Self-Awareness
Recognize, understand, and express emotions; identify strengths and self-identity
Self-Management
Regulate emotions, set goals, manage stress, exercise self-discipline
Social & Cultural Awareness
DC ModifiedEmpathize, understand diversity, recognize social norms and community resources
Relationship Skills
Communicate, resolve conflicts, practice teamwork, seek or offer help
Decision-Making & Agency
DC ModifiedMake constructive choices, take initiative, advocate for self and others
“Social and Cultural Awareness” adds cultural competence emphasis. “Decision-Making and Agency” adds student initiative and self-advocacy — empowering students, not just guiding choices.
Grade-Band Indicators
Each competency includes specific indicators organized by grade band with a coding system (e.g., SA.K-2.1). They are vertically aligned to show how skills develop across a student's career.[4]
K-2
Elementary
3-5
Elementary
6-8
9-12
Adult
K-2 Indicators (examples)
3-5 Indicators (examples)
- Describing how thoughts/emotions affect decisions
- Identifying personal strengths that support learning
- Using strategies to resolve conflicts
- Recognizing when to seek help
| DC SEL Standard | Elementary Focus | CASEL |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Awareness | Emotions, strengths, self-identity | Self-Awareness |
| Self-Management | Regulation, goal setting, self-discipline | Self-Management |
| Social & Cultural Awareness | Empathy, diversity, perspectives | Social Awareness |
| Relationship Skills | Communication, conflict resolution | Relationship Skills |
| Decision-Making & Agency | Problem solving, advocacy | Responsible Decision-Making |
A CASEL-aligned curriculum addresses all five DC standards because both share the same foundation.
Implementation: All Schools, Monitored
All LEAs
DCPS + all charter schools. No opt-in. No pilot phase.
Site Visits
OSSE conducts school visits to monitor implementation.
PD Available
Professional development through OSSE LMS + symposiums.
What Site Visits Mean for Your School
A school that can demonstrate structured, documented SEL instruction aligned to the standards is in a stronger position than a school that cannot. A scope and sequence that maps to the five competencies and grade-band indicators provides the documentation site visits require.
Parent Guide & CASEL Partnership
Six-Language Parent Guide
OSSE published a Parent, Family, and Caregiver Guide in:[3]
CASEL Partnership
DC joined the CASEL Collaborative State Initiative in late 2022. OSSE: “OSSE developed the first draft of the standards using the CASEL 5 Framework as the base.”[4] A CASEL-aligned curriculum aligns directly.
How to Align Your Elementary Program
Map to All Five Competencies
A CASEL-aligned curriculum maps directly to all five DC standards at K-2 and 3-5 grade bands.
Address Grade-Band Indicators
A comprehensive scope and sequence across 40 weeks covers the indicators systematically.
Prepare for Site Visits
Maintain documentation: curriculum, scope and sequence, lesson plans, and standards alignment. A structured curriculum provides the evidence.
Integrate Across Subjects
Standards are intended to be incorporated with all subjects. Use SEL curriculum as explicit instruction and find integration opportunities throughout the day.
Engage Families
Use the OSSE Parent Guide. Share your scope and sequence. Transparency enables families to reinforce SEL skills at home.
Communicating With DC Parents
Reference the Standards and the Mayor
“The District of Columbia has adopted Social and Emotional Learning standards for all public schools and public charter schools, announced by Mayor Bowser and unanimously approved by the State Board. Our program teaches these standards through structured weekly lessons.”
Use the OSSE Parent Guide
OSSE has published the guide in six languages. Reference it and direct families to it for the official framing of what SEL is and why it matters.
Be Concrete
“Students learn to identify and manage their emotions, resolve disagreements peacefully, set and pursue goals, show empathy and kindness, appreciate diversity, persevere, advocate for themselves, and make responsible decisions. These are the standards the District has adopted for all students.”
Choosing a Curriculum for DC Schools
Aligns with all five DC SEL standards. A CASEL-aligned curriculum aligns directly because both share the CASEL foundation.
Addresses K-2 and 3-5 grade-band indicators. Specific indicators at each grade band must be covered.
Provides documentation for site visits. OSSE monitors through visits. A scope and sequence, alignment docs, and lesson plans demonstrate compliance.
Provides grade-band differentiation. Programs providing distinct content for each grade level match DC's K-2 and 3-5 structure.
Offers a full-year scope and sequence. 40 weeks of sequenced instruction ensures consistent, documented coverage.
Integrates across subjects. Brief weekly lessons integrate without displacing academic instruction.
Supports bilingual learners. Bilingual curriculum in English and Spanish supports DC's linguistically diverse population.
Requires no devices or student accounts. Device-free, teacher-led programs eliminate data privacy concerns.
Requires minimal prep. DC teachers navigate extensive compliance demands. Ready-to-use weekly lessons ensure consistent implementation.
What to Avoid
Treating the standards as optional
The State Board voted unanimously. The Mayor announced them. OSSE conducts site visits. A school not implementing is out of compliance.
Relying on general goodwill without structured instruction
The standards include specific indicators. A school promoting positive climate without teaching the specific skills the indicators describe is not implementing the standards. Climate is not instruction.
Waiting for more guidance
Standards took effect in 2024-25. Site visits are occurring. PD is available. The standards document is published. The Parent Guide is in six languages. Waiting is being behind.
Implementing without documenting
Site visits require evidence. Informal instruction without documented curriculum or alignment cannot demonstrate compliance. Documentation is not optional when monitoring is active.
Final Thoughts
The District of Columbia has built one of the clearest, most recent, and most actively monitored SEL implementation frameworks in any U.S. jurisdiction. Unanimously approved. Mayor-announced. Mandatory for every public school and charter school. Five competencies with vertically aligned grade-band indicators. CASEL-based. OSSE-monitored through site visits. Professional development available. Parent Guide in six languages.
For DC elementary schools: choose a program that aligns with all five standards, addresses the K-2 and 3-5 indicators, provides the documentation site visits require, and delivers structured instruction to every student, every week, all year. The District adopted the standards. The Board approved them unanimously. OSSE is monitoring. Implement them.
References
- DCPS. District Announces First SEL Standards (May 16, 2024). dcps.dc.gov
- OSSE. DC Standards of Learning: New Standards for 2024-25. osse.dc.gov
- OSSE. Social and Emotional Learning. osse.dc.gov
- OSSE. DC K-Adult SEL Standards (May 2024). osse.dc.gov (PDF)
- Children's National Hospital (CHAI). Preparing DC Schools to Teach Social-Emotional Practices (September 2024). childrensnational.org
- OSSE. OSSE Releases Draft SEL Standards for Public Comment (December 2023). osse.dc.gov
- Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405-432. doi.org
- Cipriano, C., et al. (2023). The state of evidence for social and emotional learning. Child Development, 94(5), 1181-1204. doi.org
Social-Emotional Learning for DC Schools
Be The Buffalo aligns with DC's mandatory K-Adult SEL Standards. 40 weeks of K-5 curriculum covering all five standards: self-awareness, self-management, social and cultural awareness, relationship skills, and decision-making and agency. Interactive projector activities, original songs, stories, printable worksheets, and teacher guides. Bilingual English and Spanish. No student accounts. No devices. No prep. Built to provide documented instruction for OSSE site visits.
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