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Social and Emotional Learning Evidence-Based Assessments

Evidence-Based SEL Assessments

Below you will find evidence-based SEL assessment tools, including a brief description of the tool, a link to the tool's website, a document illustrating how the tool aligns with DPI's SEL Competencies, a closed captioned webinar discussing the tool and its alignment to Wisconsin's SEL work, and the slides that accompany the webinar. Please join the SEL in Wisconsin listserv to be notified of these learning opportunities, and more.

Note that the following information and webinars are not an endorsement by DPI of these products. Assessment tools shared on this page meet two criteria: 1) assessment is an evidence-based program (EBP) as determined by presence on a national registry of EBP; and 2) the program has aligned their assessment tool to the Wisconsin SEL Competencies. While DPI does not endorse any specific programs or assessment tool, it is recommended that you choose an EBP.

When reviewing these EBPs, or any other EBPs, consider using this Hexagon Tool. The tool can help you compare a few different programs in order to choose your best options. The Hexagon Tool for Choosing a SEL Assessment is adapted from the National Implementation Research Network, “The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool.” Enter each tool under consideration to review it according to need, fit, resources, evidence, usability, and capacity. Choosing deliberately will better ensure you get the information you are looking for and can save money by avoiding purchasing a program that does not meet your needs.

Aperture System: Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA)

The Aperture System features the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA), one of the most widely used, scientifically validated, and practical suite of tools to measure and improve students’ social and emotional competence. The eight DESSA competencies are derived from the CASEL 5 framework. The Aperture System for K-12 screens, assesses, progress monitors and provides educational practices and intervention strategies for strengthening students’ social and emotional skills both in school and in out-of-school-time settings. The Aperture System also supports data-driven SEL practices through easily understood interactive reporting (i.e., data visualization) and exports at the student skill level, group, classroom, school, and district levels. Advanced interpretation techniques support progress monitoring, outcome evaluation, and continuous quality improvement. Aperture Education delivers the Aperture System through its award-winning web-based platform.  

Download the alignment tool of Aperture Education Alignment with DPI SEL Competencies (PK - 5th Grade)

Download the alignment tool of Aperture Education Alignment with DPI SEL Competencies (6th Grade - Adult)

CoVitality

Based on 10 years of research at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), CoVitality is one of the world’s most advanced evidence based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) screeners. The screener was developed through federal grant funding by the Institute of Education Sciences and has been published in over 35 peer reviewed journals. Grounded in the latest theories of positive youth development, this strength-based screener measures 12 personal strengths or assets across 4 domains that have been empirically linked to the most important factors in a child’s social and emotional well being.

Download the alignment tool of CoVitality with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about CoVitality, visit the CoVitality website, and to learn more about the CoVitality assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from September 17, 2020.

Holistic Student Assessment (HSA)

Based on two decades of research at Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR), the Holistic Student Assessment (HSA) is a validated self-report tool that measures and promotes social and emotional development in young people. Seven to 14 scale scores are reported in three domains (resiliencies, relationships, learning and school engagement), depending on the length of the survey schools/programs selected.

Download the alignment tool of the HSA tool with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about PEAR visit the PEAR website, and to learn more about the Holistic Student Assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from Thursday, May 13, 2021.

Mosaic™ by ACT®

Mosaic™ by ACT® is a robust Social Emotional Learning program that encompasses a comprehensive assessment, K-12 curriculum, and educator professional development— including a breadth of options for English learners. Our solution is available through online or blended delivery and seamlessly integrates into a school’s learning management system.

Mosaic by ACT SEL Assessment measures CASEL-aligned social and emotional (SE) skills, in addition to school climate, to provide clear feedback to students, educators, and parents. Our advanced assessment methodology goes beyond traditional self-reporting to yield more reliable, valid results. In conjunction with Mosaic by ACT SEL comprehensive curriculum, this solution cultivates growth mindset, while helping students learn to manage anxiety and improve mental health. It also provides educators with engaging and meaningful resources for employing SEL principles, creating a more positive school culture and empowering teachers and administrators to become agents of change.

Download the alignment tool of Mosaic™ by ACT® with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about Mosaic™ by ACT® visit the Mosaic™ by ACT® website, and to learn more about the Mosaic™ by ACT® alignment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from April 15, 2021.

Panorama

Panorama provides a valid and reliable way to measure and improve social-emotional learning in your district.

Download the alignment tool of Panorama with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about Panorama ​​​​​​, visit the Panorma website, and to learn more about the Panorama assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from October 8, 2020.

SELweb

SELweb is a web-based direct assessment for K to 6 that is designed to measure SEL competencies that are in the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) model and that are the targets of instruction in evidence-based SEL programs. SELweb provides benchmark data early in the year that educators can use to decide how best to use their SEL program resources to build on student strengths and address student needs. SELweb is evidence-based and was developed with support from the Institute of Education Sciences.

Download the alignment tool of SELweb with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about SELweb, visit the xSEL Labs website, and to learn more about the SELweb assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from September 24, 2020.

Social and Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA)

The Social and Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA) articulates and measures staff practices that have been identified by research on positive youth development, social and emotional learning, and the science of learning and development, among others. The SEL PQA is designed to evaluate the quality of programs and identify staff training needs. It consists of a set of scoreable standards for best practices in after-school programs, community organizations, schools, summer programs, and other places where youth have fun, work, and learn with adults. The SEL PQA can be used for self-assessment and/or for external assessment. Assessments are conducted by carefully observing the interactions of staff and youth in a program; taking objective, detailed notes; and scoring based on anecdotal evidence recorded in observational notes. The SEL PQA is designed to empower people and organizations to envision the highest quality programming for young people by providing a shared language for adult practice and decision-making and by producing scores that can be used for comparison and assessment of progress over time. For more information about conducting assessments and for resources to support program quality improvement, contact info@cypq.org.

Download the alignment tool of SEL PQA with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about SEL PQA, visit the SEL PQA website, and to learn more about the SEL PQA assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from April 22, 2021.

SSIS™ Social-Emotional Learning Edition (SSIS SEL)

The SSIS Social-Emotional Learning Edition (SSIS SEL) is a comprehensive, evidence-based, social-emotional learning system that assesses key academic skills and integrates the different components with an aligned, multi-tiered intervention. The SSIS SEL includes Screening and Progress Monitoring Scales, Rating Forms, and a Classwide Intervention Program (CIP) curriculum.

Download the alignment tool of SSIS SEL with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about SSIS SEL, visit the SSIS SEL website, and to learn more about the SSIS SEL alignment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from April 29, 2021.

Thriving Learning Communities™ (TLC)

Thriving Learning Communities™ (TLC) empowers educators to enable students to bring forth the strengths they need to reach their full potential. Unique in the field of social and emotional learning (SEL), TLC’s PK-12 program addresses SEL through the lens of 24 universally valued character strengths that are found in everyone in varying degrees. The VIA 24-character strengths were first identified and published in the groundbreaking book by Dr. Christopher Peterson and Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman in 2004. Since the original findings of Park and Peterson, 2006, numerous studies have been conducted with the 96 item VIA-Youth assessment, identifying strong relationships between character strengths and positive youth outcomes. Students in grades 4–12 take the VIA character strength assessment each fall as part of the TLC program, along with a validated SEL: Strengths in Action survey to measure the use of character strengths in the acquisition of SEL skills.

Download the alignment tool of Thriving Learning Communities™ with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about Thriving Learning Communities™, visit the TLC website, and to learn more about the TLC alignment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from May 6, 2021.

Tripod

Tripod’s SEL survey suite is comprised of three integrated surveys that are designed to help educators and school leaders track, monitor, and foster students’ social and emotional competence. Unlike many surveys that measure student social and emotional competence in isolation, Tripod’s SEL survey suite also captures key dimensions of the classroom and school environment known to influence student competence. Surveys are aligned with the CASEL framework, as well as the Wisconsin SEL competencies and include: a Social and Emotional Competency Survey for Students; a Classroom and School SEL Environment Survey; and a Social and Emotional Beliefs Survey for School Staff.

Download the alignment tool of Tripod with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about Tripod​​​​, visit the Tripod website, and to learn more about the Tripod assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from Thursday, May 20, 2021.

 

Zoo U®

Zoo U® is an evidence-based SEL assessment and a behavioral intervention developed with funding from the US Department of Education. In the program, students are assessed and work towards mastery of six key SEL skills: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

After each student completes six short assessment scenes at the beginning of the game, you will have access to a personalized report that identifies their strengths and weaknesses. Students can continue on to play 30 intervention scenes, and as they practice within the game, they will become more confident and improve SEL skills in real life!

Download the alignment tool of Zoo U® with the DPI SEL Competencies.

To learn more about Zoo U® ​​​​​​, visit the Zoo U® website, and to learn more about the Zoo U® assessment tool and its alignment with Wisconsin's SEL Competencies, view this recorded webinar and slides from October 1, 2020.

The Wisconsin SEL Development Tracker

The Wisconsin SEL Development Tracker system is an online survey tool suite based on DPI SEL Competencies. These tools are designed to help schools recognize how they can improve SEL, teaching, and professional development in their schools. The three surveys monitor students, teachers and staff, and classrooms in three SEL domains: Emotional Development, Self-Concept, and Social Competence. These surveys may be taken up to four times per school year to track progress trajectories.