AISD considers social and emotional learning capabilities for evaluation

In 2019, the Austin Independent School District is considering adding social and emotional learning to the elementary school scorecard. Currently, AISD is piloting the program with kindergartners through second-graders where they assess the children on a scale of 1 to 4 every nine weeks during the school year. After the third quarter of the 2017-18 school year, Dr. Lisa Goodnow, executive director for academics and social and emotional learning, reported that the children’s average score is 3.56. AISD has a target score of 3.59. The score is based on an evaluation of five skills: interacting cooperatively with peers, interacting cooperatively with adults, managing emotions constructively, respecting self and others, and taking responsibility for own actions. According to Goodnow, this type of evaluation is currently a missing component from elementary education, but when it is introduced into the classroom is linked to higher academic performance and healthy student development. Particularly effective with young children, it helps with self-awareness, self-management, social relationships and decision-making skills in the future.