California

SEL / Character Development

Encouraged

SEL or Character Development is encouraged by laws in California. In other words, social emotional learning or character education is encouraged by state law to be integrated into a district’s curriculum, but not required.

California Education Code 33432 The Learning Communities for School Success Program

This statute declares that any local educational agency that receives a grant shall use the grant funds for planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities in support of evidence-based programs and practices to keep the state’s most vulnerable pupils in school. These activities may include:

• implementing activities that advance social emotional learning
• positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS)
• culturally responsive practices
• trauma-informed strategies

Source: California Education Code

Multi-tiered Positive Behavior Supports

Required

Multi-tiered Positive Behavior Supports are required by law in California. In other words, the implementation of school-wide positive behavioral supports or tiered frameworks in California school districts is required.

California Education Code 33432 The Learning Communities for School Success Program

This statute declares that any local educational agency that receives a grant shall use the grant funds for planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities in support of evidence-based programs and practices to keep the state’s most vulnerable pupils in school. These activities may include:

• implementing activities that advance social emotional learning
• positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS)
• culturally responsive practices
• trauma-informed strategies

Source: California Education Code

School Climate Surveys

Encouraged

School climate surveys are encouraged by laws in California. In other words, districts are encouraged by state law, regulation, or district policy to administer school climate surveys, but not required.

California Education Code 52060. Adoption of local control and accountability plan; Term; Contents; State priorities

This statute declares that school climate is one of many state priorities for purposes of a school district’s local control and accountability plan. School climate should be measured by all of the following, as applicable:

• Pupil suspension rates
• Pupil expulsion rates
• Other local measures, including surveys of pupils, parents, and teachers on the sense of safety and school connectedness.

Source: California Education Code