Catholic schools have remained steadfast in their commitment to teaching the whole child, yet there is still a notable surge in the demand for more robust support for students’ social and emotional health. From sweeping changes in access to technology to the continued reverberations of isolation during COVID-19, educators, faith leaders and parents agree that additional social and emotional support is paramount in this season.
Research indicates that social-emotional learning (SEL) programming is an important component in a robust recovery plan to combat learning loss and provide holistic support to students, teachers and communities.
Much of the increased demand in finding comprehensive SEL programming comes from the research connecting waning academic performance with the decline in key social and emotional skills like resilience, emotional regulation, problemsolving and communication skills.
According to the 2022 Nation’s Report Card, third grade reading scores experienced the largest decline since 1990 and the first-ever decline in math. While the federal government has invested billions in schools since 2020, research shows that student performance across grade levels is well below pre-pandemic testing.
While one-off classroom lessons have been the norm in years prior, many school leaders are now taking a more intentional and comprehensive approach to increasing character development, social skills and emotional intelligence. This is being accomplished with school-wide programming, like Friendzy, helping move schools from disjointed gradebased curriculum to school-wide themes, unified language, parent resources, professional development, assessment resources and thoughtful scriptural connections. All of these additional supports are designed to improve school culture, student engagement, teacher and student wellbeing and provide resources for parents, all through a lens that supports Catholic values. School leaders that utilize a comprehensive SEL program report reduced student behaviors, increased wellbeing and academic achievement, increased teacher well-being and stronger connections with parents and caring adults within the parish and school community.
Private schools may implement SEL programming with the help of federal education programs. Catholic schools participate in federal education programs through equitable services. This means you can receive services to meet the needs of your students and teachers by working through your local school district—without receiving direct federal funding or grants.
While equitable services can only be used for ‘ideologically neutral’ services and programming, organizations like Friendzy have programming designed to complement whole-student and scripturally based structures in place while still providing program components that are eligible for many forms of federal funding.
Seventy percent of schools utilizing Friendzy do so through the support of equitable services. In addition, Friendzy partners with NCEA member schools to provide additional grants specifically for their Biblical programming options.
Four federal programs align with SEL programming—and you may already be participating in at least one!
Use the QR code to access our complete guide to increasing social and emotional supports with federal education programs. This includes a step-by-step checklist, needs assessment templates and program alignment justifications for commonly used federal education programs.
Title II-A provides for professional development that helps all students develop the skills essential for learning readiness and academic success. Many SEL providers, like Friendzy, provide virtual, on-site and/or on-demand access to training designed to support educators in both teaching and improving their own social and emotional competencies.
Title IV is a much broader federal program that provides services in a wide range of subject areas, referred to as “well-rounded education,” as well as student support services. SEL programming is an allowable use of funds in both the “Well-rounded education” and “Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students” sections of this program.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of 2022 created a $1 billion competitive grant called Stronger Connections, establishing funding for safe, healthy and supportive learning opportunities and environments funded through Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Because the grant is funded through ESEA, Title IV-A, private schools within the boundaries of a school district that wins an award will then be eligible for equitable services.
This grant is still in progress in many states. Your state education agency can tell you which school districts were awarded a Stronger Connections Grant in your state or if the grant process is ongoing.
Non-public schools have until September 2024 to continue accessing academic services under the second round of Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Program (ARP EANS). EANS allows you to meet your students’ SEL needs while equipping teachers with tools and resources to help your students heal while achieving academically.
Additionally, in some states, unspent EANS funds are being reverted to the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund (GEER), and the governor has additional flexibility to make more services available. If unsure, you can contact state leaders such as your state Catholic Conference or state nonpublic school association leaders to see if services to address mental health are—or could be—requested to the Governor’s office.
Looking for additional information on the cost of an SEL program and details on accessing equitable services? Use the QR code to receive a one-on-one consultation with one of Friendzy’s Catholic school educators and program experts.
Jennifer Daniels has 15 years of Catholic education policy and advocacy experience with both the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of Washington. In 2024, she founded the Faithful Citizenship Institute dedicated to inspiring Catholic policymakers to prioritize the faith over politics through education of the inherent beauty and wisdom of Catholic social teaching.
Julie Emory-Johnson has over 20 years of experience as an educator and served as a diocesan leader in the Diocese of Birmingham as well as executive director of C² a Catholic Scholarship Granting Organization. Currently, Julie is the national partnership director at Friendzy, a social and emotional character development program and nonprofit with the mission of growing a generation of really good friends who recognize and honor God’s design for friendship.
Jennifer Danielsjenniferhdaniels@gmail.com
Julie Emory-Johnsonjulie-ej@friendzy.co