SEL in Illinois » CASEL Work » Collaborating Sites

• Catlin School District #5
• Cossitt Elementary School, District #102
• Consolidated School District #181
• Mill Street Elementary School, District #203
• Spry Community School, District #299
• Williams Elementary and Williams Preparatory Academy, District #299

Consolidated School District # 181
Hinsdale, IL

District web site: http://www.d181.org/
Sample SEL Resources on web site:
District 181 has developed a 2-page SEL information sheet/FAQ (Word) on SEL and what the district is doing to promote social emotional development in its schools. This is a terrific template for other schools looking to give parents, new staff, and others a quick snapshot of the schools’ SEL programming.

Consolidated District 181 Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate each child in an environment of excellence that provides a foundation for living in a complex world.

Consolidated District 181 SEL Policy
In response to the 2003 Illinois Children's Mental Health Act, Consolidated School District 181 adopted the following policy regarding student social and emotional development:

Student social and emotional development shall be incorporated in the District's educational program and shall be consistent with the social and emotional development standards to be contained in the Illinois Learning Standards. The objectives for addressing the needs of students for social and emotional development through the education programs are to:

• Enhance students' school readiness, academic success, and use of good citizenship skills;
• Foster a safe, supportive learning environment where students feel respected and valued;
• Teach social and emotional skills to all students;
• Partner with families and the community to promote students' social and emotional development; and
• Prevent or minimize mental health problems in students

Community Consolidated School District 181 is located 20 miles west of Chicago and primarily serves the suburban communities of Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills. District 181 includes 2 middle schools and 7 elementary schools, which together enroll approximately 4,000 students. CASEL is working with the entire district, but specifically collaborating with two schools: The Lane School, which serves 340 Pre-Kindergarten to Fifth grade students, and Hinsdale Middle School, which serves 650 Sixth -Eighth grade students. District 181 has a history of very high levels of academic achievement and is committed to SEL to provide their students with additional skills to be successful, caring and ethical both in school and in life.

As part of their desire to help all students succeed, District 181 recognizes the importance of attending to students' social and emotional development. Creating a community of learners who are socially and emotionally skilled will not only improve the school culture, but will facilitate academic achievement as well. In 2001, District 181 formed the Social Emotional Learning for Academic Success (SELAS) Committee and began collaborating with CASEL to coordinate district-wide programming. In 2003, a needs assessment and climate survey was completed by teachers, parents and students throughout the district. Based on the results of the survey and after a thorough program review, the Lions-Quest Skills for Growing and Skills for Adolescence programs were adopted by the district. Following staff training for all K-8 teachers during the 2004-05 school year, the curricula were launched in the middle school in 2004-2005 (addressed during advisory periods) and will begin in the elementary schools during the fall of 2005.

As a CASEL Collaborating Site, Consolidated School District 181 has established the following short-term objectives to implement evidence-based SEL programming at the district level. Specifically, District 181 is working to:

• Provide all teaching staff with high-quality, in-depth professional development around the Lions-Quest program to prepare teachers to deliver the curriculum.
• Find creative and meaningful ways to integrate Lion's Quest with the existing classroom practices and curriculum at each District 181 school.
• Offer parent programs focused on social and emotional learning to enhance understanding and support of the new program.