Durbin Introduced Resolution Recognizing National Social And Emotional Learning Week

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution designating the week of March 3, 2025, as National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week.  SEL is centered on developing the self-awareness, ability to manage emotions, and interpersonal skills necessary for school, the workplace, and life.  Research shows that SEL

promotes student academic outcomes, self-efficacy, and positive mental health, especially for students who have experienced trauma, by helping them cope and thrive.  A 2024 study found that 84 percent of employers say job candidates must demonstrate social and emotional skills—with the majority of employers stating that these types of skills were the most important. 

“In 2025, kids are weighed down by significant stress at home, in their communities, and in school settings.  We are facing nothing short of a national youth mental health crisis.  It’s critical that we focus on social and emotional learning to help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” Durbin said.  “Teachers must have the tools to help students develop resiliency and life skills.  I’m introducing this resolution to designate this week as National Social and Emotional Learning Week and raise awareness around the need to support students’ social and emotional well-being.”

The National Social and Emotional Learning Week resolution would:

• Recognize the role that social and emotional learning plays in promoting academic achievement, mental and behavioral health, and future career success for students;
• Express support for expanding access to social and emotional learning for students and teachers;
• Encourage the identification of opportunities among federal agencies to advance social and emotional learning to support the academic success and overall well-being of students, educators, and their communities; and
• Recognize March 3 through March 7, 2025, as National SEL Week.

The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

Durbin has long been a champion for SEL and an advocate for improving services for youth mental health and mentorship.  Durbin has worked across the aisle to introduce the RISE from Trauma Act, which would dramatically increase funding for community-based efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma, and expand training and workforce development efforts to support health care, education, social services, first responders, and community leaders to foster resilience and deliver services to heal the impact of trauma.

Durbin is also the author of the Mentoring to Succeed Act.  The legislation would provide competitive grants to school-based mentoring programs that train mentors in SEL and help at-risk students develop life skills.

Full text of the resolution is available here.