Why Give Students a Social & Emotional Learning Assessment?

Galesburg District #205 believes it is imperative to create systems and policies that support the early identification and support for students experiencing social and emotional learning needs. As in past years, our District will administer a screening assessment to students in grades 6 and 9 that can inform classroom, grade-level, and whole-school Social & Emotional Learning practices and interventions.

What is the SECA SEL Assessment?

The Social & Emotional Competency Assessment (SECA) is a brief assessment that measures the self-reported social and emotional learning competencies of students in grades 5-12. This research-based assessment is aligned with the CASEL core competencies. The instrument is an assessment available within the Branching Minds platform, and assessment results will inform educators about SEL competencies within Branching Minds. This 40-item instrument measures 8 domains of social and emotional competence:

1. Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses

2. Self-awareness of emotions

3. Self-management of emotions

4. Self-management of goals

5. Self-management of school work

6. Relationship skills

7. Social awareness

8. Responsible decision-making

Assessment Questions

Evidence-Based Assessment Information

The SECA was developed through a rigorous 4-year process of testing and refinement as part of a researcher-practitioner partnership. 

• The SECA SEL survey demonstrates adequate psychometric properties including (1) minimal floor or ceiling effects (indicating the measure should capture the full distribution of SEL skills), and (2) expected associations with GPA, academic achievement, suspension, and absenteeism.

• Students who have developed social-emotional competencies perform better in school, are more likely to stay in school and graduate, and function at higher levels in their adult lives than students without social-emotional skills.

• Students contributed to the development of the questions in the measure.