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Home » Office of Student Services » Social Emotional Learning in APS

Social Emotional Learning in APS

SEL Survey Results

Arlington Public Schools (APS) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) survey results are now available. Conducted for the first time in APS in March 2022, the survey provides insight on topics such as Growth Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Self-Management and Social Awareness. The Social Emotional Learning Survey was conducted by the independent research organization Panorama Education and was completed by students in grades 3-12. District and school survey results can be found in the Panorama dashboard by clicking on the link below:

APS SEL Survey Results

Individual student results are available in ParentVue. Guidance for parents/guardians to understand their student’s results can be found in the links below:

SEL Results Report Parent Guardian Letter – Amharic

SEL Results Report Parent Guardian Letter – Arabic

SEL Results Report Parent Guardian Letter – English

SEL Results Report Parent Guardian Letter – Mongolian

SEL Results Report Parent Guardian Letter – Spanish


Overview of Social-Emotional Learning in APS

Social-emotional learning (SEL) describes the mindsets, skills, attitudes, and feelings that help students succeed in school, career, and life. At its core, SEL focuses on students’ fundamental needs for motivation, social connectedness, and self-regulation as prerequisites for learning.

SEL in APS is aligned to the Virginia SEL Guidance Standards and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Framework.  SEL in APS:

  • Seeks to empower students with the skills, knowledge, and understandings to make positive choices about their social-emotional engagement;
  • Models, teaches, and reinforces prosocial skills that align to college, career, and life readiness frameworks; and
  • Provides students with opportunities to learn how to engage with people who may be different than themselves in constructive and collaborative ways.
  • SEL modeling, instruction, and reinforcement is the responsibility of everyone in the Arlington Public Schools community.

All APS schools are expected to provide regular instruction in the Virginia SEL Guidance Standards to students.  Schools may use specific curricular resources or programs to accomplish this through morning meetings, advisory lessons, or community circles.

SEL Survey and Opt-Out Information

Arlington Public Schools (APS) will again be conducting a social-emotional (SEL) survey for our students in grades 3-12. The purpose of this survey is to identify district, school, and students’ strengths and areas for growth in social-emotional competencies in order to create curriculum that builds and reinforces prosocial skills. Students will be participating in this online survey two times during the 2022-23 school year to assist APS in monitoring progress in this area. The fall administration will take place between Oct. 25-28, 2022. The spring administration will occur between April 24-28, 2023.

The SEL survey is provided through Panorama, and will assess students’ ability to apply social-emotional skills and understandings, in alignment with the Virginia SEL Guidance Standards. Skills in these areas are essential to success in college, career, and life. Please note:

  • SEL survey data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with a legitimate educational interest.
  • Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals.
  • Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report through ParentVUE regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window.
  • SEL survey data will be used to focus the APS SEL curriculum on specific areas of need, identify students who might benefit from additional support in developing specific skills, and monitor school and district progress.

If you wish for your child to participate, no action is needed. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in the SEL survey, please click on the following opt-out form which allows you to submit electronically by Fri, Oct. 21, 2022: APS SEL Survey 2022-23 Opt-Out Form

Survey Topics & Sample Surveys

The SEL Survey will cover the four topics below to inform schools’ areas of focus in their SEL curriculum:

  • Self-Efficacy: One’s beliefs and attitudes about one’s capabilities to achieve academic success, learn instructional content, and fulfill academic tasks
  • Growth Mindset: Understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed; confidence in one’s ability to adapt and persevere through challenges.
  • Social Awareness: The ability to empathize with and show gratitude for others, including those with different and diverse perspectives, abilities, backgrounds, and cultures.
  • Self-Management: Strategies for managing and expressing one’s own emotions to persevere in challenging situations; skills related to achieving personal and academic goals.

Please review the sample surveys and full surveys in multiple languages below:

SEL Survey: Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a mental health screener? Are there questions included in the survey that ask about the mental health of my student?

No. This is not a mental health screener. Panorama survey content is not designed for nor should be used to identify students who require mental health or trauma treatment. The purpose of the Panorama survey is to help educators understand students’ general social-emotional skills and competencies to inform curricular and programming decisions.

What is Panorama Education?

Panorama Education partners with K-12 schools and districts across the country to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data and improve student outcomes. Panorama supports more than 10 million students in 17,000 schools and 1,500 districts across 49 states. To learn more about Panorama Education, visit www.panoramaed.com or www.panoramaed.com/faqs.

How was the survey developed?

The Panorama Student Survey was developed under the leadership of Dr. Hunter Gehlbach, Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Director of Research at Panorama Education. The research team followed a rigorous survey development process that involved multiple rounds of piloting and refinement, following cognitive interviews with students, an extensive review of survey literature, and feedback from experts around the country.

What does the survey measure?

The SEL survey is designed to capture students’ awareness of their social-emotional competencies. Survey questions fall under competency areas such as self-efficacy, self-management, social awareness and growth mindset.  These skill areas are essential to success both in and outside of school.