In late September, the Kansas Republican Party passed a resolution calling for an end to Social Emotional Learning (SEL). We heard that multiple people were planning to offer public comments at today’s State Board of Education meeting in Topeka, so our own Judith Deedy spoke to encourage the board to continue to support SEL. We believe SEL benefits our students. It is unfortunate that the Republican party is engaging in such a misguided effort. There was a significant amount of misinformation and confusion about what SEL is and isn’t contained in both the resolution and in the comments offered by its supporters this morning.

We were joined by others offerering comments in support of SEL and note that other portions of the board’s meeting today emphasized the importance of SEL and mental health supports for students. If you would like to share your thoughts with the board, you can email them at mhaas@ksde.org, dzeck@ksde.org, mdombrosky@ksde.org, amah@ksde.org, chopkins@ksde.org, dhorst@ksde.org, dhershberger@ksde.org, barnold@ksde.org, jporter@ksde.org, jmcniece@ksde.org.

We would also like to offer some thoughts on partisanship. Our organization is nonpartisan, and support of public education is nonpartisan. We know we have Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated Kansans on our Game On team. Unfortunately the Republican party often gives voice to the most extreme aspects of its party membership. We oppose policy positions based on the positions themselves and not on the identity of the party promoting them.

Originally posted on Facebook, on Nov. 15th, 2023.