Federal Legislation to Promote Social-Emotional Learning Passes the House | By: Committee for Children On March 8, the House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Education Through Research Act (HR 4366) with bipartisan support. The bill reauthorizes the Education Sciences Reform Act and makes it easier for states and school districts to access timely information on successful education practices, including social-emotional learning (SEL). Committee for Children advocated to members of the House of Representatives to include SEL in the research priorities of the Institute of Education Sciences. Also, two additional bills that support social and emotional learning have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 113th congressional session. HR 1875 was introduced on May 8 by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and has garnered bipartisan co-sponsorship. HR 4509 was introduced on April 29 by Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) with Rep. Tim Ryan as a co-sponsor. Both bills provide strong support for SEL. HR 1875 has 14 co-sponsors and has already been reviewed by the House Education and the Workforce Committee. HR 1875 is the original bill that would make SEL eligible for Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act teaching professional development funds. An important priority for the SEL community is to develop bipartisan support for HR 4509. Known as the Supporting Emotional Learning Act, HR 4509 amends the Higher Education Act (HEA) to make sure students preparing to be teachers learn about SEL in their coursework. Most important, the bill includes a comprehensive definition of SEL and SEL programming. Both bills are on the calendar for reauthorization in the 113th Congress, along with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Learn about HR 1875 and HR 4509 and how to support them by writing to your congressional representative. Watch Rep. Susan Davis question Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan on SEL. (Originally published by CASEL and edited by and for Committee for Children)