All students deserve to learn in a school environment that supports their social and emotional growth from pre-K to college. This is especially crucial for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, who are disproportionately impacted by the pitfalls of a preexisting biased environment that does not consider the context in which students live.

When school and district leaders consider contexts like societal realities (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia), individual realities (e.g., socioeconomic status, family dynamics, experiences in schools, access to opportunities), and cultural backgrounds to support students, it all influences social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD).

Social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD) addresses the whole child/student, which means taking a holistic approach to supporting students within a positive school climate that creates learning spaces where students feel emotionally and mentally safe to be their authentic selves.

Students want to learn in a safe environment but today, Black and Latino students are grappling with a host of issues that negatively impact their mental well-being. Gun violence, discriminatory school discipline practices, an unending student-debt burden, classroom censorship, and an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, pose a constant threat to a safe and nurturing school climate.

To create physically safe and emotionally supportive environments for all students, schools and colleges must adopt evidence-based approaches. In this campaign, #PlantingSEADs, we are amplifying resources to support advocates, educators and school leaders in their efforts to cultivate an intentionally inclusive school environment from the P-12 to the higher-ed level. Learn more and share the resources below.