Charlotte NC- Aperture Education, the leading provider of research-based social and emotional learning (SEL) assessments for K-12 schools, has launched its SEL Impact Award program, designed to honor school systems that take innovative approaches to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to develop strong social and emotional skills that help address the anxiety and depression prevalent among students and educators. The inaugural award winner is the Boerne, Texas Independent School District, which was announced Sunday at the SEL Vision Summit in Denver.
“Boerne ISD was an obvious choice to receive our first SEL Impact Award because their approach is unprecedented in the field of education – they literally change IEPs and behavior plans so that everyone is in sync with the eight forces included in our DESSA SEL suite and are integrating these skills at all district levels,” said Jessica Adamson, CEO of Aperture Education.
Boerne ISD – located less than an hour north of San Antonio with 12 schools and 10,400 students – sought to implement an SEL program that would address negative student behaviors at every stage of the school day, including the curriculum and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). As part of this program, they wanted to incorporate muscle-strengthening activities designed to prepare students for success after graduating from high school.
The backbone of this program is Aperture’s Suite of DESSA screening and assessment toolswhich addresses eight social and emotional skills, including self-awareness, self-management, personal responsibility, decision-making, social awareness, relationship skills, goal-oriented behavior and optimistic thinking.
Boerne realized after implementing their strengths-based approach that behavior can be taught through skill development and by creating an environment conducive to student success. By implementing Aperture DESSA tools, ISD achieved an 80% reduction in out-of-school suspensions, a 53% decrease in in-school suspensions, and a 47% decrease in expulsions in the 2020-2021 school year.
“We are honored to receive the first ever SEL Impact Award as SEL is a priority for Boerne ISD and underpins everything we do. We attribute our success to the focus on strengths-based screening which truly fosters deeper relationships with students and maintains the focus on meeting students where they are and creating support for from there,” said Marcie Warner, Student Support Advisor at Boerne ISD.
For more information on the Boerne ISD SEL program, read this case study.
About Aperture Education
Aperture Education has empowered nearly 8,500 schools and after-school time programs across North America to measure, strengthen, and support the social and emotional skills of K-12 youth and educators. The Aperture system includes the DESSA suite of strengths-based assessments, CASEL™-aligned intervention strategies, and robust reporting, all in an easy-to-use digital platform. This system enables education leaders to make data-driven strategic decisions regarding SEL within their organizations. Aperture has supported more than one million students in their social and emotional growth and continues to develop innovative solutions to put the child at the center of attention. To learn more, visit www.ApertureEd.com.