The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is an organization that promotes “social and emotional learning” (SEL) in public education. It works to implement SEL programs in school districts and to build support among parents and educators.

The organization defines SEL as an integral part of education and human development. It is also defined as the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. ¹

CASEL has come under criticism for using SEL as a means of promoting far-left critical race theory in public schools. The president and CEO of CASEL has stated that SEL must “actively contribute to anti-racism” and “advances educational equity.” ²

CASEL has contracts with numerous school districts all over the country. It has a Collaborating Districts Initiative that is funded by the left-of-center NoVo Foundation in 20 school districts across the country. ³

Backgroun

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and the term “social and emotional learning” were first used in a 1994 meeting hosted by the Fetzer Institute. From 1996 through 2006, CASEL was based at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In 2006, CASEL became an independent organization based in Chicago. ⁴

CASEL provides four areas of services. First, it compiles and synthesizes research into SEL in addition to conducting its own research into the field. ⁵

Second, it helps implement SEL programs, working with school districts to reach a purported 1.7 million students in more than 3,000 schools. It develops resources to guide implementation of SEL programs and its consultants helps develop materials to encourage stakeholders to make a compelling case for SEL in their school districts. ⁶

Third, CASEL lobbies state and federal agencies through a network called the Collaborating States Initiative, which has 30 participating states. The initiative lobbies for increased funding and adoption for SEL programs. ⁷

Fourth, CASEL assists in implementing SEL programs, providing training and seminars in school districts. ⁸

Press and Media

In March 2023, a CASEL press release stated the organization’s support for President Joe Biden’s FY24 Budget Proposal that would include increased funding for public education and social and emotional learning (SEL) programs. The release also details the proposal including a $90 billion request in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, a “13.6 percent increase over the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) enacted level.” ⁹

Race Initiatives

In 2020, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning’s president and CEO Karen Niemi announced an update to the definition of SEL to embrace far-left ideas of racial identity aligned with critical race theory. Among the changes was changing the framework to “affirm the identities” of students. ¹⁰

CASEL also pitched SEL to advance “educational equity.” It also that it would work to address issues of identity and offer students opportunities to become activists and work alongside adults as a part of SEL. ¹¹

In a June 2020 webinar, Niemi and other colleagues criticized “color blind approaches” to education as “reproductive of the inequities” that people experience in their lives. Niemi also said that SEL must actively contribute to “anti-racism.” ¹²

Leadership

Karen Niemi is the president and CEO of CASEL. Prior to working at CASEL she was the CEO of ScholarCentric, a company focused on SEL and resiliency. Before that she was president of Cognitive Concepts Inc., a subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College and received a master’s degree in speech language pathology from Rush University. ¹³

Finances

According to its 2019 tax return, CASEL had $12,527,349 in revenue and $10,301,082 in expenses. It had $6,697,488 in assets. ¹⁴

The largest expenditure was on supporting the implementation of SEL, followed by research. ¹⁵

Among the left-of-center organizations that fund CASEL are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. ¹⁶

According to its 2021 990 form, CASEL reported a revenue of $18,024,160, expenses at $9,436,367, and total assets at $19,191,596. ¹⁷

1. “Fundamentals Of SEL.” CASEL. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/.
2. Robbins, Jane. “How ‘Socio-Emotional Learning’ Became Anti-White Racism In Schools.” The Federalist. February 8, 2021. https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/08/how-socio-emotional-learning-became-another-vehicle-for-anti-white-racism-in-schools/.
3. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
4. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
5. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
6. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
7. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
8. “Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL).” Parents Defending Education. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/casel/.
9. “Press Release: CASEL Applauds President Biden’s FY24 Budget Proposal and Investments in SEL.” CASEL, March 24, 2023. https://casel.org/casel-applauds-president-bidens-fy24-budget-proposal-and-investments-in-sel/
10. Niemi, Karen. “Niemi: CASEL Is Updating The Most Widely Recognized Definition Of Social-Emotional Learning. Here’S Why.” The74million. December 15, 2020. https://www.the74million.org/article/niemi-casel-is-updating-the-most-widely-recognized-definition-of-social-emotional-learning-heres-why/.
11. Niemi, Karen. “Niemi: CASEL Is Updating The Most Widely Recognized Definition Of Social-Emotional Learning. Here’S Why.” The74million. December 15, 2020. https://www.the74million.org/article/niemi-casel-is-updating-the-most-widely-recognized-definition-of-social-emotional-learning-heres-why/.
12. Robbins, Jane. “How ‘Socio-Emotional Learning’ Became Anti-White Racism In Schools.” The Federalist. February 8, 2021. https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/08/how-socio-emotional-learning-became-another-vehicle-for-anti-white-racism-in-schools/.
13. “Supporters.” CASEL. Accessed November 1, 2020. https://casel.org/about-us/supporters/.
14. Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/205884201/04_2021_prefixes_20-22%2F205884201_202006_990_2021041317936296.
15. Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/205884201/04_2021_prefixes_20-22%2F205884201_202006_990_2021041317936296.
16. Supporters.” CASEL. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://casel.org/about-us/supporters/.
17. Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning (CASEL), Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205884201/202320899349301412/full