Board member Ken Benway urges deeper review of social-emotional learning and requests implementation records

Board member Ken Benway used his board-comments time on Jan. 12 to press the district for more information about social-emotional learning, saying the program "demands a much better understanding than we have today." Benway urged the board to review originating legislation, implementation directives, teacher orientation materials and any test-bed data conducted before statewide legislation.

Benway described SEL as a state-directed program adopted in North Carolina in 2021 and questioned both its scope and oversight. He cited the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and referenced philanthropic funding at a national level in his remarks. "I'm requesting this board be provided with all of the originating legislation, directives on implementation, teacher orientation materials, and the data resulting from the test bed that was conducted prior to final legislation," Benway said.

He characterized SEL as a long-term, multi-year program with broad effects and encouraged the board to examine objectives, methods and data. District staff and other board members did not debate Benway's characterization during the comments period; his request to provide originating materials was recorded for follow-up.

The board did not take any action on SEL at the meeting; Benway's remarks were entered as part of the board comments record and included a request for documentation to be provided to board members.