Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Emotional Learning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wyomissing Area SD outlines K–8 social-emotional learning plan, will pilot Second Step with grade 7
Summary
District leaders presented a phased K–8 social-emotional learning plan using the Sabers screener and the Second Step curriculum, saying the program will provide tiered supports and parent notifications; rollout will be gradual and accompanied by PBIS and restorative practices.
District officials on March 23 presented a phased social-emotional learning (SEL) plan for kindergarten through eighth grade that pairs the Sabers screening tool with the Second Step curriculum and will be rolled out incrementally beginning with a seventh-grade pilot.
The presentation by district SEL leads explained that Sabers (teacher ratings) and My Sabers (student self-assessments for grades 2–8) will be the universal screener administered three times a year, and Second Step will serve as the tier‑one curriculum. Dr. Johnson said the district will use screening data to identify students who need targeted small-group support (tier two) or intensive individualized services (tier three).
Why it matters: Board members were shown how SEL, when integrated with the district’s multi‑tiered system of supports (MTSS) and PBIS, is intended to support academic success by addressing students’ social and emotional needs before issues escalate. Presenters emphasized family engagement and that parent opt‑out is available for the My Sabers self‑assessment.
"It's not just one more thing on the plate; it is the plate that actually holds together the academics as well," Dr. Johnson said, describing why the district is aligning curriculum, screener and classroom practice. The presentation cited teacher feedback from the Second Step pilot—age‑appropriate lessons, more meaningful discussion, and clear tier‑two supports.
Presenters described how the Sabers screener produces cutoff scores that classify students as low, some, or high risk on social, academic and emotional measures; those results guide responses ranging from peer tutoring or restorative circles to counseling or external services. A board member asked what "at risk" covers; presenters responded that categories map to the specific screener items and are addressed with proportionate interventions.
On parent involvement, presenters said families receive unit information and activities tied to each Second Step lesson and that My Sabers participation for K–6 is communicated to families with the option to decline the student self‑assessment; teacher ratings remain part of the student’s support planning. The presenters also highlighted counseling lessons that accompany the curriculum and monthly schoolwide themes under PBIS.
What’s next: The district will phase implementation, expand the Sabers screener into additional buildings and continue to collect teacher and student feedback from pilots before a fuller K–8 rollout. The board did not vote on the SEL plan at the March 23 meeting; the presentation was instructional and intended to inform future implementation steps.
