Students who attend alternative schools are disproportionally at risk for adverse environmental, familial, and personal experiences that can lead to unrecognized learning problems, low academic achievement, mental health concerns, substance abuse, and legal involvement. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs include evidence-based…

This article describes a social skills instructional framework, with examples of its use in inclusive and diverse classrooms. The framework has three phases: (1) defining the social skill to be taught; (2) implementing instruction; and (3) moving to self-control. Also provided are guidelines for performance-based assessment of social skills. (DB)