The Social Skills Development/Character Education program is based on the five competencies as outlined in the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Social Emotional Learning Framework.  Those competencies are: Self Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision Making, Relationship Skills, and Social Awareness.  The CASEL framework includes a systemic approach that highlights the importance of an equitable learning environment and allows for practices to be generalized across key settings of classrooms, schools, families, and communities in order to enhance our students’ social and emotional needs as well as their academic learning.  Our Social Skills/Character Education program is taught and reinforced in the following two ways: direct instruction in a separate class to provide selected students who have the cognitive and language skills necessary to actively participate in the curriculum; and the skills are reinforced through use of common language embedded in the daily routines and lessons in all of our classes.  The goal of the program is to create a safe and caring classroom and school environment.  Students and staff members share in learning and practicing effective social emotional skills that help them interact effectively with one another in school, the community, the workplace, and throughout their lives.  Teachers are trained in the program and incorporate the common language and skills into their routines.