No. 101
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates last Friday in March of every year as “Social-Emotional Learning Day.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the last Friday in March of every year as “Social-Emotional Learning Day.”
Whereas, The State of New Jersey is enriched when its residents acquire the skills necessary to achieve professional success, familial stability, and community development; and
Whereas, Social-emotional learning (“SEL”) is the process through which individuals acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions; and
Whereas, The core competencies of SEL promote the cultivation of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, all of which are essential to the success and stability of every school, workplace, family, and community in the State; and
Whereas, These SEL competencies, which can be developed during childhood, adolescence, and beyond, foster individuals who strive to make meaningful contributions to society; and
Whereas, The engagement of schools, families, and community leaders is needed to promote the acquisition of SEL competencies by children, adolescents, and all other residents of the State; and
Whereas, Given the long-term social and economic benefits achieved through SEL, it is altogether fitting and proper for this State to dedicate its public resources to the advancement of evidence-based SEL; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The last Friday in March of every year is designated as “Social-Emotional Learning Day” in the State of New Jersey to encourage the study and integration of social-emotional learning within every school, organization, and community in the State.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating the last Friday in March as “Social-Emotional Learning Day” and call upon the public officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the last Friday in March of every year as “Social-Emotional Learning Day” to encourage the study and integration of social-emotional learning (“SEL”) within every school, organization, and community in the State.
SEL is the process through which individuals acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The core competencies of SEL promote the cultivation of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, all of which are essential to the success and stability of every school, workplace, family, and community in the State. These competencies, which can be developed during childhood, adolescence, and beyond, foster individuals who strive to make meaningful contributions to society.
However, the engagement of schools, families, and community leaders is needed to promote the acquisition of SEL competencies by children, adolescents, and all other residents of the State. Given the long-term social and economic benefits achieved through SEL, it is altogether fitting and proper for this State to dedicate its public resources to the advancement of evidence-based SEL.