Wayfinder has received the highest possible program designation from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).
As a SELect Program, we’ve been recognized as a highly effective and evidence-based program that demonstrates significant evaluation outcomes in:
- Improved school climate
- Improved school connectedness
- Improved social behaviors
- Improved identity development and agency
The designation also indicates that Wayfinder promotes students’ social and emotional competence in a SELect category, provides opportunities for practice, offers multi-year programming, and delivers high-quality training and other implementation supports.
Supporting High-Quality Implementation Across Multiple Settings
Wayfinder is successfully implemented in hundreds of schools and districts around the world. The flexible curriculum fits a broad range of use cases, including full K-12 or division-based rollouts, advisory, adult PD, counseling, MTSS intervention, college and career prep, and leadership development. Custom implementation plans are designed with a success coach to fit each school's unique needs.
Making Meaning through Collaboration
Wayfinder’s Core Curriculum integrates the CASEL competencies of relationship skills and social awareness across all grade levels. Starting from elementary school, students practice communication, inclusivity, and turn-taking. These skills are expanded in middle school, where students learn to recognize and respond to emotions, develop compassion, and seek or offer help. By high school, students are equipped to build cultural competence, give and receive constructive feedback, and consider how their actions contribute to the common good.
Every Wayfinder lesson and activity emphasizes discussion and student collaboration. Students engage actively, reflect on their learning, and share insights with peers. Collaborative activities, such as Belonging Check-Ins, allow students to regularly assess their relationships with themselves, each other, their learning, and the broader world. These check-ins are customizable and serve as opening and closing rituals for each lesson, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Fostering Student Ownership of Learning
Wayfinder’s curriculum is rigorously prototyped and tested by teachers and students. Over the past two years, more than 1,000 prototypes have been conducted nationwide.
The curriculum, co-designed with students, addresses relevant topics like social media and entrepreneurship, celebrating diverse stories and culturally relevant content. Developed by experts in SEL, purpose learning, and youth development, it utilizes Universal Design for Learning to promote clear goals, flexible implementation, and student ownership of learning.
Supporting Academic Achievement + Future-Readiness
Wayfinder is based on the principle that students need relational and critical thinking skills to succeed in school, the workplace, and the rest of their lives. The content is developmentally appropriate and research-backed, and lessons provide ample opportunities for students to explore different perspectives, build empathy, and connect across differences.
Aligning with Common Core Standards for mathematics and English language arts/literacy, Wayfinder also supports the core components of the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework, Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS), and both academic and behavioral MTSS frameworks. Additionally, the curriculum aligns with the Career Technical Education (CTE) system and the National Health Education Standards (NHES).
With the SEL + Academic Content Integration filter, educators can select specific Wayfinder activities that seamlessly integrate into academic subjects like mathematics, English language arts, science, social studies, art, theater, PE, health, and music.
CASEL SELect Recognition
Wayfinder's designation as a CASEL SELect Program is a testament to the curriculum’s effectiveness in fostering positive student outcomes. We’re proud to help pave the way for a more connected and purposeful future for students around the world.
As a CASEL SELect program, Wayfinder will be included in the CASEL Guide to Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs starting July 22, 2024. The guide includes details about approved programs and helps schools and districts determine which program best fits their students’ needs.
To see how Wayfinder aligns with CASEL’s core competencies, view our overview of CASEL-Aligned Skill Building. If you’d like to learn more about our evidence-based approach and outcomes, please visit our Research page to see how we boost student performance.
