Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning

What Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning does

Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its stated mission is to advance evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) in education from preschool through high school. CASEL's core intellectual product is the CASEL Framework, which defines five core competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making) to be embedded across four settings (classrooms, schools, families and caregivers, communities). The organization curates and publishes a portfolio of resources including the Guide to Schoolwide SEL, District Resource Center, Program Guide (a Consumer Reports-style rating of evidence-based SEL programs), SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook, and the Schoolwide SEL Rubric, alongside a peer-reviewed publication (the SEL Journal) and the annual SEL Exchange conference.

Name

Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning

Legal name

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning

Website

https://casel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CASEL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops evidence-based frameworks, tools, and professional development programs to help K-12 schools, districts, and state agencies implement social and emotional learning from preschool through high school.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Education Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting) (EDAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Social emotional learning
• SEL framework
• K-12 education services
• Professional development
• School district consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, CASEL relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to support its mission and meet rising demand for social and emotional learning programs.
2. Professional Development Workshops: Fee-based professional development courses including Leading Schoolwide SEL at $250 per participant ($200 for teams of 4+), and customized district programs for 50+ participants at quoted rates.
3. Course Enrollment Fees: Self-paced online courses and workshops with fees for participation, including certificates of completion. Graduate extension credit available through University of San Diego for additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CASEL develops and disseminates an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) framework that defines five core competencies (Self-awareness, Self-management, Social awareness, Relationship skills, Responsible decision-making) across four key settings (Classrooms, Schools, Families & Caregivers, Communities). It sells fee-based professional development courses and customized district workshops, and provides free digital resource portals, frameworks, rubrics, and an annual conference to support systemic SEL implementation in K-12 education.

Product overview

CASEL offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected resources, programs, and professional learning services for social and emotional learning implementation. The core offerings include the Guide to Schoolwide SEL (free school-level guidance), District Resource Center (free district-level guidance), and Program Guide (evidence-based program reviews). Professional learning is delivered through courses like Leading Schoolwide SEL (on-demand or customized), Cultivating Adult SEL, and An Introduction to SEL, along with facilitated workshops on topics like Integrating SEL With Academic Instruction and the SEL 3 Signature Practices. CASEL also runs the annual SEL Exchange conference, operates the SEL Fellows Academy and International SEL Fellows Academy programs, publishes the SEL Journal, and maintains supplementary resources including the SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook and State Resource Center. The products work together as a cohesive system supporting schools and districts from initial awareness through sustained implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CASEL Guide to Schoolwide SEL: Free guidance and resources for embedding SEL throughout a school.
• CASEL District Resource Center
• CASEL Program Guide
• SEL Exchange
• SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook
• Leading With SEL

Products and services

• CASEL Guide to Schoolwide SEL Free guidance and resources for embedding social and emotional learning throughout a school, providing a process and concrete tools for implementing SEL systemically at the school level for preschool through high school.
• CASEL District Resource Center Free guidance and resources for implementing SEL throughout a school district, outlining a process and including a library of resources and examples from district partners.
• CASEL SEL Program Guide Consumer Reports-style guide identifying and rating well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs for schools and districts, applying a systematic framework and assessing impact on outcomes.
• SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook Practical playbook providing simple but meaningful SEL practices, including Inclusive Welcome, Engaging Strategies, and Intentional Close, for integrating SEL into classrooms, schools, and organizations.
• State Resource Center Curated resources for state leaders, informed by the Collaborating States Initiative, helping state education agencies create and promote state-level SEL practices and policies.
• SEL Exchange Annual Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together a broad audience of educators, researchers, and practitioners for SEL learning, networking, and sharing best practices.
• An Introduction to SEL Free, self-paced online course completable in less than an hour for staff members, parents, caregivers, and community partners, available in English and Spanish with a facilitation guide and certificate of completion.
• Leading Schoolwide SEL In-depth, multi-session online course for SEL teams ready to lead SEL strategic planning and implementation in school settings, available on-demand (12-15 hours, 32 weeks access) or as customized district programs for 50+ participants with optional University of San Diego graduate extension credit.
• Cultivating Adult Social and Emotional Learning Self-paced series of six learning modules (30-60 minutes each) with videos, personal reflection activities, and team discussion questions designed for use over a school year; available for individuals and group facilitators to cultivate adult SEL competencies.
• Integrating SEL With Academic Instruction Workshop Facilitated, interactive live virtual workshop via Zoom for K-12 educators on integrating SEL within academic lessons, helping participants locate SEL opportunities within academic content and enhance lesson plans.
• SEL 3 Signature Practices Workshop Facilitated live virtual workshop teaching the SEL 3 Signature Practices framework, including Inclusive Welcome, Engaging Strategies, and Intentional Close, for schools, districts, and organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improvement in students' social and emotional skills, attitudes, relationships, academic performance, and perceptions of classroom and school climate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of San Diego provides graduate level extension credit for CASEL's Leading Schoolwide SEL course, allowing participants to earn academic credit toward professional development requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility: Nonprofit provider of SEL and restorative practices curricula for K-12 schools. Comparable as a values-aligned, mission-driven SEL provider competing for district PD dollars.
• International Institute for Restorative Practices: Provides restorative practices training and certification that overlaps with CASEL's relationship skills and schoolwide culture work, serving similar K-12 audiences.

Direct peers

• Committee for Children: Developer of Second Step, one of the most widely used K-12 SEL curricula in the U.S. Competes directly with CASEL's framework recommendations in the SEL program market and serves the same school district buyers.
• Aperture Education: Offers the DESSA suite of SEL assessments and intervention tools for K-12 districts. Directly comparable to CASEL's measurement and program selection offerings.
• Sanford Harmony: National University and Sanford Programs provide a K-12 SEL curriculum and program competing with CASEL-recommended programs in school district implementations.
• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): Creator of the RULER approach, an evidence-based SEL framework used in K-12 schools. Competes with CASEL as a competing proprietary SEL framework adopted by districts and states.
• Panorama Education: Provides a K-12 SEL measurement, data, and intervention platform used by districts nationwide. Sells into the same district buyers as CASEL and competes for SEL implementation budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Education: Large K-12 digital content and PD provider that integrates SEL-adjacent content into its district platform. Comparable as an incumbent with broader footprint that competes for SEL and PD budget.
• George Lucas Educational Foundation (Edutopia): Major K-12 education content and thought-leadership platform that covers SEL among many topics. Comparable as a high-reach content/advocacy channel shaping district SEL adoption.

Others

• RAND Corporation (Education and Social-Emotional Learning Research): Produces influential SEL research and policy briefs that influence the same state and district buyers CASEL targets. Relevant as a research/evidence peer that shapes the SEL field.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CASELorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzOdB_dsqKjUqG7Cwc3m7Vg
• Facebookfacebook.com/caselorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collaborative-for-academic-social-and-emotional-learning-casel
• Instagraminstagram.com/caselorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning