social-and-emotional-learning-for-students-with-learning-disabilities-on-individualized-learning-plans (1).docx

The education system supports students with learning disabilities through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which primarily address their unique academic needs. While the tailored attention to students’ individual academic needs mark significant progress towards a fair and equitable education, the conventional student IEPs and 504 plans do not typically address the social and emotional needs of students with learning disabilities (Elias, 2004). This teacher action research explores how a focused incorporation of SEL support into students’ IEPs affects students’ outlook towards schooling Key findings suggest that, although previous research has explored the connection between learning disabilities and social and emotional learning (SEL), IEPs provide accommodations for academic needs but often overlook students' social and emotional challenges, which can influence their ability to achieve those academic goals (Cavioni et al., 2017). To date, there is currently no system that integrates SEL into student IEPs.