Celebrating
Remarkable Schools
Great schools empower all students to contribute their unique genius to the world. That’s why it matters how we measure school quality.
The EL Education School Credential honors evidence of the multiple ways that strong schools nurture students’ social, emotional, and academic development.
Watch our newest video about the Credential!
What is the EL Education School Credential?
The EL Education model is a set of Core Practices that serve as a blueprint for transforming instruction, assessment, leadership, curriculum, school culture and character, with the support of EL Education school coaches.
Educators implement EL Education Core Practices with the support of coaching, professional learning, progress monitoring tools, and educator resources.
Students across identity groups succeed in three dimensions, demonstrating mastery of knowledge & skills, character & high quality work.
The EL Education Credential is a marker of excellence and equity in implementation of the EL Education Core Practices and in impact in the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement.
The Credential is integrally tied to our Continuous Improvement for Equity process and represents a ‘north star’ for all partners in our strategic work.
The Science Behind the Credential
Research on cognitive development shows that social, emotional, and academic enrichment are reciprocal and intertwined. Schools must foster multiple dimensions of student growth in order to empower excellent equitable outcomes for all kids.
What’s New About
the Credential?
In Fall 2021, EL Education partnered with school communities to redesign the EL Education School Credential to be more equitable, accessible, and authentic. More than 150 stakeholders, including students, educators, and staff, provided feedback. The organization piloted a new process for earning the Credential, including school site visits, authentic ways to demonstrate impact, and a balance of the three dimensions of student achievement.
In Fall 2022, EL Education launched redesigned Credential incorporating lessons learned from the redesign process.
Equity - The Credential demands that all students are expected and supported to develop and grow as learners.
Accessibility - The Credential is a ‘north star’ and achievable for all EL Education partner types across the country.
Authenticity - The Credential is a result and recognition of a process that honors the unique assets of each school community.
In June 2023, EL Education announced that six schools earned the EL Education School Credential through the redesigned process.
Benefits of Being a Credentialed School
EL Education Credentialed schools are model schools within the EL Education community and in local communities. They are showcases of what it means to see equitable impact in the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement. EL Education Credentialed schools also benefit from:
Credentialed schools are eligible to apply to host an EL Education Site Seminar, showcasing their school to a national audience.
Credentialed leaders are invited to attend the annual Credentialed School Leadership Institute (CSLI), joining the Credentialed School Leader Community.
Credentialed leaders are eligible to serve as a mentor to other school leaders.
Credentialed schools are eligible for different packages of service and support from EL Education.
All EL Education partners are encouraged to pursue the Credential over a multi-year journey of continuous improvement for equity. Schools should apply for the Credential only if they are seeing impact in all three dimensions against the eligibility criteria. Schools that successfully go through the credentialing process may earn the EL Education Credential.
