Herman, MargoWalker, KateBlyth, DaleHagen, Elizabeth2013-12-102013-12-102013-10http://purl.umn.edu/161330Bridging the educational achievement gap is one of Extension’s identified issue areas. This poster presents a three-year initiative dedicated to developing programming that enhances understanding of social and emotional learning factors and their contribution to closing the achievement and opportunity gaps. The Extension Center for Youth Development is working with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), Extension Center for Family Development, the Department of Family Social Science, and Youthprise (a non-profit intermediary and funder) on this issue. This poster will explore social and emotional learning frameworks, share research on the importance of these skills, delineate strategies and delivery methods (e.g., public symposia, regional forums, online webinars, issue briefs) to move those strategies into programming. Also addressed are the internal and external partnerships that enhance the visibility and value of social and emotional factors in addressing educational disparities.en-UScross center initiativeseducational disparitiessocial and emotional learningPresentation