SECD Standards and Competencies
The Social, Emotional, Character Development (SECD) standards were adopted in April of 2012, revised in July of 2018 by the Kansas State Board of Education and again reviewed and converted into Student Character Development Competencies in 2025. They are designed to help keep children safe and successful while developing their academic, social-emotional and post-secondary skills. Kansas was the first state to adopt social-emotional character development standards.
The Kansas Social‑Emotional Character Development (SECD) Model Standards document is a guide created by the Kansas State Department of Education to help schools support students’ social, emotional, and character growth. It explains important skills like managing emotions, building healthy relationships, making responsible choices, and showing respect and empathy. These standards are meant to be taught from early childhood through high school and used throughout the school day, not as a separate class. The goal of the document is to help schools support the whole child and prepare students for success in school, work, and life.
The original 2012 standards, revised in 2018, reviewed and converted to Student Competencies in 2025.
- Kansas Social-Emotional Character Development Model Standards (PDF) Document is available upon request.
The SECD Student Competencies document is a companion resource to the Kansas Social‑Emotional Character Development (SECD) Model Standards. It clearly describes the specific skills students are expected to learn, practice, and demonstrate as they grow. The competencies focus on areas such as self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision‑making. This document helps educators understand what social‑emotional and character growth looks like at different developmental levels and supports consistent teaching and reflection across classrooms and schools. Overall, the SECD Student Competencies document helps schools support the whole child by outlining the skills students need to succeed academically, socially, and in life beyond school.
- SECD Student Competencies (PDF) Document is available upon request.
