Project EASEL

(formally known as AZ College & Career Competency Team Training, AZCCCT)

For detailed information about Project EASEL please view the following resources:

College & Career Competency Framework Web Page

College and Career Competency Wheel 

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Do your students have difficulty turning in homework; getting to school on time; focusing on academics during class; studying for tests; completing all aspects of projects; or managing their emotions? Self-Regulation instruction can help.

Do your students lack confidence in their abilities; think that they will always do as well or as poorly as they have done in the past; give up easily when they encounter obstacles; or simply feel that they cannot learn the course content or succeed in school, sports, or arts?  Self-Efficacy instruction can help.

Do your students have difficulty expressing themselves in situations like asking for help when they don’t understand, sharing their opinions during group work, or standing up to their peers? Or do they react aggressively in certain situations, responding in demanding or hostile ways instead of expressing their thoughts or needs respectfully? Assertiveness instruction can help.

Project EASEL (Empowering Arizona with Social-Emotional Learning), formally known as AZ CCCTT, is a free, two-year professional development opportunity offered by the Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services in collaboration with the University of Kansas Research Collaboration. 

Project EASEL helps build your school’s capacity to support social-emotional learning at a Tier 1 level (reaching all students); project staff will work with each participating school’s administration to create a customized plan for the year, which will include several virtual trainings and virtual coaching calls to support school staff in learning and implementing strategies for self-efficacy, self-regulation, or assertiveness instruction, as well as reflecting on and refining those efforts over time. Project EASEL offers a way to use the academic content you’re already teaching (or the interactions you’re already having with students as a counselor, administrator, etc.) to simultaneously support students’ development of self-efficacy, self-regulation, or assertiveness, which bolsters engagement and persistence in academics.

This training and coaching structure supports educators to learn, practice, and receive feedback on instruction of research-based competencies integral to in-school and post-school success.

Project EASEL Cohorts

Project EASEL Program Is Now Accepting Applications!

Although we are all adjusting to new circumstances in response to COVID-19, we also recognize the importance of continuing to support students’ academic and social/emotional needs, in addition to planning for the next school year. Arizona Department of Education is inviting ten middle and/or high schools to participate in the 2020-21 College and Career Competency Project. Current participating educators have noted that supporting their students’ SEL is now more important than ever before.

Learn More about Project EASEL by Watching These Videos

Contact Us

For general questions email the Secondary Transition Inbox 

Secondary Transition Team Administrative Assistant

Jeannette Zemeida, (602) 542-3855 

Transition Specialists 

Lisa Livesay, (602) 542-8718

Lauren Blocher, (602) 542-3153