In this policy brief, TransformEd provides policy recommendations for local and state leaders seeking to take a data-informed approach to SEL. We specifically crafted recommendations that incorporate the use of data because gathering data on SEL allows educators to make meaningful connections between student experiences, school culture, and classroom practice. Ultimately, these connections enable us to make smarter investments in practices that work for all students. We spent months speaking to policymakers, researchers, teachers, and families, while analyzing laws and policies, and understanding the latest findings and reports from the field. We grounded our recommendations in a commitment to equity and a belief in using research to inform practice. We also sought concrete examples of each recommendation in action to highlight the important work that is already underway in states and districts across the U.S.