Schools • Emotional learning
Emotional Intelligence Certificates
Recognizing schools that put emotional intelligence into everyday learning.
16
Weeks in the full implementation pathway
60
Minutes per weekly session, per classroom group
13–16
Weeks of the student-led action lab
Recognition with purpose
What the certificate recognizes
Patriot Kids Foundation is developing a certificate for schools that integrate a structured emotional intelligence program into their curriculum. The proposed recognition focuses on documented implementation:
- Preparation
- Guided sessions
- Student-led action
- A closing review
Recognition is subject to the agreed program license and recognition conditions. Completing activities alone does not automatically confer a certificate.
For school communities
Who it’s for
Schools serving adolescents approximately 12–18 years old that are ready to make emotional learning a regular part of school life. School leaders confirm the participating groups, appoint an institutional coordinator, and arrange facilitation by a licensed psychology professional.
Students explore
- Self-awareness
- Emotional regulation
- Confidence
- Healthy boundaries
- Thoughtful decisions
- Respectful communication
- Ways to contribute to their school community
From commitment to completion
The implementation pathway
01
Prepare your school
Agree on the license scope, participating groups, materials, responsibilities, and calendar. Designate a school leader and coordinator, confirm the facilitator’s qualifications, communicate with families, and establish safeguarding and privacy procedures before sessions begin.
02
Build skills over 12 weeks
Schedule one 60-minute session per classroom group each week. Follow the program sequence using the student workbook and facilitator manual. Record attendance, sessions delivered, adaptations, and any make-up sessions.
03
Put learning into action
During weeks 13–16, students identify a school-community need, design a safe and achievable response, and implement, test, or present it. The school reviews the proposal and permissions before action. Students then reflect on their learning and contribution.
04
Review, document, and recognize
At the end of week 16, the facilitator and school coordinator verify records and agreed deliverables. Consolidate the student projects, collect agreed feedback, prepare a closing report, and meet with school leadership to discuss next steps. Recognition may be issued only under the conditions defined in the program license.
A structured experience
What the school receives
The implementation framework brings together the following components, with quantities, delivery, support, and recognition terms confirmed in the school’s agreement:
Curriculum sequence
A 16-week curriculum sequence: 12 weeks of skills development and a four-week student action lab.
Workbook & manual
A student workbook and facilitator manual within the authorized license scope.
Coordination & records
Coordination, implementation records, and an agreed reporting process.
Closing report
A closing report covering delivery, participation, student projects, feedback, limitations, and recommendations.
Recognition opportunity
The opportunity for implementation recognition, subject to agreed license conditions.
Clear expectations
What the program is—and is not
What it is
A structured educational experience
This is a structured educational experience with:
- Guided activities
- Inclusive participation
- Opportunities to practice emotional skills
What it is not
Not a clinical or disciplinary service
It is not:
- Psychological treatment
- Clinical assessment
- A disciplinary investigation
- A replacement for school safeguarding procedures
It does not promise to eliminate bullying or conflict. Participation records, feedback, and observations help schools review implementation; they are not proof that the program caused a particular outcome.
Questions, answered
Before your school begins
How long does the program take?
The framework spans 16 weeks, with one 60-minute session per classroom group each week: 12 weeks of skills development followed by a four-week student project lab.
Who leads the sessions?
The manual calls for a licensed psychology professional who follows the facilitator manual and knows the school’s safeguarding procedures. The school also appoints a coordinator and a responsible school leader.
What do students create in the action lab?
Students develop a small, safe initiative that contributes to school life or well-being. It may be an action, campaign, activity, or prototype. Projects must not investigate, expose, or confront individual cases of bullying or violence.
Must students talk about personal experiences?
No. Students may choose not to share a personal experience publicly and still participate in learning through other forms of expression or listening.
What must be agreed before starting?
The school agreement defines the campus, groups, implementation period, materials, services, responsibilities, price and payment terms, data handling, and authorized use of the program. These are not universally fixed by the manual.
Does completion automatically qualify a school for recognition?
No. Records and agreed deliverables are reviewed at the close of the program. Participation recognition or an implementation statement may be issued only under the license’s defined conditions.
Recognition levels
Compare recognition levels
Proposed levels — criteria under review and not final.
Emotionally Intelligent School of the Year is the highest award, above Silver, and is open to schools that have achieved Silver; the board votes at year-end to choose one school for the following year; the award is valid only for its printed year and is first awarded for 2027.
Swipe the comparison on smaller screens to view all four awards. School of the Year consideration requires Silver level achieved; the board selects one school for the following year.
Recognition criteria
Bronze, Gold, and Silver each include everything in the preceding level.
Bronze
Core implementation
Gold
Implementation + student action
Silver
Full pathway + continuity
Board selected
Emotionally Intelligent School of the Year
Requires Silver · First awarded for 2027
Foundation
| License scope, groups, materials, and calendar agreed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| School leader and coordinator appointed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Licensed psychology professional facilitates sessions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Safeguarding and privacy procedures in place | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Implementation
| 12 weeks of skills development | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| One 60-minute session per classroom group each week | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attendance and session records kept | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Families communicated with before sessions begin | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Student action
| Student action lab completed in weeks 13–16 | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student projects presented to the school community | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Review & continuity
| Records and agreed deliverables verified at week 16 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Closing report with agreed feedback | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Meeting with school leadership on next steps | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Continuity recommendations agreed | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Annual award selection
| Selection and validity | — | — | — | Requires Silver level achieved. Board vote at year-end; one school for the following year; valid only for the printed year; first awarded for 2027. |
✓ Included at this level · — Not required at this level. Proposed levels for review; final criteria will be defined in the program license and school agreement.
A thoughtful next step
Bring emotional learning into school life
Tell us about your school, the students you serve, and how you would like to integrate emotional intelligence into your curriculum. Ask about the implementation framework and proposed recognition process.