Social emotional learning — lessons in soft skills like listening to people you disagree with or calming yourself down before a test — has become a flashpoint in the culture wars.

A Midlands-based organization is helping teachers improve student performance in English and test scores by giving them the tools—and the funding—to bring new strategies into their classrooms.

Carlmont High School juniors and seniors put their knowledge to the test on Oct. 8, as classrooms were turned into exam rooms ...