States’ federally-approved plans for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) illustrate an emerging focus on social and emotional learning and development, strengthened conditions for student learning, and whole child supports in education systems. States are beginning to include language, measures, and supports around these areas of work in their ESSA state plans, many for the first time. This brief examines key opportunities or “levers” that ESSA presents to states and their communities to specifically advance social and emotional learning and development, positive conditions for learning, and whole child supports.