This paper addresses perception (P), environment (E), action (A), relationship (R), and locality (L) as the social indicators of sustainable development (SD), the capital letters of which label the PEARL model. The paper refers to PEARL with regard to three aspects to elaborate the promises and limits of the model. Theoretically; it discusses comprehensiveness of the model. Pedagogically; it focuses on how the PEARL might facilitate learning, teaching and recalling fundaments of SD. Practically; it searches whether the model is appropriate for indexing and assessment. The PEARL brings out the significance of perceptions for SD and promises pedagogical contribution. The model, within this sense, appears as a qualitative understanding of SD which proposes a schematic framework to facilitate teaching and learning of its content. The analysis also points to likelihood of a quantitative PEARL index that is appropriate for assessment and measurement for individuals, institutions and regions.