Second Step® Insights

Culture, not compliance, drives impact. Learn how districts can embed human skills instruction into daily routines to support students, teachers, and whole-school communities.

California schools are losing millions each year to chronic absenteeism, but Second Step® Middle School could help reverse that trend while also transforming student outcomes.

When funding stalls, relationships matter most. Learn how schools can stay steady during a shutdown by strengthening essential human skills.

When students have human skills to support their academic learning, those tough academic seasons can become an important part of their cycle of academic growth.

With Second Step Tiered Interventions already in action in schools across the country today, ARC shows what’s possible when educators lead the way.

This award recognizes products offering real solutions to challenges for educators, and our K–8 digital programs stood out for their versatility, impact, and innovation.

Providing Second Step® programs in Spanish helps more students grow essential human skills while keeping families connected across cultures and communities.

Resilience is an undeniably valuable skill for students to possess and for educators to foster in their classrooms. Here are four strategies to foster resilience.

This one-minute video brings the vision of Second Step® programs to life—showing how educators can build stronger connections with students and drive meaningful outcomes.

The updated Leader Dashboard is designed to enhance the planning and implementation process of your Second Step® program, propelling your school community to new heights.

High school students urgently need human skills—such as communication, self-efficacy, and decision-making—that equip them for success no matter what the future holds.

Does your student need more support? Second Step® Tiered Interventions give students the extra practice and confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Independent studies confirm that Second Step K–8 digital programs strengthen students’ academic and emotional success.

Our evidence-based, K–8 digital human skills curricula are linked to improvements in academic motivation, attendance, and school climate, making them a strategic investment.

AI in education is everywhere, but it can’t teach empathy or resilience. Discover why developing human skills is the key to helping students thrive in today’s digital world.

Collaboration is more than a classroom strategy—it’s a powerful skill that sets students up for success in school, relationships, and life.

New findings from an Atlanta Public Schools (APS) study demonstrate measurable outcomes of Second Step programs.

Learn how human skills empower students to build stronger peer relationships, helping to improve connection, collaboration, and classroom community.

Discover how real-world human skills like empathy, emotion management, and problem-solving strengthen student communication and help them thrive in school and in life.

Goal-setting meets storytelling. New Second Step® video series helps kids learn by watching relatable characters take on real-life challenges.

Here are 10 essential human skills—according to research and the Second Step® curriculum—why they matter, and some guidance on how to help kids strengthen them.

Dive into the science of curriculum design with Committee for Children’s director of product management. See how research, tech, students, and educators influence innovation.

PreK educators can leverage these lessons to help young students build a foundation of human skills that will last a lifetime.

These human skills-based strategies are a practical approach that every educator can take to prevent and manage burnout.

Celebrate our 2024 Second Step® Educator of the Year award winners. Among thousands of educators, see why these five stand out as extraordinary innovators and changemakers.

Implementation fidelity is one of the most important ways to achieve results with Second Step® programs. Here are three proven strategies to build fidelity in your community.

Helping students develop human skills like emotion management and collaboration is a key solution to reversing negative behavior and conduct trends.

Out-of-school time is a powerful opportunity to strengthen human skills—equipping kids with the tools they need to thrive in school, relationships, and every area of life.

Learn how human skills programs can help support students’ mental health, strengthen connections, and create a positive school environment where students can thrive.

Cell phone bans are only part of the solution. Learn how schools can help students balance technology use and build the digital well-being skills needed for a healthy future.

Discover the latest updates, including our high school program, upgrades to our middle school program, Tier 2 supports and assessments for K–8 programs, and more.

Skills like emotion regulation, growth mindset , and goal-setting support students’ performance and empower them to do their best on the test.

Human skills programs can help create a climate where students feel safe and seen. They’ve even been shown to improve school attendance and academic success!

By equipping students with skills like goal-setting and emotion regulation, educators can help students manage test-related stress, boosting their performance and well-being.

Human skills can help students manage stress, improve focus, connect with their teachers and peers, and develop a growth mindset—all crucial for overcoming learning loss.

Explore how fostering collaboration, problem-solving, growth mindset, and ethical decision-making enhances STEM education.

Are our teenagers as healthy and happy as they could be? Read about the latest CDC findings, the most comprehensive data on high schoolers’ health and well-being.

Balancing screen time and well-being is crucial in our digital landscape. Explore strategies to promote mindfulness, and see how digital tools can support emotional growth.

Looking for great gift ideas? Our Second Step® educators have got you covered. Check out their favorite children’s books that entertain and model essential skills.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) delivers tremendous benefits for educators. Learn how SEL can reduce burnout, build trust with peers, and improve teacher well-being.

Human skills programs can help students build skills that aid them in the challenging but essential process of building literacy.

When teachers implement SEL programs with fidelity, students are more likely to achieve outcomes like improved academic skills, prosocial behaviors, and overall well-being.

Social-emotional learning could be a vital tool in addressing the academic struggles of children across the country and helping them find opportunities for improvement.

School connectedness and attendance are linked to trust between students, teachers, and families. Get educator strategies that make an impact from an absenteeism expert.

Many educators and experts view resilience as one of the essential abilities that a young person should develop.

Our Civil Discourse Resource Guide for Educators offers actionable strategies to help students navigate challenging conversations so everyone can feel heard and respected.

Explore the power of human skill-building interventions to strengthen teacher-student relationships and build more connected classrooms.

Educators face no shortage of challenges in their work, but by prioritizing their own wellness, those challenges become opportunities for self-care.

Explore how human skills programs equip students with crucial skills like teamwork and adaptability, setting them up for career success in a competitive job market.

Developing a growth mindset can mean the difference between a student persevering and giving up. Cultivate a growth mindset at home or in your classroom with these strategies.

Anti-bullying strategies that are rooted in essential human skills can help educators approach bullying holistically, not just as isolated incidents to punish or expose.

Self-awareness is a human skill that’s foundational to other competencies, such as emotional understanding, growth mindset, self-efficacy, and healthy self-image.

One answer to absenteeism is in classrooms already. Human skills development can build connections and reduce absenteeism, moving kids from absent to engaged and thriving.

Discover how parent-teacher collaboration enhances students’ development of human skills through effective communication, shared goal-setting, and supportive environments.

With these back-to-school tips from some of our 2023 Educator of the Year award winners, set everyone up for success and build connections in the classroom and the staff room.

Explore practical strategies to nurture your child’s social and emotional growth at home, and learn about easy activities for all ages that fit seamlessly into daily routines.

A positive school climate benefits both students and staff. From classrooms to the principal’s office, try these five strategies to create a place where everyone can thrive.

Discover ways to boost student well-being through human skills education, positive school climate, teacher-student connections, physical activity, stress reduction, and more.

Discover how human skills programs foster a positive school climate by enhancing emotional well-being, building relationships, and promoting empathy among students and staff.

Listening with intent means listening to understand another person’s perspective and feelings. These five strategies help kids become better listeners and communicators.

Collaborating is a life skill kids need in and out of school, and educator Carrie White shares five ways human skills instruction can help boost collaboration and teamwork.

Learn how starting human skills programs early helps children form healthy relationships, regulate emotions, boost academic success, and foster lifelong well-being.

Learn the common signs of stress in kids and explore strategies for helping students manage school stress, such as improving school climate and getting peer support.

The updated Second Step® Middle School program helps students and educators more actively engage in the process of strengthening human skills.

Learn how to create a supportive classroom by setting norms of respect, designing accessible spaces, and providing learning aids.

Read a recap of Dr. Jane Choi’s webinar on adolescent mental wellness, discussing post-pandemic struggles, CDC teen sadness data, and strategies for supportive school environments.

Recap of Amy Walker’s webinar on research-based approaches to prevent bullying, foster kindness, and build a positive school culture by strengthening human skills.

Learn about Alison Cline’s experience with Second Step and how her school united to keep the curriculum, highlighting its positive impact on students.

Enhance students’ sense of belonging at school with human skills instruction and fostering self-identity, leading to better engagement and academic outcomes.

Learn how parent-teacher collaboration enhances the development of human skills, with insights from Helen Westmoreland of the National PTA.

We spoke to Dorothy Espelage, PhD, professor of education at the University of North Carolina. She shares five tips to ensure kids get the most benefits from human skills instruction.

We sat down with three experts in the human skills curriculum and assessment space to identify ways to ensure assessment success and avoid common roadblocks.

Explore how school connectedness influences student well-being, and learn strategies from the CDC to enhance human skills development and inclusion.

Explore how strengthening human skills helps fight cyberbullying, creating safer online spaces for kids by fostering empathy, self-regulation, and positive environments.

Discover how human skills programs nurture responsible decision-making in kids, equipping them with key skills for success in school and beyond.

Learn four key strategies for integrating human skills programs in schools to enhance empathy, confidence, and resilience among students for a brighter future.