Why Program Fidelity Matters and How to Build It

We work with education leaders across the country, and one of the most common questions we hear is: “How can my school community get great results from our Second Step® programs?”

We tell them that implementation fidelity is one of the most important ways, if not the most important way, to get the results you want and need from your Second Step program. Benefits of human skills programs include improved attendance, decreased disciplinary referrals, and improved prosocial behavior and academic motivation, to name a few.

Like all meaningful learning, these benefits don’t just happen overnight. They’re the result of clear objectives, organization, and most of all, schoolwide, long-term program implementation fidelity. Here are a few strategies that we share with district and school leaders to help them cultivate fidelity with their Second Step programs and work toward significant, visible results in the short and long term.

Leverage the online dashboards

The online dashboards are some of the most powerful tools in Second Step programs—and they’re accessible and beneficial to nearly everyone in a school community, from district leaders and principals to counselors and teachers.

How do the online dashboards support program fidelity? For leaders, the Leader Dashboard includes features like program adoption and lesson completion tracking, the Implementation Playbook, webinars, presentations for staff kick-offs and check-ins, and more. The Leader Dashboard empowers administrators with data insights from both a bird’s-eye view and a close-up view, along with tools to leverage those insights in ways that encourage consistent instruction and drive improvement. For educators, the My Programs page is an easy-to-use hub to support consistent instruction. For everyone, they’re powerful tools to generate and measure results and, further, an invaluable catalyst for Second Step program fidelity.

Cultivate authentic buy-in

School leaders understand that staff buy-in is crucial to any initiative, and this is especially true of Second Step programs. We’ve found that educator buy-in is a major contributing factor to program fidelity and, ultimately, to long-term benefits. Why? Educators are more likely to consistently teach a program they authentically believe in.

How can leaders cultivate buy-in? Time is a precious commodity for educators at every level. Assure teachers that fidelity to their Second Step program will give them more time back in the short- and long-run. This is because students will build skills that ultimately support healthy classroom behavior and academic performance. Less time managing disruptive behavior means more time for high-quality academic instruction. Additionally, professional development is a highly effective way to cultivate buy-in, as it gives educators the tools to confidently and effectively teach Second Step programs.

Share wins, and share them often

As an educator, few things are more rewarding than seeing the fruits of your instructional investment, and of course, students thrive when they witness their own progress. Whether the achievements are big or small, sharing wins is an effective, simple way to maintain fidelity with Second Step programs.

Has attendance improved over the last quarter? Give students and staff kudos for showing up every day. Improved classroom behavior? Shout out students who are showing skills like healthy communication, active listening, and growth mindset. And remember, it’s important to make the connection between Second Step lessons and these results. As teachers and students witness these encouraging outcomes, they’re more likely to stay invested in the program that helped them get there.

For results, put fidelity first

Building and maintaining program fidelity is essential to unlocking the full potential of Second Step programs. By leveraging tools like the Leader Dashboard, cultivating genuine staff buy-in, and celebrating both big and small wins, school communities can foster impactful change. Implementation fidelity isn’t just a box to check—it’s a pathway to meaningful results for students and educators alike. To learn more about how your school community can experience the benefits of Second Step programs, connect with our Education Partnerships Team today.