Advancing Student Well-Being: Why Second Step® Programs Earned the 2026 CODiE Award

Students can’t learn at their best when they don’t feel connected, supported, or ready to engage. Across the country, educators are working to strengthen belonging, improve attendance, reduce behavior challenges, and create school climates where every student can thrive. That’s why we’re proud that Second Step® programs have been recognized with the 2026 CODiE Award for Best Student Wellbeing & SEL Solution.

What happens when schools implement Second Step K–8 programs with fidelity?

• Fewer office referrals and suspensions
• Reduced absenteeism
• Improved school climate  
• Increased self-management
• Improved academic motivation and performance

Students need stronger well-being and school climate. Schools need solutions that deliver measurable results. The impact achieved with Second Step programs demonstrates what’s possible when students receive consistent, evidence-based support, and the 2026 CODiE Award independently validates those outcomes. ‍

Why student well-being matters more than ever

Student well-being fuels academic success. Students are more likely to learn, participate, and persist when they feel connected to their school community, engaged in learning, and supported by the adults around them. As schools work to strengthen belonging, improve attendance, increase engagement, and create positive school climates, student well-being has become foundational to learning.

Educators are being asked to support more than academics. They’re helping students build the skills to focus, connect, navigate challenges, and feel ready to learn. That work is essential to stronger classrooms and healthier school communities, and it’s one reason the CODiE recognition is so meaningful. ‍

7 reasons CODiE recognized Second Step® programs

1. Students feel more connected, supported, and ready to learn

Strong student well-being starts with a school environment where students feel connected, supported, and ready to participate. Second Step programs help strengthen belonging, academic motivation, prosocial behavior, and positive school climate so students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

2. Students show measurable improvements in behavior, attendance, and engagement

Second Step programs are designed to create real change when implemented with fidelity. Independent research has shown outcomes such as fewer referrals and suspensions, improved attendance, stronger engagement, and more positive perceptions of school climate.  

For middle school students, findings include 36% fewer office referrals, 33–36% fewer suspensions, and 2.5 additional days of attendance.  

Elementary outcomes include gains in academic motivation, prosocial behavior, and self-management, along with fewer out-of-school suspensions.  

These are the kinds of shifts that help educators spend more time teaching and help students spend more time learning.

3. The work is grounded in decades of research

Second Step programs are grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practices, including MTSS, PBIS, and SAFE design principles. That foundation helps schools support emotional development, mental wellness, and social growth in ways that are structured, intentional, and developmentally appropriate.

4. Second Step programs are built for real-world classrooms

A program only works if educators can actually use it. Second Step lessons and resources are ready to teach, multimedia rich, and easy to fit into existing routines.  

Student-facing materials for PreK–8 are available in English and Spanish, and family communications for PreK–12 are included in 13 languages.  

Professional development and implementation support help schools bring the programs to life across a wide range of classrooms and communities.

5. Tiered supports meet students where they are

Student needs are not one-size-fits-all. The MTSS-aligned structure of Second Step programs provides universal instruction, small group skill-building, and individualized support resources. That means schools can strengthen universal instruction while also responding to students who need more targeted support.

6. Schools can sustain results across classrooms, schools, and districts

Strong implementation requires visibility. The K–12 Leader Dashboard and Implementation Guide help leaders monitor adoption, lesson completion, and implementation progress. These tools support fidelity across classrooms and schools, which is critical for districts working to improve school climate across multiple sites.

7. Second Step programs fit into the systems schools already use

Schools need solutions that can scale without disrupting the rest of the school day. Second Step programs can fit within classroom schedules, MTSS structures, PBIS priorities, and broader instructional goals.  

With implementation across over 45,000 schools nationwide and more than 20 million students around the globe, the programs are designed to support consistent implementation and long-term climate improvement from one school to multiple sites. ‍

Why more than 45,000 schools choose Second Step® programs

Schools and districts choose Second Step programs because they combine the elements schools need most: proven outcomes, research-designed instruction, practical implementation support, districtwide visibility, and tiered student supports. Built on decades of research, the programs align with MTSS frameworks, provide support across all tiers of intervention, and give district leaders visibility into implementation through the K–12 Leader Dashboard.  

Most importantly, Second Step programs help schools create conditions for stronger student outcomes, including improved school climate, belonging, engagement, and readiness to learn. ‍

Why the CODiE recognition matters

This award is more than industry recognition. It’s an independent validation of what educators and district leaders see every day: when students feel connected, supported, and ready to learn, schools become stronger places to teach and learn.  

If your district is working to improve school climate, strengthen student belonging, reduce behavior challenges, or build a more comprehensive approach to student well-being, schedule a consultation to see how Second Step programs can help.

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