Resource Library

In schools that implemented Second Step programs, students across all grade levels showed measurable gains in social-emotional skills. These schoolwide improvements demonstrate that a comprehensive, coordinated approach to human skills instruction can positively affect an entire school community.

A meta-analysis of 44 school-based anti-bullying programs found that programs incorporating SEL components—such as teaching empathy, emotion regulation, and social problem-solving skills—were significantly more effective at reducing bullying and victimization than programs that relied solely on discipline-based approaches.

A groundbreaking 19-year longitudinal study found that social competence measured in kindergarten significantly predicted outcomes in education, employment, criminal activity, substance use, and mental health by age 25. For every one-point increase in social competence, students were significantly more likely to be employed and less likely to be arrested.

A cost-benefit analysis of six evidence-based SEL programs found that, on average, every dollar invested returned $11 in long-term benefits, including reductions in criminal behavior, substance abuse, and other negative outcomes. This makes SEL one of the most cost-effective educational investments available.

A landmark meta-analysis of 213 school-based SEL programs involving over 270,000 K–12 students found that participating students showed significant improvements in social-emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance. Follow-up data indicated that benefits persisted at least six months after the programs ended.

A study of 429 parents found that those who watched the Second Step Child Protection Unit family video demonstrated significantly higher knowledge of child sexual abuse, increased self-efficacy to discuss prevention with their children, and greater motivation to have those conversations compared to parents who did not watch the video.

In a study of nearly 1,200 students from PreK to Grade 4, findings showed that greater adherence to the Second Step Child Protection Unit’s implementation guidelines was associated with significantly higher student knowledge of personal safety concepts related to preventing child sexual abuse.

A study of 218 educators in grades PreK through 5 found that those who taught the Second Step Child Protection Unit had significantly greater knowledge of child sexual abuse, including recognizing risk factors and responding to disclosures, compared to a control group.