What Is Second Step?

Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. More than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step’s holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today’s children. It’s a difference you can feel the moment you step through the doors to a Second Step school: a sense of safety and respect grounded in the social-emotional health and well-being of the entire school community.

Why Second Step?

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Trusted & Proven

Used by schools in over 70 countries and reaching 14 million students annually, Second Step is a long-standing partner in education, built on decades of research and experience. Educators turn to Second Step because of its record of results, its commitment to research, and its intuitive programs that are designed with empathy and scalable. Second Step is a comprehensive and sound investment to support improving child safety, readiness to learn, school culture, and academic success.

Embraced by Teachers

Second Step gives teachers what they need in a way that makes a real difference, right away. Easily managed lessons and minimized up-front training and prep time allow teachers to buy in to the programs quickly and take their concepts further as SEL champions. Experienced veterans and first-year teachers alike are quick to embrace the intuitive formats, supported and developed through rigorous research and testing. Second Step is successful precisely because it works for teachers.

Engaging for Students

Dynamic, interactive content and explicit skills instruction are worked into every Second Step lesson to ensure it meets its objective. From beloved puppets and catchy songs during the younger years to candid Real Voices videos for middle schoolers, learning and practicing the skills and concepts taught in Second Step is an enjoyable, memorable experience—one that’s relevant and engaging for every grade level and reaches every learner in the classroom.

Unifying School Communities

By implementing Second Step schoolwide, every adult in the building gains access to lessons, resources, activities, and professional learning—setting a common, unifying language shared by students, teachers, administrators, and parents. The result? A more positive, unified school culture that can be felt throughout entire communities, creating meaningful change in the lives of children that passes on to others.

Endorsed Icon

Trusted & Proven

Used by schools in over 70 countries and reaching 14 million students annually, Second Step is a long-standing partner in education, built on decades of research and experience. Educators turn to Second Step because of its record of results, its commitment to research, and its intuitive programs that are designed with empathy and scalable. Second Step is a comprehensive and sound investment to support improving child safety, readiness to learn, school culture, and academic success.

Easy Icon

Embraced by Teachers

Second Step gives teachers what they need in a way that makes a real difference, right away. Easily managed lessons and minimized up-front training and prep time allow teachers to buy in to the programs quickly and take their concepts further as SEL champions. Experienced veterans and first-year teachers alike are quick to embrace the intuitive formats, supported and developed through rigorous research and testing. Second Step is successful precisely because it works for teachers.

Engaging Icon

Engaging for Students

Dynamic, interactive content and explicit skills instruction are worked into every Second Step lesson to ensure it meets its objective. From beloved puppets and catchy songs during the younger years to candid Real Voices videos for middle schoolers, learning and practicing the skills and concepts taught in Second Step is an enjoyable, memorable experience—one that’s relevant and engaging for every grade level and reaches every learner in the classroom.

Engaging Icon

Unifying School Communities

By implementing Second Step schoolwide, every adult in the building gains access to lessons, resources, activities, and professional learning—setting a common, unifying language shared by students, teachers, administrators, and parents. The result? A more positive, unified school culture that can be felt throughout entire communities, creating meaningful change in the lives of children that passes on to others.

How Can Second Step Work for You?

The Second Step K–5 Suite: A Unified Approach

Educators need the right preparation and tools to meet the very different needs of their students. By integrating our evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program with our Bullying Prevention and Child Protection Units, we’ve formed a cohesive foundation for a safe and supportive learning environment: The Second Step Suite. Together, these products can help you achieve real and lasting results. Learn more.

Bundles to Help You Scale

Every school and district is unique in its size and configuration. Our bundled pricing offers an economical way for the benefits of social-emotional learning, bullying prevention, and child protection to reach as many classrooms and students as possible. Learn about our bundled pricing in our latest catalog or our online store. If you don’t see a package that fits your needs, or would like to discuss ideas about an implementation that works for your situation, please contact us.

Flexible Solutions to Fit Your Needs

Whether it’s implemented in a single classroom or as part of a schoolwide or districtwide implementation, Second Step helps kids be successful in school and in life. We support classrooms, homes, and out-of-school programs to meet various needs not just with curricula and training, but also with “à la carte” offerings—from Second Step posters to Spanish-language materials. Explore our catalog or our online store to get started!

Early Learning
PreK		 Elementary
K–5		 Middle School
6–8
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Learn More
Lessons and Streaming Media
Staff Training
Family Materials
Principal/Administrator Resources
Implementation Resources
Summative Knowledge Assessments –
CASEL SELect 2017 Edition Under Review
Research Based
Spanish Materials Included –
Bullying Prevention Unit*
Learn More
Lessons and Streaming Media – –
Staff Training – –
Family Materials – –
Principal/Administrator Resources – –
Implementation Resources – –
Summative Knowledge Assessments – –
Research Based – –
Spanish Materials Included – –
Child Protection Unit
Learn More
Lessons and Streaming Media –
Staff Training –
Family Materials –
Principal/Administrator Resources –
Implementation Resources –
Summative Knowledge Assessments – –
Research Based –
Spanish Materials Included –

*The Bullying Prevention Unit is designed to work with the Second Step SEL curriculum for Kindergarten–Grade 5 along with in-depth staff training. While bullying prevention training is not offered separately for Early Learning and Middle School, age-appropriate bullying prevention skills and concepts are included in the Early Learning and Middle School SEL curricula.

Coming Soon!

Second Step SEL
for Out-of-School Time
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Out-of-School-Time Second Step SEL Coming Soon
Second Step Stories

Second Step Stories

Thousands of schools around the world and more than 14 million kids benefit from the Second Step Social-Emotional Learning each year. Their stories? Students who are ready to learn. Educators with the tools to make a difference. Districts and schools that build connected communities with a common language. And, yes, improved academics.

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What Is SEL?

In a world where emotional intelligence is critical for lifelong happiness, successful careers, and healthier relationships, social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults can better understand, manage, and express emotions and empathy, develop positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL curricula teach children techniques that help them gain confidence, set and achieve positive goals, collaborate well, and navigate the world more effectively—adding a highly valuable dimension to education in the classroom. (CASEL, “What is SEL?”)

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The Nonprofit Organization Behind Second Step

Committee for Children logo

Though we’re best known for our innovative, SEL-centric programs for schools, Committee for Children is involved in all kinds of initiatives to improve the lives of children. Founded as a nonprofit in 1979 to help victims of child sexual abuse, we continue to advocate for policies and legislation to protect kids and provide equal opportunities for all.

From our headquarters in Seattle, Washington, we partner with researchers, publishers, and organizations around the world. Our programs reach students in over 70 countries, and we work tirelessly to make sure children have a chance to thrive. Discover more about our work to help children, educators, and all of us grow kinder.

Download Our Free Ebook

Ebook

How Social-Emotional Learning Helps Children Succeed in School, the Workplace, and Life

This ebook features perspectives from a number of leading teachers, administrators, researchers, and education experts.

Download the Ebook

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