NBA Math Hoops students scored significantly lower than controls on a composite SEL measure (−0.21 SD), though remaining at moderately high levels¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q4 · i2–i3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q4 i2 In the same RCT, treatment students scored 0.21 SD lower than controls on the composite SEL measure (β = −0.21, p < 0.05), though predicted post-means remained above the scale midpoint. → McKinney 2026

Evidence¶

McKinney 2026¶

McKinney, D., Walters, K., Powell, K., Sabalburo, E., & Morton, C. (2026). The impact of NBA Math Hoops on students' math achievement: A randomized controlled trial. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED681343

q4 · i2 · causal · r2

The same RCT measured SEL via student survey. Treatment students scored "on average, 0.21 standard deviations lower" than controls on the composite SEL measure (β = −0.21, p < 0.05), though predicted post-means remained "above the midpoint of the scale."

"Regression estimates indicate that there was a significant difference between the composite SEL score of students in the treatment condition as compared to the control condition (𝛽 = 0. −21, 𝑝 < 0.05), controlling for pre-math composite score, pre-SEL composite score, gender, and IEP status."

McKinney 2026 (2)¶

McKinney, D., Walters, K., Powell, K., Sabalburo, E., & Morton, C. (2026). The impact of NBA Math Hoops on students' math achievement: A randomized controlled trial. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED681343

q4 · i3 · causal · r2

Exploratory subscale analyses found the largest SEL contributors were self-management and social awareness (β = −0.39, p < 0.001) and math interest value (β = −0.21, p < 0.05). Raw predicted differences were 0.28 and 0.19 scale points respectively.

"exploratory analyses indicated that the largest contributors to the significant difference in the composite SEL score were self-management and social awareness (𝛽 = −0.39, 𝑝 < 0.001) and math interest v(𝛽 = −0.21, < 0.05). The average impacts on the other SEL scales were also negative."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• NBA Math Hoops was implemented with high fidelity: teachers completed an average of 8.31 of 10 lessons and played 14.5 games per classroom over roughly 15 days — related
• NBA Math Hoops significantly improves elementary and middle school students' math achievement compared to business-as-usual summer STEM programming (0.19 SD gain) — related
• NBA Math Hoops math gains are larger for students entering with stronger incoming math scores, with no significant variation by gender, IEP status, or incoming SEL — related
• NBA Math Hoops can be implemented at low marginal cost: $17.85 per pupil (analytic sample) in materials and training beyond typical summer programming, yielding 0.19 SD math gain — related
• Social-emotional learning benefits persist at follow-up — related