Social and emotional learning programs promote competencies, reduce behavior problems, and improve engagement and achievement, with sustained longer-term benefits¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r? · q3–q4
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q4 i? A 2023 overview of 12 independent meta-analyses finds strong evidence that school-based SEL programs develop social-emotional competencies, reduce behavior problems including bullying and aggression, and increase prosocial behavior. → dePaoli 2023 q3 i? A meta-analysis of longer-term effects, from 6 months to 18 years after programs, found sustained positive impacts on behavioral, mental health, and academic outcomes. → dePaoli 2023 (2)

Evidence¶

dePaoli 2023¶

dePaoli, J., & McCombs, J. (2023). Safe schools, thriving students: Evidence-based strategies for creating safe and supportive schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/701.445

q4 · i? · review · r?

The review reports this overview of 12 meta-analyses, plus a second 2023 meta-analysis of universal SEL programs finding similar results and improvement in school functioning including achievement, study skills, attendance, and on-task behavior.

"A 2023 overview of 12 independent meta-analyses on school-based learning programs finds strong evidence that they promote the development of social and emotional competencies; reduce rates of behavior problems, including bullying and aggression; and increase prosocial behavior."

dePaoli 2023 (2)¶

dePaoli, J., & McCombs, J. (2023). Safe schools, thriving students: Evidence-based strategies for creating safe and supportive schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/701.445

q3 · i? · review · r?

The review reports this meta-analysis of longer-term SEL effects as evidence of durable benefits. It also cites a 2018 survey finding students whose schools strongly promoted social-emotional skills were more likely to say they felt safe in school.

"A meta-analysis that examined the longer-term effects of social and emotional learning—ranging from 6 months to 18 years after the program—found sustained positive impacts on behavioral, mental health, and academic outcomes."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Emotional Intelligence — outcome: instruction changes it
• Social Awareness and Relationship Skills — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• SEL program effects are sustained over long-term follow-up periods — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• SEL programs improve students' engagement and academic performance, with an 11-percentile-point achievement gain in the Durlak meta-analysis — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Universal school-based SEL programs improve students' behaviour, with a small and, in recent randomised trials, negligible effect on academic achievement — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• School-based SEL programs promote the development of social and emotional competencies across grade levels — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• SEL programs improve social emotional skills — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• SEL programs reduce disruptive behavior problems and emotional distress and foster prosocial behavior — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Schoolwide SEL programs are associated with long-term achievement gains, with multiple meta-analyses estimating an 11-percentile-point gain on average for participating students — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Well-implemented, well-attended summer programs show positive outcomes in academic, social, and behavioral areas — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Early prosocial behavior predicted later academic achievement more strongly than early academic skills
• SEL interventions improve attitudes, self-regulation, behaviour, and academic performance across reported effect-size ranges — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Research on summer programs addresses their implementation, design, and efficacy for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning outcomes — related
• Schools fostering high self-esteem and social and scholastic success reduce the likelihood of emotional and behavioral disturbance — related
• SEL-related constructs are strongly predictive of long-term academic achievement and attainment — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• A 2017 meta-analysis found SEL program participation associated with a 6% increase in high school and an 11% increase in college graduation rates — related