CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People

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Designated
SELect
Indicates that a program demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at improving student outcomes at the highest level, supports students’ social and emotional growth through all five competencies, and offers multi-year programming. For a full list of SELect student outcomes see SELect designation.
Program description

PurposeFull People, offered by CharacterStrong, provides a lesson-based approach to SEL and offers programming for grades Pre-K through 5. A CASEL-approved evaluation demonstrates evidence of effectiveness in grades 2-5. PurposeFull People integrates social and emotional learning and character education into lessons accessed via an interactive online portal. Program materials are offered in English and Spanish.

Strategies supporting educational equity

CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People features strategies for understanding context and youth action projects. This includes teacher-facing “Staff Pursuits” exercises that prompt educators to practice curiosity when engaging with each student and to adapt their instructional practices accordingly for students’ contexts. Lessons in each grade level include opportunities for student-led projects that require students to identify challenges in their immediate community and design and enact collaborative solutions.

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      • SEL lessons
      • Instructional practices
      • Relationship building
      • SEL generalization
      • Shared agreements
      • Student voice
      • Systemic support for SEL
      • Group structures
      • Family Intervention Component
      • Activities and Resources for Home
    • Onsite in-person training
    • Virtual training
    • Offsite training
    • Train the trainer model
    • Administrator support
    • Coaching
    • Technical assistance
    • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
    • Online resource library
    • Self-report tools for monitoring implementation
    • Observational tools
    • Tools for measuring student success

Evidence of effectiveness

Results from a randomized controlled trial conducted in the 2022-23 academic year (unpublished report written in 2024) supported the effectiveness of CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People for public school students. This evaluation included 354 students in grades 2-5 in urban and rural schools in the U.S. Midwest region (59.6% white, 14.1% Hispanic/Latinx, 11.9% multiracial; 48.44% free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program had significantly higher demonstrated behavioral expectations and motivation compared to students in the control group (outcomes reported 16 weeks after baseline) while controlling for outcome pretest, demographics of students (gender, race, FRPL), teachers (grade level, gender, and teaching experience), and school enrollments (proportions of students who met reading proficiency benchmark, did not self-report as being white or non-Hispanic, received special education services or FRPL, dropped out in the academic year).

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  • Evidence shown in grades
    2, 3, 4, 5
    School characteristics
      • Rural
      • Urban
      • Midwest
    Student characteristics
    • Hispanic / Latinx
    • White
    • Multi-racial / other
    Percentage Low Income
    • Eligible for FRPL: 48.44%
    Study design type
    • RCT
    Greater than 350 students included in study design type
    • Yes
    Multiple school districts included at study design type
    • Yes
    • Improved academic performance
    • Reduced emotional distress
    • Improved identity development and agency
    • Reduced problem behaviors
    • Improved school climate
    • Improved school connectedness
    • Improved social behaviors
    • Improved teaching practices
    • Improved other SEL skills and attitudes

How does CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People support SEL implementation across multiple settings?

“CharacterStrong provides schools with an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution for whole child success. At Tier 1, it combines Pre-K-12 curricula and educator practices to improve behavior, safety, and mental health, along with professional development and an implementation roadmap for sustained success. CharacterStrong’s Tier 2 and 3 solutions complement Tier 1, promoting success for all students. ”

Get info and pricing on the provider’s website

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References

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  • Program approach: Free Standing Lessons, Teaching practices
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved identity development and agency, Improved social behaviors
  • Student characteristics: Hispanic / Latinx, White, Multi-racial / other
  • School characteristics: Rural, Urban, Midwest
  • Program approach: Free Standing Lessons, Teaching practices
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved identity development and agency, Improved social behaviors
  • Student characteristics: Hispanic / Latinx, White, Multi-racial / other
  • School characteristics: Rural, Urban, Midwest
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