CharacterStrong’s S.E.R.V.E. Model

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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

CharacterStrong’s S.E.R.V.E. Model provides a teaching practices approach to SEL and offers programming for grades K-12. A CASEL-approved evaluation demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at grades 6-8. The program focuses on specific, daily teaching practices that are designed to be implemented by all educators across content areas and can be facilitated as a primary SEL program or in conjunction with a lesson-based SEL curriculum.

Strategies supporting educational equity

CharacterStrong’s S.E.R.V.E. Model features strategies for understanding context. This includes teaching practices that are rooted in establishing and strengthening relationships with students by being curious about their lived experience.

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      • Instructional practices
      • Relationship building
      • Positive classroom management
      • Shared agreements
      • Student voice
      • Systemic support for SEL
      • Adult SEL
      • Student Voice
    • 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Results from a randomized controlled trial conducted in the 2021-22 academic year (unpublished report written in 2024) supported the effectiveness of CharacterStrong’s S.E.R.V.E. Model for public school students. This evaluation included 185 students in 6th-8th grade from two urban middle schools in the U.S. Midwest region (67% white, 18% Black/African American; 33% free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program had significantly higher ratings of belongingness compared to students in the control group while controlling for outcome pretest, FRPL, race, and gender.

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  • Evidence shown in grades
    6, 7, 8
    School characteristics
      • Urban
      • Midwest
    Student characteristics
    • Black / African American
    • White
    Percentage Low Income
    • Eligible for FRPL: 33%
    Study design type
    • RCT
    Greater than 350 students included in study design type
    • No
    Multiple school districts included at study design type
    • No
    • 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 S.E.R.V.E. Model 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. ”

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References

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  • Program approach: Teaching practices
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved school connectedness
  • Student characteristics: Black / African American, White
  • School characteristics: Urban, Midwest
  • Program approach: Teaching practices
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved school connectedness
  • Student characteristics: Black / African American, White
  • School characteristics: Urban, Midwest
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