Second Step: Middle School Curriculum

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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

Second Step: Middle School Curriculum, offered by the Committee for Children, provides a lesson-based approach to SEL. It includes programming for grades 6-8 and demonstrates evidence of effectiveness in grade 6. Programming for Pre-K-5 are also available from Second Step. Translated materials for Second Step: Middle School Curriculum are available in Spanish and Portuguese.

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      • SEL lessons
      • Positive classroom management
      • SEL generalization
      • Shared agreements
      • Systemic support for SEL
      • 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 2010-2011 academic year (published in 2013) supported the effectiveness of the Second Step Middle School Program for middle school students. This evaluation was conducted on a sample of 3,616 adolescents in grade 6 (35% Black/African American, 26% Latinx, 24% white, 15% Multiracial; 74% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)) across 36 schools in the U.S. Midwest. This study found that students who participated in the program self-reported significant decreases in physical aggression compared to students in the control group (outcome reported approximately nine months after baseline, while controlling for outcome pre-test).

Results from a quasi-experimental study conducted in the 2022-23 and 2023-2024 academic years (unpublished report written in 2025) supported the effectiveness of Second Step Middle School Digital Program for public school students. This evaluation included 2,192 students in 6th-8th grade from one urban and suburban district in the U.S. Southeast region (51.9% White, 26.9% Black/African American, 14.4% Hispanic/Latinx; school wide 48.1% free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program had significantly higher ratings of teacher–student relationships, school belonging, and school climate (as measured by Panorama Student Survey sub scales: teacher-student relationships, school belonging, and school climate) and higher final ELA course grades relative to students in the comparison group while controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, English language learner status, students with disability status, grade level, fall 2022 scores on Panorama domains, school-level 2021-22 ELA proficiency.

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  • Evidence shown in grades
    6, 7, 8
    School characteristics
      • Urban
      • Suburban
      • Southeast
      • Midwest
    Student characteristics
    • Black / African American
    • Hispanic / Latinx
    • White
    • Multi-racial / other
    • Low income
    Percentage Low Income
    • Eligible for FRPL: 74%
    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 Second Step support SEL implementation across multiple settings?

“The Second Step family of SEL programs help transform schools into supportive and successful learning environments uniquely equipped to help children thrive. ​ It offers a holistic approach to SEL, one that contributes to a more empathetic society by providing families, school-based educators, out-of-school-time professionals, and the larger community.”

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References

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Second Step: Early Learning Curriculum
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 approach: Free Standing Lessons
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved academic performance, Reduced problem behaviors, Improved school climate, Improved school connectedness
  • Student characteristics: Black / African American, Hispanic / Latinx, White, Multi-racial / other, Low income
  • School characteristics: Urban, Suburban, Southeast, Midwest
Second StepⓇ Elementary
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 approach: Free Standing Lessons
  • Significant evaluation outcomes: Improved academic performance, Reduced problem behaviors, Improved school climate, Improved school connectedness
  • Student characteristics: Black / African American, Hispanic / Latinx, White, Multi-racial / other, Low income
  • School characteristics: Urban, Suburban, Southeast, Midwest
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