Agenda Item
a. License Renewal: Second Step SEL Digital Program (Not to exceed $206,811 for a 1 year license)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention, Division of Equity and Student Empowerment
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the renewal of the Committee for Children Second Step SEL Digital Program license for an amount not to exceed $206,811 for a one(1) year license.
Why: The Second Step SEL Digital Program is a classroom-based social skills program for students in preschool through junior high (ages 4-14 years), with a distinct curriculum for each grade. It is designed to reduce impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors and increase children's social competence and other protective factors.
Details: Second Step Elementary Digital (Grades K-5)
Twenty (20) research-based lessons, taught once per week for 15-25 minutes at each grade level.
All new modern programs with interactive and engaging content, including video, stories, new Brain Builder games, songs and more.
Divided into four (4) units: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting, Emotion Management, Empathy & Kindness, and Problem-Solving.
Program training and schoolwide implementation support resources are included.
Second Step Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Twenty-six (26) research-based and highly engaging lessons for each distinct grade level.
Taught once per week, 25-minute interactive lessons include videos and game-like activities.
Lessons are divided into four (4) units: Mindsets and Goals; Recognizing Bullying & Harassment; Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions; and Managing Relationships & Social Conflict.
Real Voices videos feature a diverse set of unscripted interviews with students from around the U.S.
Reinforcing content is built-in with two hundred (200) engaging 10 to 15-minute advisory activities.
Financial impact: The Second Step grades K-8 multi-site platform will be funded using general funds from Purchased Prof/Tech Services account number: 100.1000.553200.03111.7370.9990.8010.090.0000,
for an amount not to exceed $206,811.00 for a one (1) year license.
Contact: Dr. Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention, Division of Equity and Student Empowerment, 678.676.1911
Mrs. Denise Revels, Director of Wrap Around Support Services, Division of Equity and Student Empowerment, 678.676.2011
Dr. Shannon Crosslin, Counseling Coordinator, III of Student Support Services, Division of Equity and Student Empowerment, 678.676.1890
Effective: Upon approval by the Board of Education.
Status: Pending approval by General Counsel
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ALIGNMENT CHART
CASEL CORE SEL COMPETENCIES
Second Step® Elementary
Digital Program
This diagram illustrates how elements in the Second Step® Step Elementary digital program, as shown by the overlap
Elementary digital program align with the Collaborative between SEL competencies and elements of the Second
for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Step® program in the diagram below. For example, the
core social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies. The Responsible Decision-Making competency is addressed in
SEL competencies are woven throughout the Second each unit of the Second Step Elementary digital program.
What Is CASEL?
CASEL is the nation’s leading organization advancing To that end, CASEL has identified five interrelated SEL
the development of academic, social, and emotional core competencies: self-management, self-awareness,
competence for all students. Its mission is to help make social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible
evidence-based social-emotional learning an integral decision-making.
part of education from preschool through high school.
2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary Digital Program 1
What Is the Second Step®
Elementary Digital Program?
The research-based Second Step® Elementary digital To prepare students for identity development in
program is a universal, classroom-based program adolescence, the Second Step Elementary digital
designed to increase students’ school success and program provides opportunities:
decrease problem behaviors by promoting social-emotional • To discuss personal strengths
competence. It helps elementary school students focus
on learning, cope with challenges, and develop prosocial • For students to honor and understand others’ differences
behaviors (behaviors intended to help others). Lessons based on their varied personal experiences
equip students with the mindset, knowledge, and skills to • For students to share aspects of their personal, familial,
handle strong emotions, set goals, solve problems, and and cultural experiences
create strong friendships.
At Committee for Children, we believe SEL can help us The new Second Step Elementary digital program supports
navigate differences, appreciate one another’s perspectives, teachers in creating a positive classroom climate and
and act with empathy and compassion in our day-to-day supports students’ sense of school connectedness
lives. We also believe SEL can be leveraged to speak to and belonging by making students feel accepted, known,
children’s cultural assets, help educators examine their and valued through community-building classroom
policies and practices through an equity lens, and bring in interactions. These interactions help teachers capitalize
the voices of those who have historically not been heard. on students’ varied strengths, learn more about their
Accordingly, our new Second Step Elementary digital students’ lives, demonstrate caring and respect, validate
program specifically addresses core tenets of CASEL’s students’ experiences, support peer collaboration, and honor
equity lens on SEL work. students’ identities outside the classroom. These efforts to
increase a sense of community are reinforced by content
Student voice is elevated throughout the lessons throughout the program that requires students to:
in the following ways:
• Consider the collective as well as the individual
• Soliciting student ideas and opinions
• Set community goals
• Providing choices
• Identify and analyze how individuals use empathy to make
• Connecting content to students’ real-life experiences their community better
• Providing opportunities for students to share their • Identify community-level problems and whether solutions
knowledge and diverse experiences meet all members’ varied needs
2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary Digital Program 2
How Does the Second Step® Elementary Digital
Program Develop Core SEL Competencies?
The following table outlines key skills developed through various Second Step®
Elementary digital program elements.
Second Step® CASEL Core
Key Skill(s) Developed
Program Element SEL Competencies
Brain Builders • Executive-function skills • Self-Management
Growth Mindset and Goal Setting • Focus attention • Self-Management
• Ignore distractions • Self-Awareness
• Persevere through challenges • Responsible Decision-Making
• Understand that the brain can
grow and change
• Improve skills through practice
and effort
• Set goals and make plans
to reach a goal
Emotion Management • Identify and understand one’s • Self-Management
own emotions • Self-Awareness
• Recognize and identify emotions • Responsible Decision-Making
in others
• Recognize strong emotions
• Manage strong emotions by using
strategies to feel calm
Empathy and Kindness • Recognize kindness and act kindly • Responsible Decision-Making
toward others • Relationship Skills
• Develop empathy for others • Social Awareness
• Take others’ perspectives
• Act with empathy
Problem-Solving • Manage strong emotions to feel • Self-Management
calm before solving problems • Self-Awareness
• Describe the problem • Social Awareness
• Identify the wants and needs of • Responsible Decision-Making
those involved • Relationship Skills
• Think of many solutions
• Explore the outcomes of the
solutions
• Pick the best solution
2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary Digital Program 3
Second Step® programs are rooted in SEL and help comprehensive program that makes a difference. It’s a
transform schools into supportive, successful learning difference you can feel the moment you open
® Grade
the doors
environments uniquely equipped to help students thrive. to a Second Step school—a sense of safety and respect
grounded in the social-emotional health and well-being
By offering research-based Second Step programs for
of the entire school community.
Early Learning through Grade 8 in combination with
our Second Step® Bullying Prevention Unit and Second Learn more at SecondStep.org or call us
Step® Child Protection Unit, we’ve formed an integrated, at 1-800-634-4449, ext. 1.
#1800 1.15.2021
2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary Digital Program 4