Agenda Item
b. Renewal: Second Step Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Digital Program (Not to exceed $235,000) 5.6.2024
Summary: Dr. Kishia Towns, Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the contract renewal for the Second Step Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Digital Program for an additional year for an amount not to exceed $235,000.
Why: The Second Step SEL digital program is a classroom-based social skills program for students in preschool through middle school, ages 4-14 years, with a distinct curriculum for each grade. It is designed to reduce impulsive, high-risk, 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- to 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 school-wide 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 200 engaging 10- to 15-minute Advisory activities.
Financial impact: The cost to purchase the Student Success Agency platform will be paid using funds from the General Budget at a cost not to exceed $235,000 against charge code: 100.1000.530000.03111.7370.9990.8010.090.0000.
Contact: Dr. Kishia Towns, Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services,678.676.1811
Dr. Shannon Crosslin, Counseling Coordinator, III, Division of Wrap Around Services, 404.808.8942
Status: Approved 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
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ALIGNMENT CHART
CASEL CORE SEL COMPETENCIES
Second Step® Middle School
This diagram illustrates how elements in Second Step® Middle School
align with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
(CASEL) core social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies. All CASEL core
competencies are addressed and woven throughout the units and elements of
Second Step Middle School to fully support students’ well-being.
Self-Management
• Mindsets & Goals Self-Awareness
• Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict • Mindsets & Goals
• Advisory Activities • Recognizing Bullying & Harassment
• Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
Social Awareness Social & • Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
Emotional • Advisory Activities
• Recognizing Bullying & Harassment
Learning
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
• Advisory Activities Responsible Decision-Making
• Mindsets & Goals
Relationship Skills
• Recognizing Bullying & Harassment
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict • Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
• Advisory Activities • Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
• Advisory Activities
What Is CASEL? What Is Second Step® Middle School?
CASEL is the nation’s leading organization advancing the Second Step Middle School is a universal, classroom-based
development of academic, social, and emotional competence program designed to increase students’ school success
for all students. Its mission is to help make evidence-based by promoting social-emotional competence. The
SEL an integral part of education from preschool through high research-based program helps early adolescents cope with
school. To that end, CASEL has identified five interrelated SEL challenges, create positive relationships, and develop the
core competencies: self-management, self-awareness, social critical thinking skills they need to succeed socially and
awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. academically. Lessons equip students with the mindsets,
© 2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Middle School 1
What Is Second Step® Middle School?
(continued)
knowledge, and skills to handle strong emotions, make and To support students’ identity development, Second
follow through on good decisions, and show empathy and Step Middle School provides opportunities to:
respect for others. • Identify their personal strengths and interests
Committee for Children, the maker of Second Step® • Explore values
programs, believes SEL can help children and adults • Discuss unique aspects of their identity
navigate differences, appreciate one another’s perspectives,
• Honor and understand others’ differences based on
and act with empathy and compassion in their day-to-
their varied personal experiences
day lives. Committee for Children also believes SEL can
be leveraged to speak to children’s cultural assets, help • Share aspects of their personal, familial, and
educators examine their policies and practices through cultural experiences
an equity lens, and elevate the voices of those who have Second Step Middle School supports teachers in creating
historically been silenced. Accordingly, Second Step Middle a positive classroom climate and supports students’
School works in various ways to achieve what CASEL has sense of school connectedness and belonging by
termed “transformative SEL”: SEL that builds relationships, helping students feel accepted, known, and valued through
values differences, and addresses systemic inequities and community-building classroom interactions. These
community issues. interactions are prompted by lessons as well as by optional
Class Meetings and Class Challenges. They help teachers
Student voice is elevated throughout Second Step capitalize on students’ varied strengths, learn more about
Middle School lessons in the following ways: their students’ lives, demonstrate caring and respect,
• Activities that support autonomy and provide students validate students’ experiences, support peer collaboration,
with meaningful choices and honor students’ identities outside the classroom. Efforts
• Real-world application of content to students’ lives to increase a sense of community are reinforced by content
throughout the program that requires students to:
• Opportunities for students to share their knowledge, ideas,
opinions, and diverse experiences
• Recognize negative behaviors (such as bullying and
harassment) that threaten the safety of their school
community, and consider their role in creating a
safer community
• Analyze their school community and advocate for
positive changes
• Consider varied perspectives in conflicts and propose
solutions that meet the needs of everyone involved
© 2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Middle School 2
How Does Second Step® Middle School
Develop CASEL Core SEL Competencies?
The following table outlines key skills developed through various Second Step Middle School elements.
Second Step®
CASEL Core
Middle School Key Skills Developed
SEL Competencies
Element
Mindsets & • Understanding that the brain can grow • Responsible Decision-Making
Goals Unit and change • Self-Awareness
• Setting and monitoring goals • Self-Management
• Planning ahead for difficult situations
• Developing strengths and interests
Recognizing Bullying • Recognizing bullying and harassment • Relationship Skills
& Harassment Unit • Standing up safely to bullying • Responsible Decision-Making
• Responding appropriately to harassment • Self-Awareness
• Social Awareness
Thoughts, Emotions • Handling unhelpful thoughts and • Responsible Decision-Making
& Decisions Unit strong emotions • Self-Awareness
• Using strategies to calm down • Self-Management
Managing • Recognizing different perspectives • Relationship Skills
Relationships & • Recognizing and avoiding serious conflicts • Responsible Decision-Making
Social Conflict Unit • Resolving serious conflicts • Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
Advisory Activities • Practicing social-emotional skills with nearly • Relationship Skills
(Optional) 200 activities (scripted Class Meetings, Class • Responsible Decision-Making
Challenges, and Service-Learning Projects) • Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
© 2021 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Middle School 3
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