Commercial providers of SEL programs, such as Second Step, promote them as “backed by research.” This is not true and I encourage every school board member, school administrator, teacher and parent to go to their website and read the reports of research THEY say supports the outcomes they claim for their programs.
The research reports admit the program has little impact, has not been replicated, data is collected by interested parties and is therefore affected by confirmation bias, and the bottom line recommendation by the researchers is “more research is needed!” Yet school systems all over the US are investing vast resources in these programs - resources needed to improve basic skills in reading, math, science and history.
Rights for All? Transformative SEL’s Divisive Worldview
Commercial providers of SEL programs, such as Second Step, promote them as “backed by research.” This is not true and I encourage every school board member, school administrator, teacher and parent to go to their website and read the reports of research THEY say supports the outcomes they claim for their programs.
The research reports admit the program has little impact, has not been replicated, data is collected by interested parties and is therefore affected by confirmation bias, and the bottom line recommendation by the researchers is “more research is needed!” Yet school systems all over the US are investing vast resources in these programs - resources needed to improve basic skills in reading, math, science and history.