The Positive Impact of Social and Emotional Learning for K-8 Students

Findings from Three Scientific Reviews

The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health and the Preteen Alliance commissioned the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to synthesize the research on effective strategies to promote social and emotional skills among elementary and middle school students. This report summarizes the impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs on students, based on a review of 317 studies that involved more than 320,000 children. Findings show that SEL programs yielded multiple benefits and were effective in both school and after-school settings. The addendum to the report examines emotional health problems, as well as risk and protective factors, among students in California, with an emphasis on San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Executive Summary (pdf)

Full Report (pdf)

• Narrative
• Tables
• Bibliographies

California Addendum
This addendum examines emotional health problems, as well as risk and protective factors, among students in California, with an emphasis on San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. It also profiles examples of local programs that are effectively promoting the healthy development of youth.

Report Noted in Education Journal
An article based on the research in "The Positive Impact of Social and Emotional Learning for K-8 Students" has been published in the Winter 2010 issue of Better: Evidence-based Education. See “Social and emotional learning programs that work” on page 4.

For more research related to preteens, visit the Preteen Alliance website at www.preteenalliance.org.

To see California data on emotional and behavioral health, along with many other topics, visit www.kidsdata.org.