"Our teachers and children are showing more concern for each other. Students are using the skills they've learned to resolve issues that come up. And parents tell us that they're seeing a palpable effect on their children."
- Manhattan principal
New Report: 4Rs & RCCP among most Effective SEL Programs in U.S.
4Rs classroom at PS 81, Brooklyn.
Photo © Carolina Kroon
A just-released comprehensive report on school-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs has named Morningside Center’s 4Rs Program and our Resolving Conflict Creatively Program as two of the 23 most effective SEL programs in the country. The report, developed by CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic, Social & Emotional Learning), was announced on Capitol Hill on September 20 by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Judy Bigger (R-IL), leading national advocates for SEL.
“We are delighted that this prestigious national report has given high ratings to our two exemplary classroom-based programs,” said Morningside Center executive director Tom Roderick. “The report will help schools make good choices about how to best develop their students’ social and emotional competency – essential life skills like handling strong emotions, relating well to others, and taking responsibility for their community.”
The 4Rs (Reading, Writing, Respect & Resolution) and the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP), received outstanding ratings in the report, entitled CASEL Guide: Effective Social & Emotional Learning Programs. The guide includes detailed descriptions and ratings of each of the 23 programs. To qualify, programs had to meet CASEL’s criteria:
- well-designed classroom-based programs that systematically promote students’ social & emotional competence, provide opportunities for practice, and offer multi-year programming.
- high-quality training and other implementation supports, including initial training and ongoing support to ensure sound implementation.
- evidence-based with at least one carefully conducted evaluation that documents positive impacts on student behavior and/or academic performance.
A major scientific study of The 4Rs Program found that it had a significant positive effect on children’s behavior, their social and emotional competency, and the classroom climate for learning; it also improved the academic performance of at-risk students. An earlier scientific study of the RCCP had similar results.
Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, which is based in New York City, has worked for 27 years to implement SEL programs in the NYC public schools. Morningside Center has expanded beyond New York, and is currently also implementing programs in Ohio and Georgia. The Ohio program is a collaboration with Rep. Tim Ryan, a co-sponsor with Rep. Bigger of the Academic, Social and Emotional Act of 2011. Find out more about The 4Rs in Ohio.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social & Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a national organization that advances the teaching of social and emotional skills.