Through Morningside Center's research-based programs, educators in hundreds of schools have brought transformative change to their classrooms, schools, and students' lives.
Our Impact
Hundreds of schools reached yearly
Since 1982, Morningside Center has helped tens of thousands of educators make their schools and classrooms more caring, collaborative, equitable and effective.
Scientific studies show strong results
Two major scientific studies found that our programs improve students’ social and emotional competency, their academic performance, and the classroom climate.
Suspensions decline dramatically
Schools implementing our restorative practices programs saw suspensions drop an average of 43%, while students’ social skills and engagement increased.
Two major scientific studies found that our social and emotional learning programs have a strong positive impact on students’ behavior, their social and emotional competence, and their academic performance – and improve the classroom climate for learning.
Schools implementing our restorative practices programs saw suspensions drop an average of 43%. In an independent evaluation, teachers reported that students were more likely to resolve disagreements without fighting, were more collaborative, and were more likely to stand up for others.
Morningside Center has received a federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grant to develop and evaluate our approach for increasing racial equity and improving outcomes of students of color through a novel combination of SEL, restorative practices, and courageous conversations about race.
Morningside Center is deeply committed to research.
Since 1993, Morningside Center has partnered with leading researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs.
Major scientific studies studies of our 4Rs Program and our Resolving Conflict Creatively Program found that they have a strong positive impact on students’ behavior, the classroom climate, and students’ academic performance. Both programs received top ratings from the Collaborative for Academic, Social & Emotional Learning (CASEL).
The research continues! We are now collaborating with researchers on a federal Investing in Innovation (i3) research study aimed at reducing disparities in discipline and increasing equity in our schools. In addition, through a federal Goal 3 study, researchers are examining the impact of our 4Rs Program combined with an innovative teacher coaching process on 33 Bronx elementary schools.
Find out more about our research.
Testimonials
The impact of this work is apparent in our data, including our academic performance and surveys of teachers, students, and parents, which show how much trust there is between students and staff. Suspensions are now a rarity in our school. We don’t need suspensions to sustain student engagement and respect.
Patrick Burns, Principal, MS 217, Queens
I can't thank you enough for all the resources, support, and encouragement! This program is breathing new life and meaning into my teaching. It is bringing new conversations into our teaching lives and friendships.
Y. Gray, Robert F. Wagner School, Manhattan
My students are becoming better listeners and they’re more sensitive to each others’ needs. You can see their brains churning when they get into conflicts – they’re trying to resolve problems among themselves. You see it suddenly at the lunch table – this is working.
Martina Meijer, 4Rs teacher