Masters Thesis

An evaluation of a social and emotional learning program: Kelso's Choice

There is an increasing number of studies and reviews that demonstrate the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for students. These benefits include improved academics, increased prosocial behaviors and feelings of school connectedness, decreased aggressive and disruptive behaviors and reduced dropout rates in high school. Despite these benefits, few schools are implementing SEL curricula and, of those schools implementing curricula, less than half of them are evaluating their programs for success. More SEL evaluation research is needed, especially regarding the use of these programs with culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. The current study is a program evaluation of Kelso’s Choice, a SEL curriculum designed to promote peaceful conflict resolution by teaching positive conflict resolutions skills. Participants were 176 kindergarten and first-grade students, the majority of whom were Hispanic or Latino and socioeconomically disadvantaged. The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a delayed treatment group. Behavioral data was collected using the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). Student Learning Surveys were also created and administered as a measure of student learning. Results suggest that, while all students learned the program content, behavior only improved for students in first grade who had received treatment for multiple years and whose Social Behavior had been identified as at risk by their classroom teachers on the SAEBRS. Previous SEL research has shown similar findings. Although current findings are promising, more research on the effects of SEL curriculum implemented with culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged students is still needed.

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