Foundations for Youth SEL Development

“Bright Spot” practitioners are clear that one-off activities are not enough. Adults need to create a supportive environment in order for activities and practices to take root. Student Success Network staff captured six foundations that “Bright Spot” practitioners see as building blocks of an environment that supports youth SEL development.

Use this Reflection Tool to:

• Reflect on ways your program is currently supporting youth SEL development;

• Identify new ways to support SEL development in your program.

2019 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Research Findings

SSN, along with out research partner Research Alliance for NYC Schools, use SEL survey data collected by members to provide insights into:

• Promising practices to improve SEL and conditions underlying those practices from “bright spot” sites where youth experience exceptional SEL growth;

• How young people’s personal identities, as well as socioeconomic status and special education status, interact with their SEL growth; and

• How SEL growth affects academic outcomes.

2018 SEL Research Findings

SSN and our research partner, Research Alliance for NYC Schools, analyzed network-wide survey data to identify "Bright Spots" - member sites that had a stronger positive effect on youth SEL compared to other sites serving similar youth. Leaders of Bright Spot sites shared Promising Practices and underlying conditions they hypothesize led to their young people's SEL growth. In addition, we found correlations between: increase in growth mindset and ELA and math test scores for middle schoolers; increase in self-regulation and increase in GPA for high schoolers; and increase in belonging and improvement in attendance for overage and under-credited youth.

2017 SEL Research Findings

Student Success Network and Research Alliance for NYC Schools identified 10 "Bright Spot" sites and shared Promising Practices, as well as correlations between increases in Academic Behaviors and Problem Solving and increases in GPA.

Training Youth Development Practitioners to Be Organizational Change Makers

Case Study