Program Description
Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum is designed to teach elementary students social skills and how to respond to others in non-violent ways. The ultimate goal is to prevent violence in schools by providing early training in empathy, impulse control, problem solving, and anger management. Fear of victimization at school and poor school climate have negative impacts on school attendance, so such violence prevention programs are expected to have positive effects on attendance.
Program Outcomes
One matched study, by Neace & Muñoz (2012), was part of a larger evaluation of a comprehensive violence and drug prevention initiative. It found that first graders in schools using Second Step reduced their number of absences after one semester more than students in schools not participating in the program (effect size = + 0.10). While there were no significant differences at the school level, student level effects on number of unexcused absences (average daily attendance) were significant, qualifying Second Step for the ESSA “Promising” category for attendance.
Staffing Requirements
No additional staffing required
Professional Development/Training
2 days of training
Technology
None required