This report offers practical guidance for out-of-school-time programs and out-of-school-time intermediaries that wish to incorporate social and emotional learning activities into their programming for youth. The lessons are derived from the RAND Corporation's study over four years of more than 100 afterschool programs across six communities participating in The Wallace Foundation's Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative.

Skills for Success

Developing Social and Emotional Competencies in Out-of-School-Time Programs

Jennifer T. Leschitz, Susannah Faxon-Mills, Andrea Prado Tuma, Katie Tosh, Catherine H. Augustine, Heather L. Schwartz

ResearchPublished Feb 27, 2023

Out-of-school-time (OST) programs have long focused on children's social and emotional development as part of their mission of building a culture of connectedness and positive relationships between youth and adults. Research demonstrates that high-quality, evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are associated with positive outcomes, including improved behavior, attitudes, and academic performance. This report provides tips and recommendations for incorporating high-quality SEL instruction and practices into OST programming for children and youth. The lessons are derived from the RAND Corporation's study over four years of more than 100 afterschool programs across six communities — Boston, Dallas, Denver, Palm Beach County, Tacoma, and Tulsa — participating in The Wallace Foundation's Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative. The report summarizes a variety of approaches and actions that OST programs developed over four years to support children's social and emotional development, including adding SEL content and practices into their programming, training staff in SEL, engaging families, and adopting continuous improvement systems to monitor and refine these efforts.

Key Findings

  • Short SEL rituals were easy to implement and widely used.
  • OST staff frequently integrated SEL by using instructional strategies to develop SEL skills and making connections to SEL topics.
  • Early kickoff training was complemented by additional trainings throughout the year.
  • SEL trainings increasingly emphasized development of adult SEL skills.
  • Engaging families in SEL took time, advance planning, and in-person contact.
  • OST programs tended to rely on observation and survey data to inform goal-setting and monitor implementation.
  • OSTIs supported OST programs in a variety of ways, including connecting them to broader networks of support and SEL instructional content, providing professional development about SEL, and leading continuous quality improvement processes.

Recommendations

  • Phase in SEL instruction over time.
  • Deliver multiple SEL professional development opportunities spread throughout the year.
  • Engage with families about SEL using multiple forms of outreach.
  • Track SEL implementation as part of a continuous quality improvement cycle.
  • Consider how OSTIs — or other similar organizations, such as mayor's offices, district afterschool offices, or youth-based networks — can help OST programs offer SEL activities.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2023
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 80
  • Paperback Price: $38.50
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-1-9774-1051-1
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA379-11
  • Document Number: RR-A379-11

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Leschitz, Jennifer T., Susannah Faxon-Mills, Andrea Prado Tuma, Katie Tosh, Catherine H. Augustine, and Heather L. Schwartz, Skills for Success: Developing Social and Emotional Competencies in Out-of-School-Time Programs, RAND Corporation, RR-A379-11, 2023. As of October 8, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA379-11.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Leschitz, Jennifer T., Susannah Faxon-Mills, Andrea Prado Tuma, Katie Tosh, Catherine H. Augustine, and Heather L. Schwartz, Skills for Success: Developing Social and Emotional Competencies in Out-of-School-Time Programs. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2023. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA379-11.html. Also available in print form.
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This study was sponsored by The Wallace Foundation and conducted by RAND Education and Labor.

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