Below are some talking points and resources you can use as a starting place if you are developing a grant proposal to fund the purchase of the Second Step or Steps to Respect program. The information is divided into categories based on four common sections of a grant proposal: the needs statement, goals and objectives, budget, and evaluation plan.
Needs Statement
See our information on needs assessment. In addition to the needs assessment view:
The
Steps to Respect program contain sections supporting the need for social-emotional learning and bullying prevention, respectively.
The following sections are derived from a recent national meta-analysis by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):
Research has demonstrated a positive link between academic achievement and the acquisition of social-emotional learning skills. In fact, a recent national study by the Collaborative of Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) found that “students receiving school-based social-emotional learning scored 11 percentile points higher on academic achievement tests than their peers who did not receive social-emotional learning.”
According to the summary of the CASEL study, “Research clearly demonstrates the significant role of social-emotional learning in promoting the healthy development and academic achievement of all students. It also shows that social-emotional learning reduces problem behaviors and emotional distress that interfere with the learning and development of some students. Research indicates that social-emotional learning programming significantly raises test scores while it lowers levels of emotional distress; disruptive behavior; and alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use.”
Goals and Objectives
Talking points for Second Step program goals and objectives:
We plan to introduce the Second Step program, which has been recognized by the United States Department of Education and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its effectiveness.
We have selected the Second Step program because its lessons align with our academic content standards, (or) character education principles, (or) Head Start performance standards.
The Second Step program for early learning through fifth grade teaches children Skills for Learning that help them listen, pay attention, and follow directions. In addition, all grades (early learning through eighth grade) teach empathy, problem solving, impulse control, and anger management. These lessons not only improve social skills in the classroom, they offer guidelines for effective, respectful behavior throughout a lifetime.
Children at our school will be joining classrooms around the world in learning how to interact more effectively. Used by more than 9 million children and 25,000 schools in 70 countries, the research-based Second Step program was created by educators with significant classroom experience.
We expect to see less disruption, improved interactions, and fewer discipline referrals—just as countless other schools have reported over the years.
Talking points for Steps to Respect program goals and objectives:
We plan to implement the Steps to Respect bullying prevention program, which is designed to decrease bullying and help students build more supportive relationships with each other.
The program teaches children skills for coping with bullying, including recognizing bullying, using assertive behaviors to refuse bullying, and reporting bullying to adults. The program also trains school staff to identify bullying and intervene effectively
We selected the Steps to Respect program because it takes a “whole school” approach. It is designed to bring the whole school family, including parents, into the picture by giving them information and tools they can use to establish school policies that set clear expectations and consequences for bullying behavior.
We selected the Steps to Respect program because its lessons align with our academic content standards and/or character education principles.
Budget
You can determine how much curricula will cost by visiting our product and price list (PDF) or online store or by calling our client support services department at 800-634-4449.
Evaluation
Evaluation talking points:
For the Second Step program: To measure changes in children's knowledge about empathy, problem solving, management of strong emotions, and ways to respond to problematic situations with peers, we will use a pre- and post-test knowledge assessment tool.
For the Steps to Respect program: To measure changes in students’ attitudes related to bullying, we will use a pre- and post-test knowledge assessment tool.
Go to www.secondstep.org to download evaluation tools for the 2011 early learning and K–5 Second Step programs and 2008 middle school program. Go to our online community to download evaluation tools for the 2002 edition of the Second Step program and for the Steps to Respect program. (Free registration required.)