Social and Emotional Assessment and Intervention: A Promising Approach to Reducing the Achievement Gap

• In Event: 69.056 - Roundtable Session 31
  In Roundtable Session: 69.056-13 - Moving the Needle on Social and Emotional Learning: Programs and Potential

Abstract

Enhancing students’ social and emotional competence (SEC) has been shown to improve attitudes toward school and academic achievement (Durlak et. al., 2011). This paper will build on these findings by sharing data that indicate that in multiple samples from different states, SEC as measured by a nationally normed, teacher completed behavior rating scale, the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA; LeBuffe, Shapiro, & Naglieri, 2009/2014) has a greater impact on academic achievement than does socio-economic status as measured by eligibility for free school lunch. This suggests that one strategy for reducing the income achievement gap is promoting SEC.

Authors

• Paul Augustine LeBuffe, Aperture Education

• Jennifer Robitaille, Aperture Education