Evaluation of Advancing Coping and Engagement for High School Students in Accelerated Curriculum

• In Event: Coping and Resilience in Educational Settings

Abstract

Results of a cluster randomized controlled trial (15 school programs and 548 9th grade students in Advanced Placement [AP] and International Baccalaureate [IB] coursework) provide initial evidence of the effectiveness of the school-based ACE (Advancing Coping and Engagement) and MAP (Motivation, Assessment, and Planning) intervention in positively impacting students’ use of healthy coping strategies, classroom engagement, belongingness, and decreased academic burnout. The two-stage intervention was implemented with a high level of fidelity. Acceptability data collected throughout implementation of the six-month intervention (universal stage- ACE- in fall; selective stage- MAP- in spring) was positive; AP/IB students, teachers, administrators, counselors, and parents consistently rated the intervention as highly useful and relevant to supporting AP/IB students’ emotional health and persistence in accelerated courses.

Authors

• Shannon M. Suldo, University of South Florida

• Elizabeth Shaunessy-Dedrick, University of South Florida

• Lindsey O'Brennan, University of South Florida - Tampa

• John M. Ferron, University of South Florida

• Robert F. Dedrick, University of South Florida

• Diep Thi Nguyen, University of South Florida

• Elizabeth Storey, University of South Florida - Tampa

• Kai Shum, University of South Florida - Tampa

• Amanda Moseley

• Camille Hanks, University of South Florida - Tampa