RULER: A Social Emotional Learning Program’s Impact on School Climate

Abstract

An urban public school system in the northeastern United States implemented the RULER Program, an evidence-based social emotional learning program, into schools in 2014. This case study investigates the impact of the RULER Program on school climate at one pre-K-8 school within that larger urban system. The study sought to determine if there are statistically significant changes in student suspensions, attendance, and academic achievement at that school since the initial implementation of the RULER Program by performing 2-proportion z tests. This study also sought to determine faculty and staff perceptions of school climate at the subject school by performing a descriptive analysis of survey data and coding interview and observation data for themes. The quantitative and qualitative data merge to provide a comprehensive explanation of the impact of a school wide social emotional learning program on school climate.

The Influence of Psychosocial Factors on the Successful Formal Education Trajectories of Young Spanish People in Vulnerable Situations

“…The ACHIEVER Resilience Curriculum program has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing occupational stress and increasing teachers' perceived self-efficacy [97]. RULER is an evidence-based approach that allows for the creation of more positive school climates by valuing emotions and strengthening emotional intelligence in students [98]. Project ACHIEVE is an evidence-based school effectiveness and school improvement program focusing on the academic and social, emotional, and behavioral attainment of all students [99].…”