Initiative Description: Intervention classrooms received a relationship-building intervention (RBI) and control classrooms received elementary school as usual. At pre- and post-test, students nominated their friends, and teachers completed assessments of students’ writing and math performance. Peer influence on improved writing and math performance was observed in RBI but not in control classrooms.

Study Results: Improved academic performance/engagement/achievement.

Reference: DeLay, D., Zhang, L., Hanish, L., Miller, C., Fabes, R., Martin, C., . . . Updegraff, K. A. (2016). Peer influence on academic performance: a social network analysis of social-emotional intervention effects. Prevention Science, 17(8), 903 913. doi:10.1007/s11121-016-0678-8

Level of Evidence: Very Good