Positive Action

https://www.positiveaction.net

Initiative Description: a program consisting of over 140, 15- to 20-minute age-appropriate lessons per grade taught 4 days per week for grades K-6, and 70, 20-minute lessons taught 2 days per week for grades 7 and 8 with a focus on self-concept, health behaviors, social and emotional positive actions

Study Results: Improved growth in academic motivation and mitigated disaffection with learning, had a positive impact on absenteeism and marginally significant impact on math performance of all students, and favorable program effects on reading for African American boys and cohort students transitioning between grades 7 and 8, and on math for girls and low-income students.

Reference: Bavarian, N., Lewis, K. M., DuBois, D. L., Acock, A., Vuchinich, S., Silverthorn, N., . . . Flay, B. R. (2013). Using social-emotional and character development to improve academic outcomes: a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled trial in low-income, urban schools. Journal of School Health, 83(11), 771-779. doi:10.1111/josh.12093

Level of Evidence: Very Good