Evaluating Social and Emotional Learning in High School Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

A group of six high school students with an emotional or behavioral disorder were assembled once a week for six weeks and studied social emotional learning near Mankato, Minnesota. Social emotional learning is a school based systematic process in which five competencies are taught to students, including self awareness, social awareness, self management, relationship skills and responsible decision making. This research examined whether a social emotional learning curriculum improved school attendance and decreased missing assignments. The curriculum used is a program called School-Connect, which ―applies the latest research in emotional intelligence, positive psychology, prevention, conflict resolution, and character education.‖ The students were also given a pre-test and post-test survey to be compared using a pair sample t-test to evaluate social emotional learning changes. It is estimated that the students will make significant improvement in their school attendance, a decrease in their missing assignments and an increased in social emotional learning skills shown through the pre-test and post-test process. Research is currently in progress and results, discussion and conclusion(s) are to be determined