News

July 21, 2021

Integrating trauma-sensitive schools and social and emotional learning

May 14, 2021

School-based mindfulness programs show promising impacts for students

Dozens of school-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs) have been developed and implemented in a range of school contexts across the world. These programs are often designed to teach students how to pay attention, regulate stress, feel better emotionally, engage in healthy relationships, and do better in school. As the number of mindfulness programs has increased, so too have the number of research evaluations of these programs’ impacts, outcomes, and effectiveness. 

September 01, 2020

Promoting wellness within the school community during and after the pandemic

Supporting school community wellness with social and emotional learning 

October 28, 2019

New report offers key recommendations for supporting principals and creating caring schools

Based on decades of evidence, report calls for action at every level

February 11, 2019

Prevention Research Center to chart course for social emotional learning

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Experts agree that social and emotional skills are necessary for children to grow up healthy and successful as students and later, in all aspects of life. Over the past two years, the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) have published the most comprehensive examination to date of the research on social emotional learning (SEL).

January 08, 2019

Latest RWJF Brief: SEL Development Matters--Taking Action Now for Future Generations

There is overwhelming agreement from the perspective of educators, parents, and policymakers that children should receive a broad education that prepares them to be active, engaged citizens who make positive contributions to support their families and communities. Although there are various models of educational goals, there is a consensus that education should focus on supporting essential capacities to help children navigate the world successfully.

December 10, 2018

"With a Little Help from My Friends - The Importance of Peer Relationships for Social-Emotional Development"

Positive peer relationships make critical contributions to healthy social emotional development

November 02, 2017

Investing in Social-Emotional Learning Forum

Over 60 persons attended the "Investing in Social Emotional Development: Implications for Evidence-Based Policy" forum Friday, October 27 at The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's Barbara Jordan Conference Center in Washington, DC. The event brought together professionals including economists, applied researchers, policymakers, school superintendents, systems theorists, and philanthropic foundations with interest in improving outcomes for children. 

April 21, 2017

Social and emotional well-being programs may boost academic success

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Programs and policies that enhance the emotional and social skills of elementary school students may also improve academic success and even pave the way toward better jobs in adulthood, according to a report from Penn State's Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center.

April 04, 2017

Parent engagement programs increase student readiness for kindergarten

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kindergarten teachers report that of the 32 million children living in poverty or low-income homes in the United States, nearly half lack strong social-emotional skills and are not “ready to succeed in school,” according to the latest research brief released by the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.