Provide the Second Step® Middle School Program to Your Schools Free of Charge

The primary goal of Second Step Middle School is to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets that will help them successfully navigate adolescence. Second Step® Middle School Program helps students cope with challenges, create and maintain positive relationships, and succeed both socially and academically. The curriculum focuses on four topics: mindsets and goals; developing a positive sense of self; thoughts, emotions, and decisions; and managing relationships and social conflict.

Our experienced research team at The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has received a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (R305A220066) to study the impact of Committee for Children’s Second Step® Middle School Program in Grades 6–8. We are inviting you to join the project during the 2026-27 school year.

For schools currently not using the Second Step® Middle School program, the grant covers the cost of:

• Three years of access to the digital program, at no charge to schools or districts;
• Brief training and ongoing support for teachers and administrators;
• Stipends for teachers participating in data collection activities; and
• An opportunity to participate in an easy-to-implement national study. 

Participatory Timeline

School year 2026-27.

Eligibility Requirements

We are seeking partnerships with schools across three to four districts that serve students in grades 6–8 and who will make a commitment to participate in this study for one year (school year 2026–27). Each participating district must have at least 2 schools join the project.

Half of the participating schools in the district will be selected via lottery to implement the program immediately in school year 2026-27. The other half will be offered the curriculum and training in 2027-28. 

Participation Expectations

• Teachers will be asked to complete Second Step® training, implement the Second Step® curriculum, and assist with data collection.
• District staff will be asked to share relevant data with the project team to support research and grant requirements. Stipends will be available to fulfill data requests, subject to district policies.
• School administrative staff will be asked to select enough teachers per grade level to reach all students in grades 6-8 (e.g., all advisory/homeroom teachers).
• School administrative staff will receive resources and tools to help them plan for, monitor, and evaluate a schoolwide implementation.

Participation Benefits

All participating schools receive the Second Step® Middle School curriculum and training free of charge.

Schools will receive feedback on school-level measures that may inform practices to foster positive changes in their school environment.

If allowable according to district policy, teachers will be provided a stipend for supporting data collection.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit our website and this flyer.