This report was commissioned in 2017 by The Wallace Foundation, a New York based philanthropy, to educate school personnel and other stakeholders on specific features that define SEL programs, and help them evaluate and select SEL programs that best fit their needs.

Developed by a team of researchers from Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), the report focuses on elementary school SEL programming, and includes the following:

• Background Information on SEL as well as information on the broader context of factors that support the effectiveness of a program, and challenges in implementation.
• Recommendations for aligning and adapting SEL with OST (out of school time) programs.
• Detailed individual descriptions of 25 SEL programs and summary tables for comparing across these programs (by skills, instructional strategies ad program components).
• Some useful tools to help stakeholders make informed decisions about SEL programming (e.g., worksheets, quick reference tools).

15 of the SEL programs in this report were selected using the 2013 CASEL Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs (Preschool and Elementary Edition), and a further 10 programs were included for their focus on out-of-school time and character education.

The selected programs include in alphabetical order: 4Rs (Reading, Writing, Respect and Resolution); Before the Bullying A.F.T.E.R. School Program; Caring School Community; Character First; Competent Kids, Caring Communities; Conscious Discipline; Girls on the Run; Good Behavior Game; I Can Problem Solve; Lions Quest; MindUP; the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum; Open Circle; PATHS; Playworks; Positive Action; Responsive Classroom; RULER; Social Decision Making/Problem Solving Program; Second Step; SECURe; Too Good for Violence; We Have Skills; WINGS for Kids; and Wise Skills.