This article examined the impact that universal and targeted SEL programs have on academic achievement, based on 22 studies conducted between 2011 and 2021 that included approximately 24,500 elementary and middle school students, with the bulk of the knowledge based on research in elementary schools. The findings indicate SEL programs have a positive impact on academic achievements in general and achievement in language arts, mathematics, and science in particular, compared to regular instruction or alternative interventions. We are proud that our study of the ICS program in elementary schools is part of the studies selected based on strict criteria for inclusion in this important study.
Zhao, Y., & Sang, B. (2025). The Effect of Social–Emotional Learning Programs on Elementary and Middle School Students’ Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analytic
Review. Behavioral Sciences, 15(11), 1527. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111527