“Our district used data for Tier 1 and MTSS in all other content areas, why not social-emotional skills? It was natural for the whole-child approach we were prioritizing. Incorporating social, emotional, behavioral learning helped educators see it was foundational to this approach and how we teach social-emotional skills just like we teach math and literacy.”
Reduce Behavioral Challenges through Proactive Support
After incorporating the DESSA System, Boerne ISD was able to understand students strengths, allowing educators to proactively build relationships with students and address student needs.
“We attribute [our results] to being able to focus more on relationship building instead of what is going wrong. It’s a big win now that we see our principals looking at the students’ skills and teaching skills and not punishing behavior. There are obviously still consequences for behavior and a need for that, but we’re adding in skill instruction, too, with great results”
— Lesa Pritchard Boerne ISD
Building Social-Emotional Skills Supports Academic Growth
Research studies have repeatedly found a correlation between increases in student’s social-emotional skills and increases in academic skills. A 2020 Johns Hopkins study found that one tier of growth in DESSA skills was associated with 1 year of Academic gains.
“Administrators and counselors have used the data to help plan classes for the next year — balancing DESSA data, social-emotional needs, and academic performance. We know that if we put ten students who are in the ‘need for instruction’ category into a single classroom that will make it more difficult for the teacher to help provide the necessary support to help all students grow.”
