Enhancing outcomes: Culturally adapted social-emotional and behavioral interventions for rural black elementary learners at risk.

Abstract

Educators are responsible for supporting positive school experiences for all students, including those with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Students with or at risk for EBD experience multiple negative outcomes impacting their school years, and these negative outcomes extend past graduation. Social and emotional learning programs are being used by schools to build students' competency in areas designed to help them successfully manage the school environment and life in general. However, studies have not provided evidence that universal social-emotional learning (SEL) programs are effective for Black students. This study provides data on the efficacy of an intervention package comprised of the Strong Kids SEL Program and a Tier 2 culturally adapted check-in/check-out (CICO) with Black students in a rural district in an underserved community. Cultural adaptations presented for the SEL curriculum were based on developers' recommendations and teacher feedback from prior studies and incorporated focus groups. Behavior management support in the form of a culturally adapted CICO was provided to participants exhibiting externalizing behaviors disruptive to the learning process. Results indicated a functional relation between the intervention package culturally adapted (SEL + CICO) and a decrease in student rate of externalizing behavior and strong social validity across teachers and students. Hierarchical linear modeling showed a statistically significant decrease in externalizing behavior from baseline to intervention phases, with data suggesting the moderator of grade-level explained variability in the effectiveness of the intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).