Schools using the Committee for Children’s Steps to Respect bullying-prevention program had fewer incidents of bullying and reported a more positive climate than control schools, a new study shows.
Researchers from the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington in Seattle conducted a yearlong trial of the program in 33 California elementary schools. Teachers at randomly selected schools were provided with Steps to Respect kits and some training, replicating typical use at schools around the country, and reported data on student aggression and school climate throughout the year. The control group schools delayed implementation of the program for a year.
The study will be published this fall in School Psychology Review.