STEP (School Transitional Environment Program)
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is a school organizational restructuring program focused on students who are in the process of transitioning from primary to secondary school. The aim is to reduce isolation and problematic behaviors while increasing responsibility and the ability to learn rules.
The program has two components:
1) Restructuring the physical and social environment of secondary school by creating smaller learning environments where students stay in small groups;
2) Restructuring the role of the classroom teacher, who acts as an administrator and mentor, offering assistance with class schedules, academic counseling, and personal problems.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that students participating in the program had better classroom behavior, better school performance, less stress related to the school transition, and lower levels of psychological distress compared to the control group [1].
The study had a quasi-experimental design with a sample of 1,204 students from two schools that implemented the program and 761 students from two schools that did not implement the program [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Feiner, R. D., Brand, S., Adan, A. M., Mulhall, P. F., Flowers, N., Sartain, B. & DuBois, D. L. (1994). Restructuring the Ecology of the School as an Approach to Prevention During School Transitions. Prevention in Human Services, 10(2), 103–136. https://doi.org/10.1300/J293v10n02_07

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