Summary
PurposeFull People, offered by CharacterStrong, provides a lesson-based approach to SEL and offers programming for grades Pre-K through 5. A CASEL-approved evaluation demonstrates evidence of effectiveness in grades 2-5. PurposeFull People integrates social and emotional learning and character education into lessons accessed via an interactive online portal. Program materials are offered in English and Spanish.
CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People Elementary Curriculum is an evidence-based PreK – 5th grade curriculum that integrates the teaching of social-emotional competencies and character strengths. PurposeFull People focuses on supporting students to acquire and apply 3 foundational social-emotional competencies: Emotion Regulation Skills, Social Skills, and Executive Functioning Skills. In addition, the social-emotional competencies are integrated with 10 foundational character traits: Kindness, Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, Empathy, Cooperation, Creativity, Honesty, and Gratitude. CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People includes vertically-aligned curricular content with a total of 36 weekly lessons at each grade level. PurposeFull People was built to provide an adaptive and flexible approach to lesson delivery through 3 implementation plan options (flexible, daily, or weekly).
CharacterStrong provides multiple training opportunities to support fidelity of curriculum delivery and low-burden, high-impact practices. Whole-staff training is offered virtually or in-person for initial implementation and for sustaining implementation of the PurposeFull People elementary curriculum. The training lasts 3 hours and focuses on supporting educator motivation, skills, and self-efficacy to deliver the curriculum with fidelity. Also embedded in the curriculum platform are online orientation modules to introduce the purpose and functionality of the curriculum in 30 minutes or less. CharacterStrong also hosts an On Demand PD platform that includes courses on student behavior, mental health literacy, adult SEL, and a comprehensive whole-staff training on research-backed practices that support well-being, belonging, and engagement. Included in purchase of the curriculum, leaders have access to a self-paced Implementation Roadmap that guides them through research-backed implementation strategies including those focused on teaming, data-based decision-making, and utilization of cues and prompts for adult behavior change.
Strategies supporting educational equity (CASEL)
CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People features strategies for understanding context and youth action projects. This includes teacher-facing “Staff Pursuits” exercises that prompt educators to practice curiosity when engaging with each student and to adapt their instructional practices accordingly for students’ contexts. Lessons in each grade level include opportunities for student-led projects that require students to identify challenges in their immediate community and design and enact collaborative solutions.
Implementation
Below are key implementation details for this program. These specifications help determine if the program is a good fit for your school or organization.
Grade(s)
Pre-K, Elementary (K-5)
Setting
Classroom, Schoolwide, Home
Language
English, Spanish
Cost
$2,999
# Lessons
36
Program Design
Tier 1 (Universal)
Technology Requirements
PurposeFull People curriculum is digitally delivered and teachers need a computer and access to the digital content via a secured log in.
Staffing Requirements
No additional staffing required
Professional Development
$1999 (Training & Coaching), On-site, Virtual, Offsite, Train the Trainer
Outcomes
Improved SEL skills and attitudes
Reduced Emotional Distress
Improved Identity Development/ Agency
Improved Academic Performance
Reduced Problem Behavior
Improved School Climate
Improved School Connectedness
Improved Prosocial Behavior
Improved Teaching Practices
Improved SEL Skills and Attitude
Evidence of Effectiveness
Results from a randomized controlled trial conducted in the 2022-23 academic year (unpublished report written in 2024) supported the effectiveness of CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People for public school students. This evaluation included 354 students in grades 2-5 in urban and rural schools in the U.S. Midwest region (59.6% white, 14.1% Hispanic/Latinx, 11.9% multiracial; 48.44% free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program had significantly higher demonstrated behavioral expectations and motivation compared to students in the control group (outcomes reported 16 weeks after baseline) while controlling for outcome pretest, demographics of students (gender, race, FRPL), teachers (grade level, gender, and teaching experience), and school enrollments (proportions of students who met reading proficiency benchmark, did not self-report as being white or non-Hispanic, received special education services or FRPL, dropped out in the academic year).
Academic
Strong
Problem Behaviors
Strong
Strong Relationships
Strong
Published Studies
Zhang, Y., Cook, C., & Larson, M. (2023). A multi-site cluster randomized trial of CharacterStrong’s PurposeFull People elementary SEL and character education program.