TRAILS Michigan Expansion
Summary
During the 2022-23 school year, Youth Policy Lab partnered with TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) to evaluate the implementation and impact of its Tier 1 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum as part of a statewide expansion in two intermediate school districts in Michigan. To assess the program's effects on student outcomes related to social-emotional well-being and mental health, a one-year, school-level randomized control trial was conducted. Students and staff from approximately 40 schools gave feedback through surveys at the beginning and end of the school year. Despite low levels of implementation and existing SEL programming in control schools, YPL observed positive trends in student outcomes in schools using the TRAILS curriculum. These results suggest the program could benefit students if broadly implemented.
