Student Success Skills

Student Success Skills (SSS) is a K-12 model that helps students develop key cognitive, social, and self-management skills. SSS is a school counselor led program based on the principle that students can improve academically when surrounded by a supportive environment that involves skill-building activities in self-management, prosocial behaviors, and cognition. It is a humanistic approach to school counseling that focuses on the following areas: (1) cognitive factors, including memory and learning processes, (2) attitudinal skills, (3) self-regulation and metacognitive abilities, (4) behavioral strategies and goals, and (5) social skills training.

This program is approved for WV Expanded School Mental Health.

Last reviewed: 2023

Intended Outcomes:

  • Improved academic performance
  • Reduced problem behaviors
  • Reduced bullying
  • Coping skills
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Improved impulse control
  • Improved motivation

Continuum of Care:
Selective Prevention, Universal Prevention

Topic Areas:
Anxiety, Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Disruptive Behaviors

Ages:
Childhood (4-12), Teen/Adolescent (13-18)

Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban

Delivery Settings:
School-Based

Cultural Considerations:
Limited research found involving diverse populations

Audience:
Students grades PK-12

Credentials:
Teachers and school counselors can implement the program using the comprehensive curriculum manual.

Manuals:
Yes

Is Training Required?
No

Who can provide the required training?
Training is recommended but not required. Training for school counselors and/or teachers is available either virtually or face-to-face from the program developers, Dr. Greg Brigman, Dr. Elizabeth Villares, Dr. Melissa Mariani, and Dr. Hannah Bowers. Please see the following page for more information: https://studentsuccessskills.com/training/

Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website

Program/Practice Website:
https://studentsuccessskills.com/

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:

Mariana, M., Bayani, J., & Kneidel, L. F. (2022). Addressing the social/emotional needs of students during the pandemic. Professional School Counseling, (26, 1).

Webb, L., Brigham, G., Carey, J., Villares, E., Wells, C., Sayer, A., Harrington, K., & Chance, E. (2019). Results of a randomized controlled trial of the student success skills program on grade 5 students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. Journal of Counseling and Development (97, 4), 398-408.

Wirth, J. & Villares, E. (2015). Examining adolescent wellness, success skills and academic performance: a classroom intervention approach. The Journal of Happiness and Well-Being, 3(2), 204-217.

Zyromski, B., Mariani, M., Kim, B., Lee, S., & Carey, J. (2017). The impact of student success skills on  students’ metacognitive functioning in a naturalistic school setting. The Professional Counselor, 7(1), 33-44.

Additional Sources:

https://studentsuccessskills.com/research/

Promising rating

WV Rating:
Promising
»WV Ratings Info

Rationale for Rating:

A lot of outcomes were positive in the research for social emotional skills, but academic skill improvement was limited. There were small sample sizes in a majority of the research and most studies were limited to participants in Florida. This did offer the opportunity to examine effects with Hispanic populations and English language learners.

Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified

Other Registries/Ratings

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Not On Registry

Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Unclear 0

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Not On Registry

Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Not On Registry