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DESSA Strategies and Tier 2 Programs: Development Overview

Tier 2 Programs Overview

The Tier 2 programs were developed by two members of the Riverside Research team, each bringing over 20 years of expertise in education, learning, and skill development. The work was grounded in the well-established DESSA constructs—Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making, and Optimistic Thinking—which are strongly supported by both research and applied practice.

The development process began with comprehensive literature reviews for each construct to identify evidence-based principles and instructional approaches that effectively promote skill development in school-age students. For example, research demonstrates that structured self-monitoring (e.g., tracking behaviors such as study habits or goal progress) can meaningfully enhance self-awareness. These research-informed principles were then translated into practical student activities, forming the foundation of each Tier 2 program.

The programs were intentionally designed to support a developmental learning progression, enabling students to acquire, apply, and generalize social and emotional skills across contexts.

Each program underwent review by experts in education and social and emotional development. Feedback from these reviews informed revisions to enhance clarity, relevance, and overall effectiveness.

Following initial development, the programs were adapted for specific grade bands: early elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school. This process involved additional Riverside team members with direct classroom experience at the corresponding levels. A Senior Researcher conducted a final review to ensure developmental appropriateness and overall program quality prior to publication.

DESSA Strategies Overview

The development of DESSA Strategies followed a similar research-driven process. Each strategy is grounded in literature aligned to the six DESSA constructs, drawing on evidence-based practices that effectively promote social and emotional skill development in school-age populations.

A substantial body of research indicates that social and emotional skill development is most effective when instruction combines explicit teaching with opportunities for practice throughout the day. Accordingly, the DESSA Strategies are designed in alignment with the SAFE framework:

  • Sequenced – Activities are intentionally ordered to build skills progressively.
  • Active – Students engage as active participants to deepen learning and skill acquisition.
  • Focused – Instruction maintains a clear emphasis on developing specific personal and social competencies.
  • Explicit – Skills are clearly defined, modeled, and directly taught.

The DESSA Strategies support educators in delivering structured, explicit, and research-based instruction to strengthen students’ social and emotional competencies as measured by the DESSA.

Following development of the core strategies, materials were adapted into three grade bands: elementary, middle, and high school. Each set includes implementation guidance, along with recommendations for adapting and extending activities to meet diverse student needs.

Learn More and Stay Connected

For guidance on how to use the DESSA Strategies and Intervention Programs, please visit: https://info.apertureed.com/en/hc/guidance-on-how-to-use-the-foundational-practices-and-strategies.

The Riverside Research team continues to evaluate the implementation and impact of these strategies and programs through ongoing studies in school settings. The team also actively seeks collaboration and practitioner feedback to support continuous improvement.