Compare Programs
Programs, side by side.
Rough guide to help schools narrow the field. Some rows are provisional — verify specifics with the program provider.
| Criterion | MindUP | SEE Learning | Sanford Harmony | Second Step | Lions Quest | Zippy's Friends | RULER | Roots of Empathy | Personal Potential Development Program | Olweus Bullying Prevention Program | PATHS | Positive Action | Incredible Years | I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) | 4Rs Program | PAX Good Behavior Game | Coping Power | WINGS for Kids | Toolbox Project | Al's Pals | Merrell's Strong Kids | Bounce Back! | Learning to BREATHE |
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| IEF Knowledge Status | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Verified | Provisional | Verified |
| Ideal for | Primary and lower-secondary schools that want a compact, evidence-based program with a low barrier to start. | Public K–12 schools wanting a comprehensive, research-backed framework across the full age range. | Ready-made Pre-K–grade 6 lessons on building classroom community and valuing others. | Five programs under one brand, from Early Learning (4–5) to High School (grade 12). | Three age stages built on the five core CASEL competencies. | A series of educational programs helping children aged 3–12 build emotional resilience. | Schools ready for a multi-year whole-school rollout that reaches leadership, teachers, students and families. | Children learn empathy by observing a real infant across the school year. | Social-emotional and personal-potential development for children from age 5 to grade 11. | A whole-school, evidence-based approach to preventing bullying. | The most-studied SEL program in the world, for preschool through grade 6. | Over 2,000 SEL lessons from preschool to grade 12, with a six-module school-climate structure. | Interlocking programs for parents, teachers and children, backed by 40+ years of RCTs. | Universal SEL program building interpersonal thinking and problem-solving skills, ages 4–11. | Reading, Writing, Respect and Resolution — literacy-based SEL for grades pre-K–5. | Trauma-informed classroom practice building self-regulation from age 3 to grade 12. | Cognitive-behavioural group sessions for children at risk of aggression. | After-school SEL giving children stress management, empathy and communication skills. | Twelve 'tools' that help K–6 children build resilience, self-control and empathy. | Comprehensive SEL designed for the specific needs of preschool children. | Five SEL curricula spanning Pre-K to grade 12 — Strong Start, Strong Kids, Strong Teens. | Primary-school program built on positive psychology and the PROSPER framework. | Evidence-based mindfulness for adolescents in school and clinical settings. |
| Age Range | 3–14 | 3–19 | 4–12 | 4–18 | 6–18 | 3–12 | 3–18 | 3–13 | 5–18 | 5–15 | 3–12 | 3–18 | 0–12 | 4–11 | 4–11 | 3–18 | 8–14 | 5–12 | 5–12 | 3–6 | 4–18 | 5–12 | 12–18 |
| Primary Focus | Mindful attention, emotion regulation, optimism, empathy | Attention, emotional awareness, ethical engagement, compassion | Classroom community, relationships, communication, empathy | Social-emotional skills, emotion regulation, problem solving, empathy | Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, decision making | Coping skills, emotional resilience, relationships | Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, Regulating emotions | Empathy, emotional literacy, reducing aggression, caring behaviour | Personal potential, social-emotional development, cognitive development | Bullying prevention, school climate, safety, community involvement | Emotional awareness, self-control, peer relationships, problem behaviour reduction | School climate, self-concept, positive behaviour, family engagement | Parenting skills, teacher classroom management, child social skills, behaviour | Interpersonal problem solving, thinking skills, conflict resolution | Conflict resolution, literacy, respect, social awareness | Self-regulation, classroom behaviour, trauma-informed practice | Anger management, aggression prevention, self-regulation | Stress management, empathy, communication, healthy relationships | Resilience, self-control, empathy, shared language | Problem solving, managing feelings, positive relationships, self-control | Understanding feelings, anger management, friendship, stress relief | Resilience, positive relationships, strengths, wellbeing | Mindfulness, emotion regulation, stress reduction, self-compassion |
| Delivery Format | 15 structured lessons + daily brain breaks | Curriculum + teacher training | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Anchor tools + whole-school rollout | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators | Structured curriculum with ready-made lessons for educators |
| Teacher Training | 1–2 day teacher training | Required (teacher preparation program) | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Two-year training and coaching pathway | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training | Provider-led educator training |
| Certification | MindUP certified educator pathway | SEE Learning facilitator certification available | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | Institutional certification via Yale | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. |
| School-wide Implementation | Classroom-based, easy to layer | Whole-school, classroom, or after-school | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Whole-school; involves staff, students, families | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Whole-school | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | After-school program | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide | Classroom-based; can be scaled school-wide |
| Parent Resources | Yes — MindUP for Families | Yes — family engagement materials | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | Yes — family sessions and materials | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. | To be confirmed with the program provider. |
| Available Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, and others | English, Spanish, Chinese, and others | English | English | 40+ languages | English | English, Spanish, and additional languages | English | Russian | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| Research Base | CASEL-accredited; peer-reviewed studies showing improved focus and reduced stress | Highest CASEL category; grounded in developmental science and CBCT research | Quasi-experimental studies; CASEL SELect; no independent RCTs | CASEL-listed; dozens of studies including RCTs | CASEL SELect/Promising; RCTs and quasi-experiments (Norway, Germany, Turkey) | WHO, NREPP; cluster RCTs | CASEL SELect; cluster RCTs (Yale) | Peer-reviewed RCTs | UNESCO IITE recognition; internal monitoring; no independent RCTs found | Blueprints Model Program; nearly 40 years of research | 50+ independent studies — the most studied SEL program in the world | Blueprints Model Program; 2 RCTs | 40+ years of RCTs (broader focus — includes parents) | 25+ years of research, multiple RCTs | CASEL SELect; RCT (n=1,184) | One of the strongest longitudinal evidence bases in prevention science | What Works Clearinghouse; multiple independent RCTs | 4-year RCT (University of Virginia) | CASEL Promising; quasi-experimental study | CASEL SELect; RCT (1996–97) | CASEL-listed; quasi-experimental studies | Evidence-informed (not RCT level) | CASEL supportive SEL (2021); pilot studies |
| Cost Model | Program license + training | Free curriculum; training fees vary | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Institutional license and training fees | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider | Contact the provider |
| Implementation Support | Regional coordinators and coaching | Global network of certified facilitators | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Yale team + certified coaches | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support | Provider onboarding, materials and educator support |
Where information is provisional we note it as such. Always confirm specifics with the program provider before making decisions.