Overview

Positive Action, a K–12 program, aims to promote character development, academic achievement, and social-emotional skills and to reduce disruptive and problem behavior. The program is based on the philosophy that you feel good about yourself when you think and do positive actions, and there is always a positive way to do everything. The curriculum includes six units; some grades have a review for a seventh unit. All lessons are scripted and use classroom discussion, role-play, games, songs, and activity sheets or text booklets. Optional components that may or may not be implemented as part of the program are: site-wide climate development; drug education for grade 5 and middle school; conflict resolution; counselor, parent, and family classes; and community/coalition components.

Research

One study of Positive Action met the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards, and one study met standards with reservations. The studies included 56 elementary schools in Florida and Hawaii. Both studies examined results on students' behavior and academic achievement.¹

The WWC considers the extent of evidence for Positive Action to be medium to large for behavior and for academic achievement. No studies of Positive Action that met WWC evidence standards with or without reservations addressed outcomes in the domain of knowledge, attitudes, and values.

Effectiveness

Positive Action was found to have positive effects on elementary school students' behavior and academic achievement.