Educational counseling

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Haitian Hybrid Student Success Skills (HHSSS) program on the academic achievement of 4th and 5th grade Haitian students. This intervention included both the Student Success Skills (SSS) classroom program in English (Brigman & Webb, 2004), followed by the Haitian SSS small group translation Teknik Pou Ede Eláev Reyisi (Brigman, Campbell, & Webb 2004, 2009). School counselors in the treatment schools implemented the HHSSS program in grades 4 and 5 after receiving training from the study researcher. A series of ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses then were conducted to determine whether there were significant differences between the treatment group, the comparison group 1, and the comparison group 2 in reading and math using the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) as a benchmark. Statistically significant differences were found between: (a) the treatment group and comparison group 1 in reading, (b) the treatment group and vii comparison group 2 in reading, and (c) between both comparison group 1 and comparison group 2 in reading. This study provides empirical support showing that students who are taught key cognitive and self management skills in their native language can begin to close the academic gap regardless of their language background. Furthermore, it supports the positive impact school counselors can have on student success by implementing an evidence-based program.

The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in pro-social behaviors, bullying behaviors, engagement in school success skills, and perceptions of classroom climate between grade 5 students in the treatment group who received the Student Success Skills (SSS) classroom guidance program (Brigman & Webb, 2010) and grade 5 students in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention. School counselors in the treatment schools implemented SSS with students in grade 5 after being trained in the manualized use of the program and other study-related procedures. The study followed a pre-post quasi-experimental design employing various self-report measures of behavior (PRQ, SE-SSS, MCI-SFR, and TMCI-SF). A series of ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses were then conducted to determine if there were statistically significant differences between the groups. Effect size estimates were also calculated for each measure. The data supported the SSS classroom guidance program as a viable intervention for positively affecting student behavior. Significant differences were noted between the treatment and comparison schools in the following areas: (a) increased pro-social behaviors, (b) decreased bullying behaviors, (c) increased engagement in school success skills, and (d) student perceptions of improved classroom climate. This study provides empirical support showing that students who are taught skills in key areas evidence benefits across several outcomes. The study also indicates that aggressive behaviors, like bullying, can be influenced by programs that do not specifically target those behaviors. Furthermore, it supports the positive impact school counselors can have on student success by implementing an evidence-based program.