Disclosure: This guide is published by Be The Buffalo Classroom, one of the alternatives listed. We have tried to describe every program, including ours, factually and with sources. For a direct comparison, see Second Step vs Be The Buffalo. Prices were checked in October 2026.
What Second Step Elementary Includes
Understanding what Second Step does well makes it easier to judge what an alternative needs to replace.
- •Publisher: Committee for Children, a Seattle-based nonprofit founded in 1979.
- •Digital program: Web-based lessons in four units (Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting, Emotion Management, Empathy & Kindness, Problem-Solving), 15–20 min for K-1 and 25–30 min for grades 2-5.[1]
- •Classroom kits: Print kits with scripted lesson cards, posters, and puppets for younger grades.[2]
- •Cost: K-5 kit bundle at $3,076; digital licenses $2,595–$15,372 depending on term.[2] See SEL curriculum costs.
- •Evidence: Listed in the CASEL Program Guide and Evidence for ESSA. Multiple randomized trials.[3]
Why Schools Look for Second Step Alternatives
Cost and licensing
Per-school licenses and kit bundles can be expensive for small schools or single teachers.
Lesson length
25–30 minute lessons in grades 2-5 are hard to fit into packed schedules.
Technology requirements
The digital program requires internet access and devices.
Teaching style
Some teachers prefer music, stories, or play over scripted lessons.
Character education
Schools wanting explicit character education alongside SEL. See character education vs SEL.
Bilingual needs
Schools wanting a full parallel Spanish version rather than translated resources.
Community concerns
Some communities prefer character education or health framing over SEL language.
Fit with existing practices
Schools using Responsive Classroom or PBIS may want tighter integration.
Nine Second Step Alternatives for K-5
Harmony SEL (Sanford Harmony)
A PreK-6 program built around everyday classroom practices (Meet Up and Buddy Up) plus short formal lessons, with a focus on relationships, communication, and building community.[4]
Consider it if: Cost is the main barrier and your teachers have time to plan integration. Keep in mind: No bundled assessment toolkit. See Harmony SEL vs Be The Buffalo.
CharacterStrong PurposeFull People
Combines SEL competencies with ten character traits. Each grade level has 36 weekly lessons delivered digitally.[6]
Consider it if: You want SEL and character education together, schoolwide. Keep in mind: Sold at school/district level. See CharacterStrong alternatives.
Positivity Project
A character education program built on 24 character strengths from positive psychology. Teachers lead 15-minute daily lessons using slide presentations across 32 weeks.[8]
Consider it if: You want a short daily routine focused on character strengths. Keep in mind: Framed as character education, not a full SEL skills curriculum.
RULER (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
A schoolwide approach to emotional intelligence built around four core tools, including the Mood Meter. Trains adults first, then extends to students.[9]
Consider it if: You want a whole-school culture shift and can invest in adult training. Keep in mind: More of a schoolwide approach than a weekly classroom curriculum.
Caring School Community
A K-8 program from Collaborative Classroom built around morning and closing circles, class meetings, cross-age buddies, and a relationship-focused approach to discipline. 30 weeks of daily lessons per grade.[10]
Consider it if: You want to build classroom community through daily routines and class meetings.
PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies)
A long-established elementary SEL curriculum with grade-level kits including manuals, puppets, posters, and feelings cards. Known for its “Turtle Technique” self-calming routine.[11]
Consider it if: You want a structured, kit-based program with a long research history. Keep in mind: Costs grow with the number of classrooms.
Positive Action
A K-12 program organized around the idea that positive actions lead to positive feelings about oneself. Classroom kits include scripted lessons and materials.[14]
Consider it if: You want kit-based with trial evidence and a lower per-classroom price. Keep in mind: Published figures are undated; check current pricing.
Responsive Classroom
A teaching approach rather than a scripted curriculum, built around practices such as Morning Meeting, interactive modeling, and logical consequences.
Consider it if: You want to change how teachers run classrooms day to day. Keep in mind: Does not provide weekly SEL lessons; results depend on implementation fidelity.
Be The Buffalo Classroom (ours)
A 40-week, CASEL-aligned K-5 curriculum combining SEL and character education in three grade bands. Teachers project activities, stories, and original songs. Includes printables, teacher guides, and school safety modules.
Consider it if: You want no-prep, projector-based, no student devices, full English/Spanish, per-teacher pricing. Keep in mind: No assessment toolkit, no Tier 2 resources, research base in development. See Second Step vs Be The Buffalo.
Published Cost Comparison
Note: costs use different units (per teacher, per kit, per school). See our cost guide for per-student comparisons.
Published prices · October 2026 · different pricing units
Evidence Strength by Program
Relative evidence strength based on study design and listings. Not all studies cover the same grades or outcomes.
Side-by-Side Summary
| Program | Grades | Pricing | Published Cost | Evidence | Student Devices? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Step | K-5 | Kit/license | $3,076 kits; $2,595–$15,372 digital | CASEL, ESSA | Teacher device for digital |
| Harmony SEL | PreK-6 | Free core | $0 core | CASEL SELect | No |
| CharacterStrong | Elem. | Enrollment | $2,999 + $1,999 | ESSA Strong | No |
| Positivity Project | PreK-12 | Per school/yr | $3,995 | ESSA Promising | No |
| RULER | PreK-12 | Training pkg | $7,500–$10,500 | RCT | No |
| Caring School Community | K-8 | Webstore | Not published | CASEL SELect | No |
| PATHS | PreK-5 | Per grade kit | ~$700–$900/kit | Multiple RCTs | No |
| Positive Action | K-12 | Per class kit | ~$400–$450/kit | Multiple RCTs | No |
| Responsive Classroom | K-8 | Training | Varies | RCT (fidelity) | No |
| Be The Buffalo(ours) | K-5 | Per teacher/yr | $149.99; 4 wk free | Not yet evaluated | No |
Matching Alternatives to Your Reason for Switching
| If your main reason is… | Programs to look at first |
|---|---|
| Cost | Harmony SEL, Be The Buffalo, Positive Action |
| Strongest research evidence | CharacterStrong, PATHS, Positive Action |
| Character education + SEL | CharacterStrong, Positivity Project, Be The Buffalo |
| Shorter lessons | Positivity Project, Harmony SEL, Be The Buffalo |
| Less technology | Positive Action, PATHS, Be The Buffalo |
| Full Spanish version | Be The Buffalo; check others for current Spanish materials |
| Whole-school culture change | RULER, Responsive Classroom, Caring School Community |
| Starting with one classroom | Be The Buffalo, Harmony SEL |
Fit by Grade Band
Kindergarten & First Grade
Look for short lessons, songs, puppets or characters, and movement. Programs with structured early-grade kits (PATHS, Second Step) and those built for young children's attention spans tend to fit well. See kindergarten SEL curriculum guide.
Second & Third Grade
Students can handle more discussion and partner work. Look for programs that build problem solving, perspective-taking, and friendship skills with scenario practice.
Fourth & Fifth Grade
Older students disengage from content that feels babyish. Look for age-appropriate stories, more student voice, and complex scenarios. See SEL curriculum for upper elementary.
What to Avoid When Switching
Switching mid-year without a plan
Plan the transition at a natural break.
Assuming every program covers the same skills
Map each program's scope and sequence against what you need. See elementary SEL scope and sequence.
Trusting “evidence-based” labels without checking
Look up each program in the CASEL Program Guide and Evidence for ESSA.
Ignoring teacher input
Programs chosen without teacher input are more likely to go unused.
Skipping a pilot
Try a program in a few classrooms before committing schoolwide.
How to Evaluate Alternatives
- 1List what you need Second Step to do that it is not doing, and what you would lose by leaving it.
- 2Shortlist three programs that match your reasons for switching.
- 3Request samples or use free tiers and have teachers try real lessons.
- 4Compare total three-year cost, including training, materials, and teacher time.
- 5Check evidence for the grades you serve.
- 6Pilot for at least four to six weeks before deciding.
Our guide on how to choose an SEL curriculum walks through this process in more detail.
Measuring Whether the Switch Worked
Lesson completion
Are teachers delivering more lessons than before?
Teacher satisfaction
Would teachers choose to keep the new program?
Student engagement
Do students participate more?
Behavior & climate data
Office referrals, climate surveys, SEL screeners.
Cost per lesson delivered
Total cost ÷ lessons actually taught.
Final Thoughts
Second Step is a well-established program with a long research history, and for many schools it remains a sound choice. Schools that look elsewhere usually do so for specific reasons: cost structure, lesson length, technology, bilingual needs, character education, or fit with their existing practices.
The research on SEL as a whole is encouraging, with meta-analyses showing gains in social-emotional skills, behavior, and academic achievement.[17][18] But those results depend on programs being delivered consistently.
The best alternative is not necessarily the one with the most features or the strongest evidence rating. It is the one your teachers will actually teach every week.
Sources
- Committee for Children. (2026). Second Step Elementary. Summarized in Second Step vs Be The Buffalo
- Committee for Children. (2026). Second Step store. store.secondstep.org
- Low, S., Cook, C. R., Smolkowski, K., & Buntain-Ricklefs, J. (2015). Promoting social-emotional competence. Journal of School Psychology, 53, 463–477. DOI
- Sanford Harmony. (2026). sanfordharmony.org
- Be The Buffalo Classroom. (2026). Harmony SEL vs Be The Buffalo
- Evidence for ESSA. CharacterStrong PurposeFull People. evidenceforessa.org
- Soul Shoppe. (2026, Feb 3). Top 7 SEL programs. soulshoppe.org
- Evidence for ESSA. The Positivity Project. evidenceforessa.org
- RULER Approach, Yale. rulerapproach.org
- Collaborative Classroom. Caring School Community. collaborativeclassroom.org
- EPISCenter, Penn State. PATHS costs. epis.psu.edu/node/760
- Soul Shoppe. (2026, Feb 3). PATHS pricing. soulshoppe.org
- Greenberg, M. T., et al. (1995). PATHS curriculum effects. Development and Psychopathology, 7(1), 117–136. DOI
- EPISCenter, Penn State. Positive Action costs. epis.psu.edu/node/746
- Snyder, F., et al. (2010). Positive Action trial. J. of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 3(1), 26–55. DOI
- Rimm-Kaufman, S. E., et al. (2014). Responsive Classroom efficacy. American Educational Research Journal, 51(3), 567–603. DOI
- Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). SEL meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. DOI
- Cipriano, C., et al. (2023). SEL meta-analysis. Child Development, 94(5), 1181–1204. DOI
- Rivers, S. E., et al. (2013). RULER Approach RCT. Prevention Science, 14, 77–87. DOI
What the Research Says
(and Doesn't Say)
A 2011 meta-analysis of 213 school-based SEL programs found an 11-percentile-point gain in academic achievement, along with better social-emotional skills and fewer conduct problems. A 2023 update of 424 studies with more than 575,000 students confirmed improvements across skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic outcomes.
At the program level, evidence quality varies widely. Second Step has one of the deeper independent research portfolios in K-5 SEL. Some alternatives have randomized trials; others have quasi-experimental studies or no independent evaluation yet.
Research also shows:
- Implementation quality matters as much as curriculum choice. A program only works if teachers actually use it consistently.
- Evidence ratings vary by grade and outcome. A program rated Strong for grades 3-5 may not have evidence for K-1.
- The best alternative is the one teachers will teach every week. Features and evidence matter, but consistent delivery matters more.
Comparative research between specific SEL programs is limited. Most studies compare a program to no program, not to another program. Head-to-head trials are rare.
This article is published by Be The Buffalo Classroom, one of the alternatives listed. Our program is described factually alongside the others. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change often.
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