Powerful Second Step® Program Updates for the 2026–2027 School Year

Each year, Second Step® K–12 digital programs evolve based on what we learn from the educators and leaders who use them every day. Classroom feedback, implementation insights, and ongoing research all shape how we refine and improve the experience.

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we're introducing a set of meaningful updates across the digital Second Step programs. These improvements are designed to help schools strengthen students' human skills in ways that feel practical, integrated, and sustainable, creating outcomes like improved academic performance and attendance, fewer behavior referrals, and an enhanced school climate.

This year's updates focus on three key priorities: supporting students as they navigate an increasingly digital world, helping educators reinforce human skills development throughout the school week and at home, and giving leaders clearer tools to create plans and achieve their schoolwide goals.

Together, these updates make Second Step programs an even more connected system for supporting student behavior, belonging, and well-being.

Supporting students' digital well-being

Technology continues to shape how students learn and connect. While schools often address digital behavior through rules or policies, many are asking how to help students develop the judgment and reflection needed to navigate digital spaces responsibly. In fact, many states have begun requiring instruction in digital literacy.

To meet that need, Second Step digital programs are introducing a Digital Well-Being specialized unit with age-appropriate content for every grade level, from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

You can book a consultation today to learn how to add this new unit to your digital license.

Lessons are developmentally sequenced, so students build understanding over time. Younger learners explore foundational ideas, such as kindness and safety online, while older students engage with more complex topics, such as influence, digital ethics, leadership, and artificial intelligence.

The specialized unit focuses on strengthening the underlying human skills that guide thoughtful digital decision-making. Rather than requiring educators to become technology experts, the unit provides clear, age-appropriate instruction that fits seamlessly into the familiar Second Step experience.

By addressing digital well-being through human skills instruction, schools can take a proactive approach to helping students thrive both online and offline. This specialized unit is designed to be seamlessly implemented with the existing Second Step K–12 digital programs, allowing schools a flexible option to support their students' needs.

A more connected teaching experience for Grades K–8

For the 2026–2027 school year, we're introducing an updated, streamlined teaching experience for Second Step K–8 digital programs that brings valuable resources—including reinforcement activities, family communication tools, and small group supports—directly together. Everything is in one easily accessible place.

With this update, the teaching experience becomes the command center for the week.

When educators open a lesson, they'll be able to see:

• What to use before, during, and after the lesson
• How skills can be reinforced throughout the week
• Which resources are intentionally aligned to that lesson
• Easier access to family communication and extension options

Instead of navigating multiple parts of the platform, educators are supported right where teaching happens. The update helps human skills instruction feel like a natural part of the school week, not a separate activity.

For schools, this more connected approach supports stronger implementation and helps reinforce the idea that human skills are practiced across everyday classroom moments. It also makes it easier for support staff to find resources that directly align with the lessons students are getting from classroom teachers.

A simpler, more actionable Leader Dashboard

Over the past several years, the K–8 Leader Dashboard has expanded to include planning, reporting, and monitoring tools that help leaders guide their schools' Second Step programs. This year's update focuses on making those capabilities easier to navigate and act on.

What's changing for the K–8 Leader Dashboard:

• The implementation kickstart steps are three quick, high-impact steps to help build a rock-solid foundation for the 2026–27 school year.
• Actionable insights will surface key data front and center on the dashboard.
• Launch resources, such as the All-Staff Check-In, pacing guide, and family communications, have been elevated to make it easier to start the year.
• The layout has been streamlined to support the breadth of reporting across the core curriculum, the new specialized unit, and Tiered Interventions.

With these improvements, leaders can spend less time searching through reports and more time focusing on the actions that support strong outcomes for students and educators.

Always improving, together

Each of these program updates reflects a shared goal: helping educators and leaders support students' human skills development in ways that feel manageable, meaningful, and impactful. From digital well-being lessons to streamlined teaching tools and clearer leadership insights, the 2026–2027 updates are designed to strengthen the everyday experience of using Second Step programs.

To learn more about these updates and how Second Step programs can support student and educator success in your district, schedule a consultation today.