Skills for Secondary School Success
Directing My Learning and Working Well with Others
What is Skills for Secondary School Success
Skills for Secondary School Success is a free, evidence-based, classroom-ready program designed to help young people strengthen the skills they need to meet academic and social challenges in school and beyond.
Developed by Johns Hopkins University education researchers with federal support and years of input from classroom teachers, Skills for Secondary School Success helps students build the skills to thrive both academically and personally in middle and high school. The program fosters independence, goal setting, resilience, communication, collaboration, purpose, and future readiness—key drivers of long-term success—while building students’ confidence and empowering them to manage their own learning.
Introducing Skills for Secondary School Success
This short video details the program’s units, materials, and strategies. Click the buttons below to download sample materials.
Why Use Skills for Secondary School Success
Educators across the country report a troubling trend: too many students struggle to advocate for themselves, direct their own learning, and take responsibility for their success in school. (Prothero, 2025). There is a growing need to help students regain the ability to manage their learning and decisions. At the same time, employers and high school educators emphasize the importance of life-ready skills like communication, collaboration, perseverance, and critical thinking.
Skills for Secondary School Success addresses these needs. The program is built around the core belief that students thrive when they feel empowered, connected, and purposeful in their learning.
The program develops key mindsets and skills that research shows are essential to long-term success:
- Purpose for Learning – Students explore how their education connects to their lives and future goals and how it can empower them to make a positive difference in their community and world.
- Belonging – Lessons foster a supportive classroom community where every student feels heard and valued and works well together.
- Choice and Autonomy – Students make meaningful choices and take ownership of their learning.
- Coping and Resilience – Students develop strategies to navigate academic and emotional challenges.
- Growth Mindset – Students learn that effort leads to learning and success.
- Collaboration – Activities build teamwork and interpersonal skills.
Students work both collaboratively and independently and select from multiple options to demonstrate their learning. The culminating project invites students to design a proposal for a real-world contribution, casting a vision for how they can make a difference in their community and world. Skills for Secondary School Success allows for customization of lessons to reflect the backgrounds and experiences of students.
Skills for Secondary School Success has Free Tools and Resources Available for all Educators
Teacher Resources Include:
- Teacher’s Manual: Full curriculum and by-unit guides
- 5 units, 40 lessons
- Teacher Materials: PowerPoints for every lesson
- Student Materials: Printable & online resources
- Student Materials available in English & Spanish
- Professional Development
- Asynchronous series with narrated powerpoints for each unit
“This notion of self-directed learning, and upskilling and reskilling as the economy shifts… will separate folks who are going to be successful from folks who are going to struggle in a knowledge-based economy.”
—David Adams, quoted in Education Week
Proven, Practical, Purpose-Driven
Skills for Secondary School Success is not just engaging—it’s evidence-based. The program incorporates the latest research in adolescent learning, motivation, and development. Teachers using the learning activities report increased student engagement, improved peer relationships, and stronger academic focus.
What Educators are Saying
The lessons are clear, organized, and easy to use—everything I need is right there.
— Middle school teacher, California
It’s well-rounded. Instead of piecing together different programs, everything is in one place.
— Middle school teacher, Montana
The PD videos were concise, clear, and practical—I knew exactly how to use the material.
— Middle school teacher, New York
Seeing an Impact on Students
I saw students actually using the stress-management strategies we practiced—in PE, at lunch, even in other classes.
— Middle school teacher, Illinois
This gives teachers an easy, cohesive way to teach skills outside their content area—something many really struggle with.
— Middle school counselor, Colorado
Designing Education
A podcast hosted by Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center.
Conversations with leaders in education from around the country on bold new ideas and research-based strategies for redesigning American education to more effectively engage all students and equip them for the challenges of today’s workplace and world.
