The PATHS® Curriculum
The Program
The Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS®) Curriculum is an evidence-based, comprehensive social-emotional learning program for children and adolescents. The program is designed to reduce aggression and behavior problems and increase emotional and social competencies. Using this curriculum, educators and counselors can simultaneously target the prevention of future emotional and behavioral difficulties for all their students and intervention for students with poor classroom behavior and performance. Detailed scripted lessons, material, generalization, and academic integration strategies are incorporated into the PATHS® Curriculum to promote social, emotional, and academic learning and development integration.
Intended Audience
The PATHS® Curriculum is intended for school-aged children and adolescents, including students with more serious behavior problems and cognitive challenges.
Implementation
The PATHS® Curriculum is a comprehensive program designed to provide services for children and adolescents, addressing issues such as aggression, emotional outbursts, hyperactive behavior, attentional deficits, anxiety, and social skills deficits. It is typically delivered in schools, hospitals, and community agencies, with recommended five 30-minute weekly sessions, and can be used from preschool to grade 6. The program includes a homework component to engage parents and is available in multiple languages. Essential resources include curriculum kits, video/audio recording tools, and space for classroom activities. Pre-implementation readiness tools and formal support through training and coaching are available. Fidelity measures assess the program’s effectiveness with tools like self-report assessments and observation forms. Implementation is a multi-year process supported by training manuals and psychometric evidence of the program’s effectiveness.
Outcomes
- Decreased internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and withdrawal)
- Decreased externalizing symptoms (e.g., aggression, bullying, deficits in attention, hyperactivity, disruptive behavior, delinquency)
- Increased emotional understanding & self-awareness
- Increased use of cognitive abilities and strategies (e.g., executive functions)
- Increased self-control & emotion regulation
- Increased use of effective conflict-resolution strategies & problem-solving skills
- Increased prosocial behavior, social skills, & peer sociability
- Improved relationships with teacher & classroom atmosphere
- Increased engagement/attention in the classroom
- Higher test scores in reading, writing, and math
Evidence
The PATHS® Curriculum has many peer-reviewed articles to determine the effectiveness of the program. These studies are primarily randomized controlled trials and focus on different populations, including children in special education, elementary school students, and those from disadvantaged communities. The findings consistently show that PATHS® improves emotional vocabulary, reduces aggressive behavior, and enhances emotional regulation. However, outcomes depend heavily on factors like implementation quality, teacher support, and the school environment. Some limitations across studies include the absence of follow-up, small sample sizes, and non-blind raters.
Additional Resources
- Read an overview of the PATHS Curriculum
- Learn more about the PATHS® Curriculum
- Check out an article about the PATHS® Curriculum and how it promotes social and emotional well-being among children
- Read a study about the effectiveness of the PATHS® Curriculum
- Explore the PATHS® Curriculum website
Contact Information
Carol A. Kusché, PhD | Trainer, Founder, and Director of PATHS® Training
Trainer and Developer
This program was developed by a team of authors led by Dr. Carol A. Kusché and Dr. Mark T. Greenberg.