CSIU Supports Students Social-Emotional Needs Using Self-Reported Student Wellness Data

Most administrators and teachers recognize the importance of supporting students’ social and emotional needs. The saying among educators that “you need to Maslow before you Bloom” is a clever reminder that students’ needs for safety and belonging must be met before they can be expected to rise to academic challenges. Serving 17 school districts in central Pennsylvania, the staff of Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16 (CSIU) also espouses this belief.

A regional education service agency, CSIU was established to provide specialized special education to students in 1st through 12th grade. In addition to supporting its students’ diverse academic needs, CSIU prioritizes supporting its students’ essential safety, social, and emotional needs as well.

To help them better understand and support those needs, the CSIU team wanted a better way to collect student wellness data. They also wanted help analyzing the data and using it to deliver targeted interventions.

Securly Rhithm Automates Data Collection and Helps CSIU Make it Actionable

Jessica Harry, CSIU’s Special Education and Off-Site Facilities Support Program Supervisor, spearheaded the search for a solution. She had a wishlist of five requirements, encompassing safety, availability, accessibility, data analysis, and actionability. Of the tools she evaluated, only one met all of her requirements: Securly Rhithm.

“It’s really rare in education to find a resource that not only collects your data, but also gives you the scope of options for intervention. Rhithm does both.”

Jessica was particularly impressed with Rhithm’s ease of use, flexibility, and accessibility to students of different ages and abilities. Using emoji-based questionnaires, Rhithm asks students to self-report how they’re feeling across five dimensions of wellness: mental, emotional, energetic, physical, and social.

CSIU has students complete Rhithm check-ins daily. Weekly reviews of Rhithm data enable Jessica and her team to quickly identify trends, as well as identify individual student needs. For example, she relies on Rhithm data to identify Tier 2 needs and deliver interventions most efficiently.

The CSIU team also relies on Rhithm’s targeted activities to ensure they’re meeting students’ needs in the moment. Jessica shares that, as a busy administrator, she used to struggle to bridge the gap between gathering student data and putting it into action.

But with Rhithm, the gap is closed.

Prioritizing and Honoring Student Voice Promotes a Supportive School Culture

By completing daily Rhithm check-ins, CSIU students are learning that it’s normal to express and feel a wide range of emotions. This has, in turn, reduced behavioral issues and improved academic performance.

“The Rhithm check-ins give students an emotional outlet. We follow up with students to normalize that it’s okay to feel the way they’re feeling. We’re able to deal with their feelings rather than the behavioral issues that result when students try to keep them in.”

Jessica Harry, Special Education and Off-Site Facilities Support Program Supervisor, CSIU

The check-ins also give CSIU’s team the data they need to anticipate and address student needs efficiently and effectively. By consistently capturing and centering student voice, CSIU has also built a responsive and supportive school culture that promotes self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Gain Daily Student Wellness Insights and Deliver Targeted Interventions with Securly Rhithm

By implementing Securly Rhithm, CSIU is consistently collecting student self-assessment data. Then they’re using the data to effectively meet their students’ social and emotional needs, which creates the conditions for students to thrive academically.

Want to learn more about supporting K-12 student wellness? Here are some helpful resources: