A new working paper from Transforming Education highlights important findings regarding non-cognitive skills, specifically self-control and social competence in students. The paper is organized around nine “headlines;” these are conclusions that the authors suggest are justified by the research literature. These headlines concern the relationship of non-cognitive skills to academics, careers, and general well-being.
The headlines include:
- Non-cognitive skills predict high school and college completion.
- Students with strong non-cognitive skills have greater academic achievement within K-12 schooling and college.
- Fostering non-cognitive skills as early as preschool has both immediate and long-term impact.
- Employers value non-cognitive skills and seek employees who have them.
- Higher non-cognitive skills predict a greater likelihood of being employed.
- Stronger non-cognitive skills in childhood predict higher adult earning and greater financial stability.
- Adults with stronger non-cognitive skills are less likely to commit a crime and be incarcerated.
- Strong non-cognitive skills decrease the likelihood of being a single or unplanned teenage parent.
- The positive health effects associated with stronger non-cognitive skills include reduced mortality and lower rates of obesity, smoking, substance abuse, and mental health disorders.
For more information, see working paper on non-cognitive skills.
