The Zones of Regulation

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Designated
Promising

Indicates that a program demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at improving student or teacher outcomes, as well as supporting students’ social and emotional growth through at least two competencies. May offer multi-year programming. For a full list of Promising student outcomes see Promising designation.

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    Program description

    The Zones of Regulation provides a lesson-based approach to SEL. It includes one digital curriculum for grades prek-12 with supplementary activities aligned to each grade level. A CASEL-approved evaluation demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at grades 2-5.

    Strategies supporting educational equity

    The Zones of Regulation features strategies for understanding context and customizing for context. This includes guidance for educators to understand the neurobiological and environmental factors that impact regulation, helping shift the way they approach behavior challenges. Additionally, each lesson provides ideas for culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.

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        • SEL lessons
        • Instructional practices
        • Relationship building
        • Positive classroom management
        • SEL generalization
        • Systemic support for SEL
        • Adult SEL
        • Student supports
        • Family Intervention Component
        • Activities and Resources for Home
      • Onsite in-person training
      • Virtual training
      • Offsite training
      • Train the trainer model
      • Administrator support
      • Coaching
      • Technical assistance
      • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
      • Online resource library
      • Self-report tools for monitoring implementation
      • Observational tools
      • Tools for measuring student success

    Evidence of effectiveness

    Results from a quasi experimental study conducted in the 2019 academic year (in press report written in 2026) supported the effectiveness of The Zones of Regulation for public school students. This evaluation included 221 students in 2nd grade from one suburban district in the U.S. Southeast region (71.7% white; 65.6% free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program had significant improvements in teacher-reported social-emotional competencies at post-test as measured by SSIS and SEARS relative to students in the comparison group (pre-test scores were included as a random effect in their analytic model).

    Results from a quasi-experimental study conducted in the 2024 academic year (in press report written in 2026) supported the effectiveness of The Zones of Regulation for public school students. This evaluation included 663 students in 2nd-5th grade from one district in the U.S. Midwest region (32.5% White, 22.8% Black/African American, 21.7 Asian/Asian American, 14.4% Hispanic/Latinx). The study found that students who participated in the program had significantly improved teacher-reported student social-emotional competence at post-test, as measured by the DESSA-Mini relative to students in the comparison group while controlling for outcome pretest.

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    • Evidence shown in grades
      2, 3, 4, 5
      School characteristics
        • Urban
        • Suburban
        • Southeast
        • Midwest
      Student characteristics
      • Asian / Asian American
      • Black / African American
      • Hispanic / Latinx
      • White
      Percentage Low Income
      • Eligible for FRPL: 66%
      Study design type
      • QE
      Greater than 350 students included in study design type
      • Yes
      Multiple school districts included at study design type
      • No
      • Improved academic performance
      • Reduced emotional distress
      • Improved identity development and agency
      • Reduced problem behaviors
      • Improved school climate
      • Improved school connectedness
      • Improved social behaviors
      • Improved teaching practices
      • Improved other SEL skills and attitudes

    How does The Zones of Regulation support SEL implementation across multiple settings?

    “The Zones of Regulation Curriculum provides a common language and visual structure to build consistency across learners, supportive adults, and settings. Designed for use across multiple tiers of support, special education, therapy, and home environments, The Zones offers extensive resources for creating supportive climates along with differentiated tools to teach and practice regulation skills.”

    Get info and pricing on the provider’s website

    Go to Provider Site

    References

    • Accepted by CASEL

    • Dunn, M., & Goerdt, A. (In Press). Navigating emotions: The impact of The Zones of Regulation on elementary students’ social-emotional competencies. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions.

      Miller, F. G., Olson, M., Su, M., Decipeda, A., & Goerdt, A. (In Press). Evaluating The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum: A mixed-methods study of feasibility and impact. Journal of School Psychology.
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