Research

Research & The Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum is based on years of applied experience by the author, Leah Kuypers. As an occupational therapist and autism specialist working in both clinical and educational settings, Leah saw the need for all learners to develop regulation skills. As a result, the solution to this need was conceived: The Zones of Regulation.

Research Base

The Zones of Regulation is research-based. The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum was developed from foundational research and practices in the fields of social-emotional learning, neuroscience, curriculum development, and psychological foundations.

The Zones of Regulation methodology and teaching approach is built upon foundational research and theory. We are committed to translating cutting-edge research into our products and services to ensure they are effective across learning environments and learner backgrounds. The development of The Zones framework and instructional design spans numerous research bases and theoretical foundations, including: Positive Mental Health, Neuroscience, Social-Emotional Learning, and Psychological Foundations. Across these domains, we prioritize the use of equity-centered research, as learner experiences are situated within the context of their cultural identity, lived experiences, and sociopolitical environment.

 

Read more about how Best Practices were infused into the original Zones of Regulation curriculum.
Literature Review

Evidence of Effectiveness

The Zones of Regulation is evidence-based. Studies examining The Zones of Regulation’s impact have shown the curriculum has a positive effect on learner outcomes. Research is an integral part of what we do and we continue to devote efforts to furthering the depth and breadth of our evidence base. Our team collaborates with external partners to conduct rigorous research on The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum. Prior research using the framework and curriculum has shown significant positive outcomes in educational and clinical settings. Across studies, research has shown the implementation of The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum is associated with the following outcomes:

To read more about our existing evidence base, view our Evidence Grid. This spreadsheet provides articles and manuscripts of completed research utilizing The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum. Don’t see your manuscript or publication? Please submit it for review in this form, and we will be in touch soon!

Are you conducting research with The Zones of Regulation?

Please contact us at research@zonesofregulation.com if you are conducting a study utilizing The Zones of Regulation. In addition, we recommend using the Implementation and Fidelity Checklist to guide your work with the curriculum.

Share your findings with us!

We would love to hear more about your research using The Zones of Regulation. Please complete this form to share information about your project.

Continuous Improvement

We’re responsive to users and committed to continuous improvement of The Zones of Regulation products and services to ensure we are making the greatest impact on learners. We partner with users of The Zones to gather feedback and make adjustments based on learner and leader experiences. Our prioritization of ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement allows us to gain a deep understanding of the real-world challenges faced by learners, leaders, and systems. As a result, our products and services are feasible to implement, compatible across environments, and relevant for learners.

Our Theory of Change

At The Zones of Regulation, we believe that regulation is essential for overall well-being and life success. Because of this, our mission is to empower learners of all ages to understand their feelings and emotions through social-emotional learning (SEL). Our mission is illustrated in our theory of change, which reinforces regulation as essential for positive social, emotional, behavioral, and academic development. Using an ecological systems lens, our theory of change recognizes that learner experiences are situated within the context of their cultural identity, lived experiences, and sociopolitical environment. By teaching the essential components for regulation, we believe all learners can acquire the essential skills and competencies to develop positive social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes.

Funding The Zones of Regulation

We are committed to assisting users with accessing funding for The Zones of Regulation. All learners are entitled to access social-emotional learning, and funding should never serve as a barrier to access. Federal, state, and local agencies are increasing their investment in social-emotional learning. The Zones of Regulation programs and services meet federal funding eligibility standards and other state and local grant requirements. Educators and clinicians are encouraged to use the following resources to help secure funds to purchase and implement The Zones of Regulation.

Federal & State Funding Sources

Discretionary or Competitive Funding (awarded through an application at the federal or state level)
Formula Funding (no application process, funds allocated to pre-selected recipients)

 

Local Funding Sources

Community foundations, local businesses, and service organizations offer opportunities to fund social-emotional learning initiatives. Applicants typically complete a competitive application to access funds. For a list of local funding opportunities, visit Fundsnet Services, a database of private funding by state.

 

Other Resources

  • Grants.gov lists formula funding and discretionary grant opportunities from 26 federal agencies.
  • Forecast of Funding is a database of programs and competitions for the Department of Education.
  • Greenlights Grant Initiative offers webinars and tutorials for how to access federal grants, including lists of grant opportunities and grant writing support.

 

For More Information

Contact us at research@zonesofregulation.com

 

 

 

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