Our Mission
Enhanced Academic Performance through Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has selected the Lions Quest K-12 programs as exemplary in their teaching of social and emotional competencies, evaluation, and professional development, therefore, recognizing them as CASEL "SELECT," the highest rating they give to social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that demonstrate:
- Outstanding SEL instruction
- Evidence of effectiveness through rigorous research
- Outstanding professional development
Lions Quest's Skills series; Skills for Growing, Skills for Adolescence, and Skills for Action, have received strong program ratings from CASEL in the following areas:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision-Making
- Evidence of Effectiveness
- Documented Behavioral Impacts on academics, substance abuse prevention, and other social behaviors
- Given designation in Federal Reviews from SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Education
In addition, Lions Quest programs have been recognized as research-based and demonstrated effective by:
- Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)- "MODEL" Program award
- United States Department of Education's Safe & Drug-Free Schools- "PROMISING" Program award
- Character Education Partnership- "a school-based program with scientifically demonstrated positive student outcomes."
How does SEL affect academic performance?
According to CASEL's publication, Safe and Sound: An Educational Leader’s Guide to Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs, learning is possible only after students' social, emotional, and physical needs have been met. When those needs are met, students are more likely to succeed in school. Improving the social and emotional climate of schools, and the social and emotional competence of students, advances the academic mission of schools in important ways. A study estimating the relative influence of 30 different categories of educational, psycho- logical, and social variables on learning revealed that social and emotional variables exerted the most powerful influence on academic performance (Wang et al., 1997). In addition students who perceive opportunities for involvement in pro-social activities possess the skills for success, and are appropriately rewarded are more likely to develop strong bonds to school. They are also more likely to develop standards, beliefs, and behaviors that lead to greater academic achievement and less anti-social behavior (Blum et al., 2002; Hawkins 1997; Weissberg & Greenberg, 1998; Welsh et al., 2001; Wentzel, 1993; Zins et al., in press). Satisfying the social and emotional needs of students does more than prepare them to learn. It actually increases their capacity for learning. Social and emotional learning has been shown to increase mastery of subject material, motivation to learn, commitment to school, and time devoted to schoolwork. It also improves attendance, graduation rates, and prospects for constructive employment while at the same time reducing suspensions, expulsions, and grade retention (Hawkins et al., 1999; Malecki & Elliott, 2002).
Lions Quest programs specifically provide home-school-community materials that teach and reinforce the five core social and emotional competencies in students:
Self-Awareness: Identification of feelings, realistic self-assessment, self-confidence
Social Awareness: Empathy, perspective-taking, appreciation of diversity
Self-Management: Managing feelings appropriately, being conscientious, delaying gratification, pursuing goals, bouncing back from adversity
Relationship Skills: Handling emotions constructively, cooperation, interpersonal communication, resistance to negative pressures, conflict resolution, asking for help
Responsible Decision Making: Making decisions based upon consideration of facts and consequences, respecting others, taking responsibility for one’s decisions