Peer Group Connection (PGC) for High Schools is an evidence-based program that supports and eases students' successful transition from middle to high school. The program taps into the power of high school juniors and seniors to create a nurturing environment for incoming freshmen. Once per week, pairs of junior and senior peer leaders meet with groups of 10-14 freshmen in outreach sessions designed to strengthen relationships among students across grades. These peer leaders are simultaneously enrolled in a daily, for-credit, year-long leadership course taught by school faculty during regular school hours. PGC is PCLT's seminal peer leadership program, and has been implemented with a 70% sustainability rate in more than 175 high schools since 1988. A recently released, four-year longitudinal, randomized-control study conducted by Rutgers University and funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services found that, among other major results, PGC improves the graduation rates of student participants in an inner city public school by ten percentage points and cuts by half the number of male students who would otherwise drop out.

Peer Group Connection (PGC) for Middle Schools is a research-based program that supports and eases students' successful transition into middle school. The program taps into the power of eighth graders to create a nurturing environment for incoming middle school students. Once per week, pairs of eighth graders meet with groups of 8-10 incoming middle school students in outreach sessions designed to strengthen relationships among students across grades. These peer leaders are simultaneously enrolled in a daily, for-credit, year-long leadership course taught by school faculty during regular school hours. PGC for Middle Schools is the middle school version of PCLT's flagship program: PGC for High Schools.

The Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP) is an evidence-based, school-based, comprehensive sexual health program that utilizes peer-to-peer education to increase students' knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors associated with healthy decision-making. High school juniors and seniors serve as peer educators who conduct a series of structured workshops for groups of younger peers, faculty, and family members designed to reduce risk factors for sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unintended pregnancy, while simultaneously enhancing protective factors against these issues. These peer educators are simultaneously enrolled in a daily, for-credit, year-long leadership course taught by school faculty during regular school hours. Developed in 1995, the program continues to be implemented through a collaboration of PCLT, HiTOPS, Inc., and, when implemented in New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

PeacePALS is an engaging peer leadership and character education program for elementary schools. In a structured and supervised setting, teachers support older students (e.g. fourth or fifth graders) in serving as peer helpers to younger students (e.g. kindergarteners or first graders). The program improves listening, critical thinking, communication, and social problem-solving skills through a series of hands-on activities and discussions for both the older and younger students. PeacePALS promotes a cooperative, caring environment among students of different ages and backgrounds.

At the suggestion of a parent whose daughter was participating in her school's Peer Group Connection program, a rabbi and a Jewish educator from a synagogue in New Jersey contacted PCLT to ask that we develop a Jewish-focused peer teen leadership solution. Gesher L'Kesher (GLK), which in Hebrew means "a bridge to a connection," grew out of the resulting conversations and is a peer leadership program implemented in synagogues for Jewish teens. High school juniors and seniors actively participate in the religious education of their younger peers by conducting classes once or twice each month. This personalized attention from older peers, along with interactive learning activities and meaningful discussion, helps younger students define their beliefs, roles, and attitudes. Concurrently, older students develop valuable leadership skills, including how to tell stories, facilitate group discussions, and serve as role models. Together, the teens strengthen their connections with their heritage, with their religion, and with other youth. PCLT looks forward to the opportunity to develop faith-based peer leadership solutions for all faiths.