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Research and Results to Support 7 Mindsets Programs

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Evidence-based Programs Proven to Positively Impact Well-being and Mental Health

Research and Results to Support 7 Mindsets Programs

Research and Results

Research and Results

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7 Mindsets: What Allows an Individual to Attain Success in Life?

The 7 Mindsets are based on a three-year meta-analysis study that asked the question: What allows an individual to attain happiness in life? From the research, 28 specific patterns emerged of characteristics that most predicated happiness. Following the study, the team understood the need to create a common lexicon that was engaging and accessible to young people across all grade levels. The 7 Mindsets and corresponding 28 Learning Objectives became the common language around which its curriculum was developed.

Our Results and Evidence

7 Mindsets has received Level 4 (2026) and ESSA Level 2 (2025) validation.

ESSA Level 4: Demonstrates a Rationale​

The theory of change behind the 7 Mindsets framework is rooted in over three years of research exploring the factors that enable individuals to thrive and over 10 years implementing the proprietary 7 Mindsets Transformation Framework to immerse millions of students and educators. The core conclusion: it’s not environment, intelligence, or background—it’s mindset. This foundational insight underpins the framework’s design and supports the rationale for its impact.

Instructure Research Team - ESSA Level IV Evidence - 2026 - 2026-01-29
ESSA Level II evidence validation by Instructure Research Team

ESSA Level 2: Evidence of Effectiveness

Evidence of 7 Mindsets’ impact on students and schools is gathered from both independent and peer-reviewed studies, including a 2025 independent study conducted in Hillsborough County Public School (FL). These studies show:

  • Increased test scores in English and Math
  • Reduction in referrals and suspensions, reflecting real behavioral shifts
  • Improved attendance, with students more present and engaged
  • Stronger belief in self—greater self-efficacy among students
  • Significant gains for students facing the greatest challenges, including an increased feeling of safety at high-implementation school

7 Mindsets: What Allows an Individual to Attain Success in Life?

The 7 Mindsets are based on a three-year meta-analysis study that asked the question: What allows an individual to attain happiness in life? From the research, 28 specific patterns emerged of characteristics that most predicated happiness. Following the study, the team understood the need to create a common lexicon that was engaging and accessible to young people across all grade levels. The 7 Mindsets and corresponding 28 Learning Objectives became the common language around which its curriculum was developed.

Our Results and Evidence

7 Mindsets has received Level IV (2026) and ESSA Level II (2025) validation.

ESSA Level IV: Demonstrates a Rationale​

The theory of change behind the 7 Mindsets framework is rooted in over three years of research exploring the factors that enable individuals to thrive and over 10 years implementing the proprietary 7 Mindsets Transformation Framework to immerse millions of students and educators. The core conclusion: it’s not environment, intelligence, or background—it’s mindset. This foundational insight underpins the framework’s design and supports the rationale for its impact.

Instructure Research Team - ESSA Level IV Evidence - 2026 - 2026-01-29

ESSA Level II: Evidence of Effectiveness

Evidence of 7 Mindsets’ impact on students and schools is gathered from both independent and peer-reviewed studies, including a 2025 independent study conducted in Hillsborough County Public School (FL). These studies show:

  • Increased test scoresin English and Math
  • Reduction in referrals and suspensions, reflecting real behavioral shifts
  • Improved attendance, with students more present and engaged
  • Stronger belief in self—greater self-efficacy among students
  • Significant gains for students facing the greatest challenges, including an increased feeling of safety at high-implementation school
ESSA Level II evidence validation by Instructure Research Team

7 Mindsets Wellness: Tackling Loneliness, Engagement, and Resilience

From the development of its earliest content, 7 Mindsets Wellness (formerly Base) has used evidence-based practices derived from clinical foundations, including Cognitive Behavioral Frameworks, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical-Behavioral Theories, Strengths-Based Approaches, Brief Solution-Focused Theories, Mindfulness, and Person-Centered Approaches. Students are taught psycho-social concepts through a supportive and therapeutic dialogue.

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The results: Students who used our mental health and wellness solution felt less lonely, more engaged in school, and demonstrated more resilience. On a larger scale, our school partners have seen:

  • Improved academics
  • Decreased truancy and negative behaviors
  • Improved student engagement

How Insights Established Evidence Base for Measurement Tools

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The founders of Insights know, and research confirms, that whole child learning matters to student success in school and life. Schools want to use measurement tools to understand their students, to improve teaching and learning, and to move the needle on student academic, emotional, and social learning. Schools need to be able to trust the data.

Insights submits all measurement tools to the test to develop a strong evidence base. All measurement tools are based on extensive work demonstrating that life skills can be evaluated, and that the assessments we bring to market have strong technical properties. The Insights team continues to study the technical properties of our tools and publish our work in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Key studies are described below.

FAQs

Is 7 Mindsets evidence-based?

Yes. 7 Mindsets is grounded in long-term research and holds both ESSA Level 2 and ESSA Level 4 validations. The ESSA Level 2 designation is based on a 2025 independent study conducted in Hillsborough County Public Schools with more than 58,000 students.

ESSA Level 2 indicates moderate evidence of impact based on a qualifying study design. 7 Mindsets holds ESSA Level 2 evidence based on a 2025 independent study in Hillsborough County Public Schools (58,000+ students), which demonstrated statistically significant improvements in academic achievement, behavior, attendance, and self-efficacy.

ESSA Level 4 (“Demonstrates a Rationale”) indicates a research-based rationale showing why an approach should lead to positive outcomes. 7 Mindsets qualifies through more than three years of foundational research and over 10 years of implementation of its Transformation Framework.

The 2022–2023 study included 58,038 students across 110 elementary schools. Students in higher-support implementation schools showed higher spring English and Math assessment scores, fewer suspensions, fewer days suspended, and greater student self-efficacy compared to students in comparison schools. Students in standard implementation schools had more days enrolled than students in comparison schools.

In the Hillsborough study, students with greater baseline needs showed particularly strong improvements under higher support implementation. This included greater reductions in days suspended for students with high baseline discipline rates, and increased feelings of safety for students with disabilities in higher-support implementation schools compared to comparison schools.

The study is available for download at: https://hubs.ly/Q04401zd0

In the Hillsborough County study, students in higher-support 7 Mindsets schools had statistically significantly higher Spring English and Math assessment scores than students in comparison schools.

In the Hillsborough study, students in standard implementation schools had more days enrolled than students in comparison schools. 7 Mindsets supports attendance by building belonging, connection, and student motivation across the school community.

  • Academic gains in English and Math (Hillsborough ESSA Level 2 study)
  • Improved attendance indicators (days enrolled)
  • Behavior improvements (fewer suspensions, fewer days suspended)
  • Student self-efficacy and school climate measures

Yes. ESSA evidence tiers are commonly used in district procurement decision-making. 7 Mindsets holds both ESSA Level 2 evidence of impact and ESSA Level 4 validation of its research-based rationale, supporting procurement and board approval processes.