Mind Up (MindUP) Evaluation With Grade 3 Students

Mind Up (MindUP) is a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program for children that has shown promising evidence of effectiveness across several domains (including executive functioning and behavioral symptoms). MindUP has exploded in popularity in recent years, but much of the existing research is limited by sample size, lack of accounting for clustering, or has been conducted by the program developers. In this study we are evaluating MindUP with grade three students (\~age 8) in three conditions; students who receive MindUP for the first time (n=\~150 in 8-10 classrooms), students have been receiving MindUP since kindergarten (\~150 in 8-10 classrooms), and students in comparison classrooms (i.e., no intervention; \~150 students in 8-10 classrooms). Regular classrooms teachers will receive training in trauma-informed approaches and the MindUP program prior to implementing. Students will be assessed in the fall and at the end of the school year using structured rating scales; they will also provide self-report data. In November 2020, students' grade 4 teachers will provide another set of ratings to be used as 6-month follow-up data. The primary outcome is social-emotional learning. Secondary outcomes include executive functioning, academic skills, classroom climate, and self-concept.