Over 346,000 students. Four third-party studies. More than 100 additional analyses.
ST Math isn’t just Tier 1 rated under ESSA, it’s one of the most extensively and transparently validated math programs in the country.
The Evidence for ESSA website, developed by the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University, helps educators compare programs using independent research. ESSA defines four tiers of evidence: “Strong,” “Moderate,” “Promising,” and “No Evidence”. Based on the rigor of the supporting studies. Tier 1 (“Strong”) requires at least one well-designed randomized or experimental study showing statistically significant impact.
Many programs meet this threshold. But a single study, while important, offers only a snapshot of effectiveness, often in one context with ideal conditions.
What sets ST Math apart is what comes after the checkmark.
With not one, but four third-party studies and a cumulative sample of over 346,000 students, ST Math is rated Tier 1 (“Strong”) on EvidenceforESSA.org, but MIND Education goes further, conducting more than 100 additional internal analyses, all available online or by request.
These studies provide deeper insight into student growth across different demographics and contexts. This ensures that ST Math will work for your unique environment, whereas “one good study” only covers a specific set of conditions.
Every year, ST Math is evaluated using publicly available, high-stakes state assessment data from every new cohort, across every state where it’s used. This level of ongoing analysis gives districts a more complete view of how the program performs across settings, grade levels, and testing environments, and enables us to see how ST Math really works for all students in all contexts across different exams, years, and versions of the program. These differentiators further set MIND apart from the rest and highlight the need for a large, rigorous evidence base.
Treating Tier 1 as a finish line, rather than a foundation, limits the possibilities of what we can learn. The goal isn’t just checking a box. It’s building confidence that a program works across the full spectrum of schools, students, and settings.
For district leaders weighing new programs, the question isn’t simply,
“Does it meet the standard?”
It’s, “Will it work here, with our students?”
ST Math provides that assurance with evidence that is current, comprehensive, and easy to access.
To see the full body of research, take advantage of its Tier 1 designation, and learn how ST Math performs in schools like yours, visit mindeducation.org.
