Institute of HeartMath® receives federal funding
to demonstrate the benefits of its TestEdge™ program

The Institute of HeartMath® has been awarded $1 million of federal funding to demonstrate the benefits of HeartMath’s innovative TestEdge™ programs. Nine school districts of varying profiles across the U.S have been selected as TestEdge demonstration sites. The states designated to participate in the project include California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Test anxiety and other emotional stress associated with high-stakes tests have increased dramatically over the past several years with the new testing requirements. Just ask Diana Govan, a public high school teacher in Carmel, California. "Many of my students find that they are unprepared for the pressure of high-stakes tests and become emotionally and physically upset weeks in advance," Govan says. "We need to do a better job preparing students both emotionally and academically for standardized testing."

This grant is timely in light of the increasing emphasis at the state and federal levels on standardized testing of all students. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), who was instrumental in providing funding for the demonstration, states, "As annual testing becomes a regular part of our educational system through the No Child Left Behind Act and other state requirements, it is important that when we test students on their mastery of a subject, we are truly getting accurate results. The program developed by the Institute of HeartMath to reduce test-related anxiety shows great potential for helping students achieve success."

Congressman Sam Farr of California commented, "HeartMath takes cutting-edge technology and applies it to the very real classroom testing situation, giving students the kind of tools they need to positively address the rigors of compelled testing performance."

With federal funding, the Institute is now in a position to demonstrate its effectiveness in a broad array of education environments. "By supporting the Institute of HeartMath's efforts, we're supporting our teachers and students," Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) said. "I'm pleased that my congressional colleagues and I were able to secure funding for this national demonstration project designed to provide students in the Redwood City School District and other selected sites with the tools they need to succeed in their high-stakes tests."

The national demonstration project is designed to provide students with the tools needed to manage the emotional and academic challenges associated with high-stakes tests. According to Dr. Robert Rees, Director of Education and Humanities at the Institute of HeartMath, "TestEdge has already proven successful in pilot programs in Minnesota, California and Massachusetts, where students using HeartMath tools and technology have shown significant improvements in their test scores."

Institute of HeartMath® receives federal funding to demonstrate the benefits of its TestEdge™ program

Institute of HeartMath® receives federal funding
to demonstrate the benefits of its TestEdge™ program