Smart Brain Wise Heart is designed for students ages 9 to 16, which in the United States roughly spans grades 4 through 10. HeartMath Institute describes it as addressing the challenges of middle school and lower high school, and a published pilot evaluation used it with ninth-grade students. School staff also report success with upper elementary and middle school students. Placement can vary by grade.

Smart Brain Wise Heart does not set a fixed time per unit. Each of its eight units follows four parts: a video introduction and presentation; review, discussion and practice; action assignments; and learning-based scenarios that assess learning. The videos are short, so educators can fit a unit into one class period or spread it over several, depending on how many of the 47 activities they use.

The 24-question Student Opinion Survey is an online pre- and post-survey that measures how students view the skills taught in Smart Brain Wise Heart. Students complete it before and after the program so educators can compare results. It’s best read as a gauge of progress in the program’s focus areas, such as self-regulation, relationships and decision-making.

Compare each student’s or class’s pre- and post-survey results to see changes in self-reported skills. HeartMath Institute notes that the survey lets educators statistically evaluate the program. Changes are most meaningful when many students complete both surveys, and they should be read alongside other information such as behavior, attendance and teacher observation. Survey results reflect students’ self-perceptions and are not a clinical measure. To score the 24-question Student Opinion Survey (SOS) results, follow the standard guidelines outlined in the program’s survey scoring manual.

Smart Brain Wise Heart runs online through the HeartMath Institute eLearning Center. It works on smartboard classroom computers, laptops, desktops and tablets, and students get free online home access. Classroom use needs internet access and a browser. Educators set up access with the License ID they receive after purchase.

The main program-specific evidence is a 2023 experimental pilot evaluation with ninth-grade students during the 2021–2022 school year, published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. There were no overall effects, which the authors linked to COVID-19 implementation challenges. Lower-achieving students in the program, however, showed significantly higher resilience and self-compassion and fewer depressive symptoms. A new research study funded by the CDC in cooperation with University of Chicago NORC will be launched in Fall 2027 with approximately 2000 middle school students focusing on violence and suicide ideation reduction.

In the classroom, educators use the printed Leader’s Kit to lead review, discussion, practice and action assignments. Online, students work through videos and activities at their own pace, including at home through free online home access. A common pattern is to introduce a unit in class, let students complete the online parts at school or home, and then reinforce the self-regulation skills together in class.