Most executive function programs have never been independently studied. Ours has. A peer-reviewed study of 312 students found that Untapped Learning's movement-based coaching leads to measurable growth across all five EF skills. College students improved by nearly half a point on a 5-point scale, with the largest gains in planning (+0.85) and organization (+0.57). Middle and high school students improved across the board too, led by planning, completion, and communication. No skill decreased in any semester, and 93.7% of students stayed through the full program.
Each student is paired one-on-one with a trained coach who is typically a few years older and shares similar interests. They meet weekly for an entire semester, blending targeted skills work with built-in movement like a walk, a game of ping pong, or tossing a ball around. Coaches focus on five core executive function skills:
312 students across three semesters rated themselves on these five skills before and after coaching. Every skill trended upward. No skill decreased in any semester.
The study was a starting point, not a finish line. Here is what we've changed since.
We've raised the bar on training and accountability, and built every session around the REP Model: Relationships, Exercise, and Personalization. It gives coaches a clear framework for showing up consistently.
Real EF growth has to carry over into daily life. We now build intentional three-way communication so progress doesn't stop when the session ends.
Our Semester Roadmap breaks the year into three phases with differentiated protocols by age and format. And our End of Semester Reports now translate each skill into observable behaviors families can recognize at home.
Females had less consistent gains, and we took that seriously. We've trained our team around inattentive presentation and masking, and created spaces for mindfulness and self-regulation beyond movement.
A 6th grader can't self-reflect like a college student, and that's development, not resistance. We've added more direct support, externalized structure, and expanded offerings like our Homework Center.
If you're exploring executive function support for your child, here are a few things worth asking before you commit.
Many programs make claims. Few have published evidence. Ask whether their approach has been independently studied and where you can read the results.
A good program should be able to name the skills they target and show you how they track growth over time, not just tell you it's going well.
Ask for real data. What do outcomes look like across students? How do they break down by age group, skill area, or semester? Transparency matters.
EF growth that only happens inside a session won't stick. Ask how they communicate with parents and help carry skills into daily life at home.
Programs that stay the same aren't paying attention. Ask what they've improved recently and why.