Reflection Sciences, a tech start-up created in 2014 by Institute of Child Development professors Stephanie Carlson and Phil Zelazo, recently announced a partnership with Edmentum, a global leader in online teaching and learning programs.

This partnership brings together Reflection Sciences’ extensive expertise in executive functioning research and assessment with Edmentum’s long history in digital curriculum, assessments, and education consulting.

Reflection Sciences centers around Carlson and Zelazo’s Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS) app, which measures executive function in children. Executive function is the set of neurocognitive functions that help the brain organize and act on information. These functions help people pay attention, control behavior, and think flexibly–skills that are key for school readiness in children.

The MEFS assessment is a quick and engaging game for young students that also provides valid and reliable data for educators and parents on a student’s executive function skills. It is the first objective, scientifically based, and normed direct assessment of its kind.

Edmentum delivers a rigorous, research-based digital curriculum that helps personalize learning and meets the evolving needs of schools and districts. The partnership between Edmentum and Reflection Sciences will serve the whole child like never before.

“With our strong focus on early childhood and non-profits, we were missing the chance to impact the K-12 community,” Carlson said. “Edmentum is a long-standing leader in this market and we are delighted to be complementing their academic tools with the MEFS.”

“Research consistently shows that executive function skills are the roots of academic and social emotional skill development,” said Jeff Shelstad, Reflection Sciences’ chief executive officer. “We are extremely excited to embark on this innovative path forward that supports the unique needs of every child and educator. This new partnership brings together two leaders in the industry that are fully committed to this mission in an innovative and engaging way.”