A 2013 study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found significant differences between teachers who received mindfulness training during the school year, and those who did not.
The researchers found that teachers who received the mindfulness training:
displayed reductions in psychological stress
showed improvements in classroom organization
reported increased self-compassion
used more effective teaching practices
In comparison, the group that did not receive the training showed signs of increased stress and burnout over the course of the school year.” (read more here)
Mindfulness helps teachers reduce emotional reactivity and change their approach to working with students through awareness of emotions and emotional reappraisal of situations (Jennings and Sharp, 2015).
In a Mindful Schools study of 829 K-5 students (90% of whom received free-and-reduced lunch), students showed significant improvements in attention, self-care and participation, and showing care for others (study in collaboration with UC-Davis, 2011-2012).
50% of adolescents who received mindfulness instruction at school were still practicing on their own 6 months later. Those who were practicing had better concentration in class and on hobbies, were more effective at managing stress and coping with difficult emotions, and were getting along better with family and friends, were sleeping better, and were getting better grades (Knittle and Suominen, 2015).
A study of 300 5th-8th grade students in Baltimore Public Schools (99% F/RL, 99% minority) concluded mindfulness instruction improved psychological functioning and helped ameliorate the effect of poverty-related stress and trauma. Students in the mindfulness condition had lower rates of depression, negative affect, negative coping, rumination, self-hostility, and PTSD severity (Sibinga, Webb, and Ghazarian, 2016).
A 2015 study of 198 public middle school students found significant improvements in working memory and attention span. Students in the mindfulness condition increased working memory capacity by 29% (versus 11% in yoga class and 5% in control condition) (Quach, Jastrowski Mano, and Alexander, 2015).
Research stats compiled by Sarah Rudell Beach, Mindful Schools