The 7Cs Framework of Effective Teaching
A Research-Backed, Gates-Validated Lens into Teaching Quality & Student Experience
The 7Cs Framework is a nationally recognized, research-based model of effective teaching validated through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) Project—,which is one of the largest and most influential studies of classroom instruction in the United States.
This rigorous validation confirms that the 7Cs reliably predict improvements in student achievement, engagement, motivation, and academic mindsets.
Embedded directly into our Student Experience & Engagement Survey (SEES), the 7Cs framework gives districts a trustworthy, evidence-grounded way to understand instructional quality from the student perspective.
The 7Cs Explained
Personal Support
- Care: Students feel known, valued, and supported.
- Confer: Students’ ideas and perspectives are welcomed and respected.
Curricular Support
- Captivate: Lessons spark curiosity and sustain engagement.
- Clarify: Teachers break down concepts through clear, accessible explanations.
- Consolidate: Students connect, review, and synthesize learning.
Academic Press
- Challenge: Students are pushed to think deeply and produce high-quality work.
- Classroom Management: Classrooms are orderly, respectful, and conducive to learning.
Why the 7Cs Matter
Because the 7Cs were validated through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation MET Project, districts gain access to an instructional framework that is:
- Empirically linked to student achievement
- Predictive of student engagement and agency
- Reliable across grade levels, content areas, and contexts
- A proven tool for teacher growth and coaching
- A consistent lens for observing and improving instruction at scale
Unlike generic perception surveys, the 7Cs measure the instructional practices that directly influence learning.
How the 7Cs Power the SEES Survey
The Student Experience & Engagement Survey (SEES) is tightly aligned to the 7Cs, giving districts the following:
- Validated, research-backed indicators of instructional practice
- Student perception data proven to correlate with achievement
- Trends across classrooms, schools, and student groups
- Insight that supports coaching, PLCs, and professional learning
- A consistent, scalable measure of teaching quality
The Gates-validated 7Cs framework ensures that districts are not only listening to student voice but using a scientifically sound model to guide instructional improvement.
Driving Instructional Excellence
Districts use the 7Cs to achieve the following:
- Strengthen core instruction
- Support coaching cycles and feedback
- Align professional learning to student needs
- Improve instructional coherence across classrooms
- Connect teaching practice directly to student outcomes
With the 7Cs and the Survey Suite, district leaders gain a powerful, validated foundation for improving teaching and learning.
Additional Resources
2025 State of the Student Experience Report
A data-driven look at what students need to thrive. Includes insights from the 7Cs Survey, key findings on post-COVID trends, and strategies for educators to create meaningful change.
2025 State of the Latino/a Student Experience Report
Essential data and proven strategies to help districts strengthen belonging, achievement, and opportunity for Latino/a students
The 7Cs Framework of Effective Teaching
Use the 7Cs to improve instruction across every classrooms.