Districts See Academic Gains with Targeted EdTech

Across the country, school districts are seeing how thoughtfully implemented education technology, like i-Ready, can help educators respond to student needs and build momentum in the classroom. Recent examples from Alabama and Texas show districts expanding and sustaining their use of these tools as they work to close learning gaps and strengthen academic performance.

In Alabama, Selma City Schools is expanding its use of i-Ready this fall, building on its use with younger students to give educators a more consistent view of student progress in reading and mathematics from Grades K-10. As The Selma Times Journal reports, the expansion will help teachers identify gaps earlier, monitor growth throughout the year, and adjust instruction as students' needs evolve.

That impact can also be seen in Texas, where Grapevine-Colleyville ISD recently earned an A in preliminary state accountability ratings after improving five points. The Dallas Express reports that the district has pointed to a combination of teachers, instructional materials, and i-Ready as key drivers of its progress in reading and mathematics.

Galena Park ISD offers another example of how sustained implementation can support long-term growth. A new case study highlights how Galena Park ISD's use of personalized instruction has helped the district strengthen its performance on STAAR mathematics and outpace statewide growth. Since 2021, the district has gained 20 percentage points, nearly twice the progress seen across Texas

These results come as the US Department of Education released new guidance this week on the responsible use of education technology in the classroom, emphasizing evidence, educator judgment, thoughtful implementation, transparency, and minimizing unnecessary screen time. In response, Curriculum Associates welcomed the guidance, and its focus on ensuring technology serves a clear instructional purpose, supports strong teaching, and leads to meaningful outcomes for students.

While each district has taken its own approach, their progress reflects many of the principles outlined in the Department's guidance, and the results show that instructional technology like i-Ready is most effective when it gives teachers useful insight and helps them act on it. From catching gaps earlier to tailoring support and tracking progress over time, these tools can help educators make more informed instructional decisions and turn that knowledge into meaningful student growth.

The Selma Times Journal: Selma City Schools expands i-Ready testing to catch learning gaps early
By Nichlos Cutrell
August 14, 2026

Selma City Schools is bringing a helpful new learning tool to high school classrooms this fall, making it easier for teachers to see where students are shining and where they might need a little extra support.

Superintendent Dr. David Scott shared the update during the Tuesday, Aug. 11, Selma City School Board meeting, announcing that the district is expanding its partnership with i-Ready to include seventh through 10th grades. Up until now, the program was mostly used with younger students.

By expanding the program, school leaders can now follow students' progress in reading and math on one continuous path all the way from kindergarten through 10th grade.

"When we look at data, now we can do it across the district and compare one assessment as opposed to multiple," Scott told board members during the meeting.

Students will complete quick check-ins three times a year in the fall, winter, and spring. Teachers plan to use those results to set personal goals with students and adjust their classroom plans as the school year rolls on.

The Dallas Express: GCISD Academic Ratings Surge after Years of Conservative Leadership
By Carlos Turcios
August 18, 2026

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD rose five points to a 91 and an A in preliminary 2026 state accountability ratings released August 14, capping years of academic strategy and classroom reforms pursued under conservative board leadership. The results arrived less than three months after voters replaced three conservative-aligned trustees following an organized campaign to change control of the board.

The Texas Education Agency rated GCISD an 86 and a B in 2025. For 2026, Student Achievement rose four points to 91, Academic Growth rose three points to 82, Relative Performance rose six points to 82, and Closing the Gaps rose seven points to 91, according to the district.

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GCISD reported midyear reading and math gains in March and cited teachers, new instructional materials and i-Ready among the drivers. The district adopted and implemented those reforms under conservative board leadership, while GCISD educators and students carried out the strategy that produced the academic gains.

Curriculum Associates: Statement in Response to US Department of Education Guidance on Responsible Use of Education Technology
August 20, 2026

Today, the US Department of Education released new guidance on the responsible use of education technology in the classroom. The guidance comes as Curriculum Associates continues to advance its longstanding commitment to evidence-based instructional technology that supports teachers, minimizes unnecessary screen time, and improves student outcomes. In response, Curriculum Associates issued the following statement:

Curriculum Associates welcomes the US Department of Education's new guidance on the responsible use of educational technology in the classroom. We strongly agree with the Department's central messages: technology should strengthen great teaching, not replace it, and instructional tools should have a clear purpose and evidence base, be used intentionally and appropriately under a teacher's direction, and lead to meaningful student outcomes.

The guidance rightly emphasizes the importance of evidence, educator judgment, thoughtful implementation, transparency, and state and local decision making on this important topic. Moreover, it emphasizes the need to minimize unnecessary screen time so that children can remain focused on learning from their peers and educators. These principles have always been central to how Curriculum Associates has designed and supported i-Ready.

We also appreciate the Department's emphasis on accountability and implementation. Education technology providers should not simply ask schools to trust that a product works; providers like CA should continually demonstrate their impact through rigorous research, independent evaluation, transparent reporting, and close partnership with educators and districts. A portfolio of evidence pointing to impact is prerequisite, but it is not enough. It also must be paired with a clear focus on implementation and teacher training, helping make sure that tools are thoughtfully designed and launched to fit into teachers' instructional practice. That commitment to efficacy and continuous improvement has been foundational to Curriculum Associates' work for decades, and we look forward to continuing to advance it.

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