Schools bought software and services from tech companies using federal aid
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to shift to online learning, many of them used their federal relief money to buy software and services from tech companies. These companies promised to provide solutions for remote and hybrid education, such as apps, games, tutoring websites, and learning platforms. However, there is little or no evidence that these programs helped students learn better or recover from learning loss.
An Associated Press analysis of public records found that many of the largest school districts in the US spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic money on software and services from tech companies. The AP asked the nation’s 30 largest school districts for contracts funded by federal pandemic aid. About half provided records showing an array of software and technology, collectively called “edtech”. Others did not respond or demanded fees for producing the records totaling thousands of dollars.
Congress gave schools a record $190 billion in pandemic relief, but did not require them to publicly report individual purchases. As a result, the full scope of spending on edtech is unknown.
Tech companies used aggressive marketing tactics to sell their products
The pandemic sparked a boom for tech companies as schools went online. Revenue skyrocketed and investors poured billions into startups. At the same time, new marketing technology made it easier for companies to get school officials’ attention, said Chris Ryan, who left a career in edtech to help districts use technology effectively.
Equipped with automated sales tools, marketers bombarded teachers and school leaders with calls, emails and targeted ads. “It’s probably predatory, but at the same time, schools were looking for solutions, so the doors were open,” Ryan said.
At the school offices in rural Nekoosa, Wisconsin, the calls and emails made their way to business manager Lynn Knight. “I understand that they have a job to do, but when money is available, it’s like a vampire smelling blood,” she said.
Schools have little or no evidence that edtech programs helped students
Schools bought edtech programs hoping to improve student outcomes and engagement, but they often lacked data or research to support their decisions. Some of the new software was rarely used by students or teachers. Some districts did not track usage or effectiveness of the programs they bought.
For example, Clark County schools in the Las Vegas area signed contracts worth at least $70 million over two years with 12 education technology consultants and companies. They include Achieve3000 (for a suite of learning apps), Age of Learning (for math and reading acceleration), Paper (for virtual tutoring) and Renaissance Learning (for learning apps Freckle and MyON). However, the district did not provide any data on how often students used these programs or how they affected their academic performance.
Some experts say that edtech can be beneficial if used appropriately and aligned with curriculum and instruction. However, they also warn that edtech is not a silver bullet for solving educational challenges, especially those exacerbated by the pandemic. They urge schools to be more careful and critical when choosing and evaluating edtech programs.
