05/26/2026
Earlier this week, posted in several groups about LAUSD’s decision to stop using iReady for most students while continuing to require it for students who are struggling. And I have BIG feelings about that. The students who are behind are the very students who need more access to skilled teachers, systematic instruction, explicit intervention, and human expertise, not more screen time and computer-generated lessons.
Struggling students do not need a digital band-aid pretending to be intervention. They need teachers trained in evidence-based instruction, smaller groups, targeted support, diagnostic data that actually explains WHY they struggle, and intensive, systematic teaching. EdTech is not a substitute for instruction. It is not a replacement for expertise. And it certainly is not how we close gaps for students with dyslexia, language disorders, or foundational skill deficits.
At best, programs like iReady are a supplement. At worst, they create the illusion of intervention while students continue to fall further behind. Say it with me: Kids do not need more EdTech interventions. They need more knowledgeable adults.
