Professional learning · Leaders, Staff · 90 minutes
From Platform Pick to Community Story
A selection committee weighs three fictional math platforms on evidence, assessment data, accessibility, and privacy, then tells families the honest story of the choice in plain language, in more than one language, with a real way to talk back.
Choosing a digital curriculum platform is only half the job. The other half is explaining the choice to families who will see it on their child's screen every night. In this session, committees in fictional Laurel Ridge ISD compare three fictional grades 3–8 math platforms using the evidence behind their claims, the kind of assessment data they produce, accessibility, privacy, and AI features. They read a small local pilot honestly, choose, and then replace an overhyped AI-drafted announcement with a plain-language communication plan (newsletter blurb, family FAQ, social post) that says what they know, what they don't know yet, and how families can weigh in, in the district's main home languages.
In this packet
- Handout A: The Laurel Ridge Platform Packet (reading)
- Handout B: Selection Matrix (organizer)
- Handout C: Community Communication Plan (worksheet)
TCEA ELE indicators
- L2.2 I can guide the implementation of digital curriculum and instructional technology initiatives.
- L3.3 I am aware of various digital assessment tools and their appropriate uses in education.
- L3.2 I can interpret complex digital data sets and communicate findings effectively using data visualization tools.
- L5.2 I can effectively use digital communication tools to share school goals and achievements with stakeholders.
- L5.1 I know how to build strong digital partnerships with families and community organizations.
Full facilitator guide: mglearn.github.io/eles/activities/platform-pick-to-community-story.html
Handout A for From Platform Pick to Community Story
The Laurel Ridge Platform Packet
Laurel Ridge ISD, all three platforms, and the pilot are fictional. Mark lines ✓ strength, ✗ concern, ? need to ask.
1The AI-drafted announcement (first draft, not approved). "Exciting news! Laurel Ridge ISD is launching a revolutionary new math platform proven to boost scores for every student. Its AI tutor gives personalized help 24/7, and it is completely safe and secure. Families don't need to do anything. Your child's success is guaranteed!"
2The decision. Laurel Ridge ISD is choosing one digital math practice and formative assessment platform for grades 3–8. Many Laurel Ridge families speak Spanish at home, and there is a growing Vietnamese-speaking community. Many students do homework on a shared family phone. The board wants a recommendation and a family communication plan within the month.
3Option 1 · TallyPath Math. Adaptive practice with a teacher dashboard showing each student's mastery percentage by standard; item-level responses are available only as a paid add-on. Evidence: a vendor-funded study in another state describes gains for students who used it at least 60 minutes a week, with no comparison group reported. Accessibility: the vendor states it meets accessibility guidelines; its own help page notes that drag-and-drop problems don't work with screen readers yet. Languages: student interface in English and Spanish; family reports in English only. Privacy: data is deleted within 90 days of contract end; no AI features. Requires a steady internet connection.
4Option 2 · Numina Practice. Practice problems plus an AI chat tutor that students can ask for hints. Teacher dashboard shows item-level answers, common errors, and a transcript of each student's AI chat. Evidence: the vendor cites "thousands of satisfied teachers" and one case study from a single school. Accessibility: works with screen readers and has captions on all videos. Languages: student and family interfaces in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Privacy: terms state that "de-identified student interactions may be used to improve our AI models"; the AI chat is on by default; retention period is not stated. Works offline and syncs later.
5Option 3 · OpenSteps Math. A lower-cost option built around openly licensed lessons, with short digital check-ins teachers write or choose. Dashboard shows item-level results but no adaptive practice. Evidence: none beyond teacher testimonials; the lessons follow a published curriculum framework. Accessibility: plain text and images with alt text, works with screen readers, printable versions of every check-in. Languages: lessons in English and Spanish; teachers must translate their own check-ins. Privacy: stores only student name, class, and responses; data deleted on request; no AI features. Requires much more teacher planning time.
6Laurel Ridge pilot notes (two grade 5 classrooms, six weeks, fall). Both classrooms tried TallyPath for three weeks and Numina for three weeks. Teachers said Numina's error reports helped them plan small groups. Several students said Numina's AI hints "just gave the answer" when they asked twice. One student who uses a screen reader could complete Numina problems but not TallyPath's drag-and-drop items. Families of four students asked the front office what the AI chat was and whether it recorded their child. Scores on the unit test were similar across both classes. No classroom used OpenSteps.
7Questions the board has already asked. "Which one works?" "What does it cost to train teachers?" "What happens to student data?" "Will families be able to help with homework?"
Handout B for From Platform Pick to Community Story
Selection Matrix
Rate each option Strong, Mixed, or Weak and quote the line from the packet behind it. Use the last column for conditions, questions, or pilot measures.
| Criterion | TallyPath Math | Numina Practice | OpenSteps Math | What would change our mind? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional fit for grades 3–8 math | ||||
| Quality of evidence (who studied it, how, and how close to us?) | ||||
| Assessment data: what teachers see and can act on; uses to avoid | ||||
| Accessibility (screen readers, alternatives, offline and shared-phone use) | ||||
| Privacy, data retention, and AI features | ||||
| Languages for students and families | ||||
| Cost, training, and teacher time |
Handout C for From Platform Pick to Community Story
Community Communication Plan
Write for a busy family member reading on a phone. Every piece says what, why, one honest unknown, and how to give feedback.
Newsletter blurb (about 100 words): what we chose, why, what the pilot showed and didn't show, and how to weigh in:
Family FAQ: four questions families will really ask (about homework, AI, data, and access), each with a short honest answer:
Social post (under 50 words) with a clear next step. Read it aloud: does any word promise more than the evidence shows?
Languages and access: which languages, who drafts and who reviews each version (staff or community partner), and how you'll reach families without reliable internet. Example of a reviewed Spanish line: "Queremos escuchar su opinión antes de tomar la decisión final."
Feedback loop: two ways families can respond (at least one non-digital), who reads the responses, and when you'll report back what changed:
Partners: one community organization (a library, a faith group, a family literacy program, a youth league) that could help families try the platform and ask questions: