My child comes home every day upset and frustrated because of a program called I-Ready. Despite being designed to enhance learning, I-Ready does not seem to help my child’s educational development. Instead, it creates unnecessary stress and anxiety, impacting their overall learning experience and emotional well-being.

I-Ready is an educational tool used in many schools across the country, yet it fails to provide the personalized learning it promises. Many students, including my own child, find the content unengaging and repetitive, making it difficult for them to focus and benefit from the lessons. Furthermore, the time spent on I-Ready takes away from essential interactive learning and face-to-face teacher instruction, which are crucial for a child’s educational development.

Research indicates that human interaction is key to effective learning. Students learn better when they can discuss ideas with teachers and peers, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback — benefits that I-Ready does not offer. According to the Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis, effective teaching is linked to opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and practical application of knowledge, none of which are part of the I-Ready experience.

For children, continuous screen time without adequate engagement or tangible results can be demoralizing. Mental health experts have voiced concerns regarding the effects of kids spending too much time on repetitive digital programs. Such exposure can affect their motivation and enthusiasm for learning.

The education of our children is too important to be left to programs that cannot adapt to individual needs and learning styles. However, there are alternative educational tools and methods that focus on engagement and comprehension, which should be considered by educators. Tools that emphasize hands-on learning and adaptable teaching methods have been shown to improve student outcomes significantly.

I am calling on educators, school administrators, and policymakers to take urgent action to ban I-Ready in favor of more effective educational practices. It's time to prioritize our children's well-being and future by choosing tools that truly support their learning. Please sign this petition if you believe in creating a supportive and enriching learning environment for our children.