My struggles with i-Ready, an online program used in many of Georgia's schools, have reached a critical point. As a student, I am experiencing significant difficulties with my academic performance due to i-Ready. The program's effectiveness has been long challenged, and I too can testify about my multiple failures and deep dissatisfaction.

I-Ready, in theory, promises an adaptable, interactive experience aimed at supplementing school instruction. However, it has been frequently criticized for its lack of engagement, causing students to disengage from learning. According to the Center on Reinventing Public Education, students often find the material both uninteresting and overly difficult, leading to a decrease in motivation and an increase in failure rates ("What's working and what's not in online learning," 2018). I, among many others, fall into this category.

What's more, the American Psychological Association's research shows a correlation between excessive screen-time and mental health issues, including anxiety and depression (American Psychological Association, "Digital media's impact on children's mental health," 2017). As it stands, a program like i-Ready could inadvertently contribute to the mental health crises many young people currently face, including myself.

We, the students of Georgia, need your support to eliminate i-Ready from our education system. The detrimental effects on our grades and our mental health are too significant to ignore. No more i-Ready for us. Sign this petition and voice our collective plea to the Georgia Department of Education.

Sincerely, a student in need of change.