Why evidence based Ed Tech is the path to student success

It feels like not a day passes where we aren't shown a new EdTech tool. The market is saturated, yet the demand for innovative solutions remains, driven by a deep need to solve specific, nuanced challenges within education.

School districts, for example, report trailing an average of over 2,500 distinct EdTech tools annually. The sheer volume is staggering.

These EdTech solutions often arrive without any clear proof of impact. The nuance of education means that EdTech can be adopted on its intended impact as the situation it is being deployed into is so variable.

While we can't eliminate the risk of adopting an unproven tool, we can challenge the industry to provide a foundation of evidence that reduces that risk. Efficacy studies can and should establish the broad, intended impact of a solution, from which institutions can then build their own tailored approach.

Proving efficacy in Ed Tech products

For years, K-12 education has had a common language for this discussion, with the federal 'Every Student Succeeds Act' (ESSA). This legislation moved the industry beyond the single "gold standard" of expensive and notoriously complex randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The four ESSA tiers of evidence created a clear developmental pathway for products to prove their worth. This framework provides a starting point for buyers to evaluate products and determine if they're a fit for their unique needs. The common language the introduction of ESSA tiers has created has enabled buyers and vendors to be more evidence focused.

Unfortunately, this common language is not widely shared in higher education. Although well positioned to evaluate the efficacy of tools, higher education buyers are often left to rely on the product's own generated proof.

While valuable, these self-published whitepapers and reports often lack the independent, third-party rigor applied to K-12 solutions that meet ESSA tiers.

Evidence of value and impact at Genio

At Genio, we recognized this challenge and made a deliberate choice to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We committed to pursuing ESSA tier badges even though we are a higher education focussed product with Genio Notes.

When we evaluated the routes we could take to prove our value it seemed sensible to tread the well worn path that K12 have used for years. For us, proving impact on a wholesale level enables buyers to have confidence in our data and reports. In 2024, we proudly achieved ESSA Tier 4, and in 2025 we have achieved ESSA tier 3.

Our ESSA badges are displayed proudly on our website alongside other evidence of efficacy and the studies that support these awards. We want to be open and transparent with higher education buyers, demonstrating that we value proof, evidence, and impact.

We openly seek external validation to give buyers confidence in our tools, but we also continue to self-publish our own reports as part of a complete, transparent picture of our efficacy journey.

We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of EdTech. The market is overflowing with solutions, and with that abundance comes the responsibility to demand more. For too long, the industry has relied on flashy features and bold promises.

Now, it's time for buyers to shift the conversation from "What does it do?" to "What does it do, and how do you know it works?".

Why shouldn’t higher education buyers demand the same rigor K12 buyers seek? This isn't just about purchasing products, the end goal is always on making a difference, ensuring every dollar spent on technology leads to a proven, positive impact on student outcomes.