• Research Reports   
Shira Haderlein, Robin Lake

New AI tools are entering the ed tech market every day. But how are they actually playing out in schools and classrooms? Drawing on semi-structured interviews with more than 50 stakeholders across ed tech, philanthropy, policy, teaching, and advocacy, this brief identifies the gaps between what AI developers are building and what students, teachers, and systems actually need.

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Latest Research Publications

  • Research Reports    

Think Forward: Building a Coherent Approach to AI in Education

Robin Lake, Maddy Sims, Bree Dusseault

In November 2025, the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) convened a diverse group of policymakers, system leaders, educators, researchers, funders, and technology experts for the Think Forward: Learning with AI Forum in New Mexico.

  • Research Reports    

Virtual 1:1 Literacy Tutoring in Oakland Unified School District: Implementation and Effectiveness of a Pilot at Scale

Mary Laski, Calen Clifton

In 2024–25, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) launched a districtwide pilot of virtual, high-dosage, 1:1 literacy tutoring in partnership with three providers: Hoot, Ignite Reading, and OpenLiteracy.

  • Briefs    
  • Research Reports    

Districts and AI: Early Adopters Focus More on Students in 2025-26

Bree Dusseault, Jared Hurwitz, Anagha Mandayam

Introduction More Early Adopters are piloting systemwide AI strategies Early Adopters focus more on students, mostly with new tools Reimaginers keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI Districts must advance more coherent AI strategies for teaching and learning Across the country, the approach schools take towards Generative AI has changed: it’s moved from usage bans to pockets of experimentation to a broader conversation about how schools can and should use AI to enhance teaching, learning, and operations.

  • Research Reports    

Outmatched: Special Education Can’t Solve Problems Rooted in the Education Delivery System

Ashley Jochim, Alexander Kurz

In early 2025, the National Center for Education Statistics quietly announced a new record: 7.9 million public school students were identified with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

  • Research Reports    

Making Room for What Matters: Innovative School Leaders Want Accountability, but With a Lighter Footprint

Chelsea Waite, David Nitkin, Janette Avelar

Across the country, school leaders are reimagining how students learn—designing models that are more engaging, effective, and connected to the world students are entering.

  • Research Reports    

AI Use in Schools Is Quickly Increasing but Guidance Lags Behind (RAND)

Lisa Chu, Lydia Rainey
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