FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Anna O’Sullivan
pressinquiry@zearn.org
Based on a rigorous randomized controlled trial by RAND Corp., Zearn Math earns “Strong” (Tier 1) rating for driving statistically significant gains in math achievement.
NEW YORK, July 8, 2025 - Zearn Math, a top-rated K–8 math platform used by teachers and students nationwide, has earned a “Strong” (Tier 1) rating — the highest possible designation — from Evidence for ESSA by The Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the independent, national clearinghouse for evidence-based education programs. This top rating confirms that Zearn Math meets the rigorous evidence standards outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), supported by a large-scale, independent randomized controlled trial (RCT) that demonstrated statistically significant academic gains for students, particularly those who are below proficiency.
“At Evidence for ESSA, our goal is to provide educators and communities with a clear, reliable way to identify programs that meet ESSA’s evidence standards and improve student outcomes,” said Amanda Neitzel, associate professor at CRRE at JHU. “We base our Tier 1 designation on study design, sample size, and statistically significant findings on valid, independent assessments — in this case, the NWEA MAP Growth assessment.”
The “Strong” (Tier 1) rating is based on a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) by RAND Corp. conducted from 2022–2024 with 10,000 students in grades 3–5 across 64 schools in a large urban Texas district. The study found causal evidence that using Zearn Math led to a statistically significant impact on student math achievement — a +0.11 standard deviation (SD) gain on the NWEA MAP Growth assessment. Students who began below proficiency saw even greater gains of +0.13 SD, equivalent to a four-percentile increase in math achievement over two years.
“Numeracy is one of the strongest predictors of a student's success. Yet, it is also an area where American children are behind,” said Shalinee Sharma, math learning expert and CEO and co-founder of Zearn. “At a time when educators are urgently seeking solutions that drive impact, this highest designation provides states, districts and schools with clear, independent confirmation that Zearn helps accelerate math learning – and reaffirms our commitment to help all students access grade-level learning.”
This RAND Corp. study adds to the growing base of third-party evidence on Zearn Math’s role in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. students’ education.
A separate quasi-experimental evaluation by CRRE at JHU across three rural and suburban districts in Louisiana found districts using Zearn with implementation support significantly outperformed peers on the state’s LEAP math assessment, with an effect size of +0.20 SD. Gains were statistically significant across all student subgroups, including English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.
Zearn Math includes adaptive digital lessons that students complete during class, intervention periods, or tutoring sessions to build deep understanding of grade-level concepts. Each lesson includes fluency-building activities; guided video instruction grounded in a Concrete-to-Pictorial-to-Abstract (CPA) approach; and a mastery-based quiz, which students must pass with 100% accuracy to move forward. Lessons adapt in real time to provide personalized feedback and scaffolding — supporting students through challenges while keeping them engaged in grade-level learning.
To explore how Zearn Math can help accelerate math learning in your district or school, visit about.zearn.org.
About Zearn
Zearn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping all kids succeed in math. Zearn is behind Zearn Math, the top-rated math learning platform used by 1 in 4 elementary-school students and 1 million middle-schoolers nationwide. For more information about Zearn research, contact Anna O’Sullivan, director of communications, at annao@zearn.org.
