As we close out 2025, we find ourselves reflecting on a year of meaningful work, productive partnerships, and steady progress toward our mission: helping educational technology companies demonstrate the impact of their products through rigorous research.
This year reinforced something we’ve observed for some time now. Schools and districts are becoming more sophisticated in how they evaluate educational products. Evidence matters—not as a marketing checkbox, but as a genuine tool for helping educators make informed purchasing decisions. That shift has shaped our work throughout 2025.
By the Numbers
Through over a dozen studies, LXD Research included over 35,000 students across 15 states, spanning PreK through 8th grade as well as higher education. We gathered insights from 500+ educators who shared their experiences, observations, and ideas with our research team. These aren’t just data points—they represent real classrooms, real teachers, and real students whose experiences inform the evidence our partners bring to market.
Our work now includes 46 published reports on ERIC, the Institute of Education Sciences’ database of education research. Each of these reports undergoes review before publication and becomes part of the permanent record of educational research. Dr. Rachel Schechter has over 100 papers on ResearchGate, now in the 15% of EdTech researchers in the world.
Certifications and Validations
One area where we’ve seen substantial growth is in third-party certifications. LXD Research authored 13 of the 20 reading studies approved on Evidence for ESSA over the past five years—that’s 65% of the recent additions in reading. Across ESSA Tier III and IV certifications for Digital Promise, we’ve supported 28 of 39 total certifications, representing 72% of the products that achieved this level of evidence.
We also continued our partnership with EduEvidence, ensuring that 100% of LXD Research studies now come with EduEvidence certification. This dual validation approach gives our partners multiple credibility signals for different audiences—whether they’re presenting to state departments of education, district curriculum committees, or grant reviewers.
What We’ve Learned
Beyond the metrics, 2025 taught us a few things worth noting.
First, the timeline for evidence-building has compressed. Districts increasingly expect to see research before making major purchasing decisions, which means EdTech companies need to start thinking about evidence earlier in their product development cycle—not as an afterthought once the product is mature.
Second, the quality bar keeps rising. Five years ago, having any study at all set a company apart. Today, decision-makers are asking more nuanced questions:
- What population was studied?
- How long was the intervention?
- What were the comparison conditions?
Companies that can answer these questions clearly have a distinct advantage. Third, evidence is becoming a strategic asset, not just a compliance requirement. The companies we work with increasingly view their research as foundational to their market position, not merely as documentation to satisfy RFP requirements.
Looking Ahead
There is, as the saying goes, so much more to do. The educational technology landscape continues to evolve rapidly. New modalities emerge, learning science advances, and schools face new challenges that call for new solutions. All of this creates opportunities—and obligations—for the research community to keep pace.
We enter 2026 with a full slate of studies in progress and a growing roster of partners committed to evidence-based development. We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of this work: the educators who participate in our studies, the companies who invest in understanding their impact, and the broader community of people who believe that evidence should inform educational decisions. Get an appointment to plan your 2026-2027 study soon.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of building the evidence base that education deserves.
LXD Research partners with educational technology companies to design and conduct rigorous efficacy research, helping products achieve ESSA certifications and other third-party validations. To learn more about our research services, visit lxdresearch.com.