In the competitive world of educational technology, standing out isn’t just about having innovative features—it’s about proving your product’s impact on student learning. This is where ESSA certification comes into play. But what exactly is ESSA certification, and why is it crucial for EdTech companies? Let’s dive in.
What is ESSA Certification?
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was enacted to ensure that schools provide students with the best possible resources to support their learning. ESSA certification is an evidence-based standard demonstrating your product meets rigorous criteria for improving student outcomes. To achieve ESSA certification, an EdTech product must be backed by reliable research proving its effectiveness in educational settings. This isn’t just a stamp of approval—it’s a signal to educators and school districts that your product is worth their time, money, and trust.
What Evidence is Required for ESSA Certification?
To obtain ESSA certification, your product must meet one of four tiers of evidence, each representing a different level of research rigor. These tiers help educators and decision-makers understand how robust your product’s supporting research is:
To qualify for ESSA certification, a product must have documentation for at least one of these tiers. To learn more about the 4 tiers of ESSA evidence, check out this resource from the Institute of Education Sciences here.
- . Tier 1: Strong Evidence – Requires a high-quality experimental study (like an RCT) that shows a positive impact on learning outcomes, with at least 350 participants across multiple schools. This tier provides the highest level of validation.
- 2. Tier 2: Moderate Evidence – Involves a quasi-experimental study that demonstrates a positive impact on relevant outcomes. This tier requires a similar sample size and multi-site validation as Tier 1 but allows for a less stringent research design.
- 3. Tier 3: Promising Evidence – Needs correlational research with statistical controls for bias. This tier requires a demonstrated positive impact, but sample and setting requirements are more flexible, making it accessible for smaller studies.
- 4. Tier 4: Demonstrates a Rationale – Based on a well-defined logic model, this tier requires a plan to study the product’s impact rather than statistical evidence. Suitable for products in early development stages.
The Department of Education has created an interactive website with an EdTech Evidence Toolkit. The toolkit includes short one-page documents with explanations for each tier to help you prepare for your certification submissions.
The Path to ESSA Certification
Now that you understand the four tiers of ESSA evidence, the next step is to align your product’s research with the appropriate tier and begin the certification process. Earning ESSA certification involves several key steps to ensure your product meets the necessary criteria:
- 1. Conduct Research: Partner with independent researchers to conduct studies that align with ESSA evidence tiers.
- 2. Document Evidence: Compile comprehensive documentation of your research findings.
- 3. Submit for Evaluation: Present your evidence to non-profit education agencies or for-profit evaluators who specialize in assessing ESSA evidence.
- 4. Receive Certification: Upon approval, receive a certificate and badge or seal that recognizes your product’s evidence level.
Who Evaluates ESSA Evidence?
Approval for ESSA certification requires a thorough review by organizations specializing in educational research. Several types of organizations evaluate ESSA evidence:
- Non-profit Education Agencies: Organizations such as Digital Promise, the Johns Hopkins Center for Research and Reform in Education (Evidence for ESSA), offer rigorous evaluation services.
- For-profit Evaluators: Companies specializing in educational research and evaluation also provide ESSA certification services.
- Government Entities: Some state education agencies have their own processes for reviewing and approving ESSA evidence.
What Are the Benefits of ESSA Certification?
Earning ESSA certification offers several significant benefits:
1. Credibility: It provides third-party validation of your product’s effectiveness.
2. Market Differentiation: In a crowded EdTech market, ESSA certification sets you apart from competitors. It shows that your product has been vetted and verified.
3. Informed Decision-Making: It helps educators and administrators by providing them with reliable, research-backed data helping them make evidence-based choices about educational technology that delivers real results in the classroom.
4. Funding Opportunities: Many education grants require or prefer products with ESSA evidence. This makes your product eligible for critical funding opportunities, expanding your potential market reach.
5. Continuous Improvement: The certification process often provides valuable insights and feedback that can enhance your product’s effectiveness. These learnings enable you to fine-tune your solution, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of educators and students.
With the benefits of ESSA certification in hand, the next question is: what comes after you’ve earned it? Achieving ESSA certification is just the first step; now it’s time to showcase this powerful credential to boost your visibility and maximize your impact in the education market.
Showcasing Your ESSA Certification
Once certified, you can showcase your ESSA evidence level in several ways:
- Product Website: Display your ESSA badge or seal prominently.
- Marketing Materials: Include your certification in brochures, presentations, and other promotional content.
- Product Indexes: Get listed in databases like the EdSurge Product Index, LearnPlatform by Instructure, or the Global EdTech Evidence List.
- Research Databases: Add reports to searchable databases that feature research, including ResearchGate.net and the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
- RFP Responses: Highlight your ESSA evidence when responding to requests for proposals from schools and districts.
Case Study: The Impact of ESSA Certification
At LXD Research, we’ve guided numerous EdTech companies through the ESSA certification process. One of our clients had academic research on ERIC, but it wasn’t designed the way that clearly identified it as ESSA III and didn’t have a formal logic model with a literature review. Together, we got the documentation to earn the Digital Promise research-based design certification. Next, we analyzed data they collected with a partner district in a traditional ESSA Promising correlational study, which recently earned its ICEIE Silver Effectiveness certification. The COO shared in an update meeting that having the certified study substantially lowered layers of barriers during the sales process. Their next goal is a randomized controlled trial to aim for the “gold” strong study criteria.
What Challenges and Considerations Come with ESSA Certification?
While ESSA certification offers significant advantages, it also presents certain challenges that EdTech companies must be prepared to navigate:
1. Time and Resources: Conducting the rigorous studies required for certification can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
2. Maintaining Certification: Evidence levels may need to be re-evaluated periodically.
3. Balancing Tiers: While Tier 1 is the “gold standard,” all tiers offer valuable validation. Lower tiers may be more feasible for products in earlier development stages or with limited research resources. Any ESSA certification shows a commitment to evidence-based effectiveness and provides value.
4. Interpreting Results: Understanding and accurately representing your evidence level is crucial.
Conclusion: The Value of ESSA Certification
In today’s data-driven educational landscape, ESSA certification is more than just a badge—it’s a powerful tool for demonstrating your product’s impact on student learning. By pursuing ESSA certification, you validate your product’s effectiveness and contribute to a culture of evidence-based decision-making in education.
Ready to start your ESSA certification journey? At LXD Research, we specialize in guiding EdTech companies through each step of the process. Visit our LXD Research Pathway page to learn how we can support your path to proving your product’s effectiveness and standing out in the competitive EdTech market.
In EdTech, evidence isn’t just a bonus- it’s essential. ESSA certification provides the structure for presenting that evidence in a way that resonates with educators, administrators, and policymakers, giving your product the recognition it deserves.