How Do Researchers Evaluate EdTech Evidence Levels?

How Do Researchers Evaluate EdTech Evidence Levels?

With public education budgets tightening globally, governments, school districts, philanthropies and investors are demanding more than just slick marketing or engaging user interfaces. They want hard evidence that your product works.

As an EdTech founder, you may be wondering:

How are researchers and policymakers evaluating us behind the scenes?

What kind of evidence do we need?

Which certifications carry weight?

 At the International Centre for EdTech Impact, we’ve been called on to support these evaluations, advising governments, philanthropic funders and district leaders as they assess EdTech solutions. Based on this experience, we’ve developed a process to systematically analyse and rate a company's evidence levels. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we do it.

 1. Certifications: The Starting Line

One of the first things we look at is whether an EdTech organization has obtained evidence certifications. These are often issued by trusted providers like:

Digital Promise, ISTE, CASS, LearnPlatform by Instructure

These certifications often show up in platforms like the EdSurge Index, What Works Clearinghouse or Evidence for ESSA. In the U.S. and parts of the Global North, these certifications are becoming standard proxies for a company’s evidence-based credibility. They signal to decision-makers that your product has been independently reviewed and deemed to meet certain evidence thresholds.

But a badge is only the beginning.

 2. Digging Deeper: Global Evidence Level

Many certifications lean heavily on U.S. education research standards, especially those defined under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). While valuable, these don’t always capture global or local relevance.

 So we dig deeper and explore:

Peer-reviewed studies via Web of Science and Google Scholar, searching for research tied to the company name.

Company websites, especially sections dedicated to research or efficacy.

The EduEvidence.org database—a global repository cataloguing EdTech evidence levels across contexts.

Each source helps us assess both evidence quality (Was the study well-designed?) and evidence strength (How large and reliable were the effects?).

3. Benchmarking Against Learning Outcome Claims

If your product is marketed for the K12 education market and claims to improve learning outcomes (such as for example, increasing literacy scores or improving math retention), we’ll evaluate your evidence against a consolidated global benchmark of educational efficacy. Here, we aim to answer: Does the research convincingly support these claims? If yes, we flag it for the procurement teams evaluating potential investments or purchases.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re an EdTech entrepreneur hoping to scale, whether through government adoption, foundation grants, or school district contracts, understanding and proactively managing your evidence base is critical. Evidence of impact isn't just about cost-effectiveness or reach: it is very much about the learning outcomes you can evidence through independent research.

Interested in being matched with an expert? Let us know.
We’re here to help you build stronger, evidence-backed solutions that stand up to scrutiny and scale with integrity. Contact us at info@foreduimpact.org