The best educational technology doesn’t just teach children; it teaches alongside the adults who care about them.
Diana Greene
Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Literacy Initiative
According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of U.S. fourth graders performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading. The question is no longer whether technology belongs in children’s learning; it is how we use it to strengthen the relationships that help children become readers.
Whether at home or in the classroom, technology should strengthen the interactions that help children make meaning from what they read. High-quality literacy tools create opportunities for curiosity, discussion, and shared discovery, inviting parents, caregivers, and educators into the learning experience instead of replacing their guidance.
As families and educators evaluate digital literacy resources, the better question is not simply, “Does this teach reading?” It is, “Does this help children and adults learn together?” The strongest tools spark conversation and help children connect stories to their own experiences.
What good design looks like
Imagine a child finishing a digital story. One platform immediately advances to the next activity, rewarding speed and moving the child from one screen to another. Another pauses to ask, “What surprised you about this story?” or “Why do you think the character made that choice?” It invites an adult to continue the conversation. Here, technology creates space for meaningful interaction.
This is the literacy ecosystem: families, educators, communities, and thoughtfully designed technology working together so literacy extends beyond the classroom and into everyday life.
Technology also works best when it complements the everyday experiences that build literacy. Reading together, talking about the day’s events, telling family stories, singing songs, and noticing words in the world all help children develop vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of language. Digital experiences should extend these moments, not compete with them.
What no algorithm can replace
For educators, technology can personalize instruction and provide deeper insight into student progress. For families, it can make high-quality literacy experiences more accessible and offer ideas for supporting learning at home. However, no algorithm can replace the insight that comes from listening to a child’s thinking, celebrating a breakthrough, or encouraging them through a challenging text.
As technology continues to evolve, our challenge is not deciding whether it belongs in literacy education. It already does. The real question is whether we will design and use it to strengthen the relationships every child needs to become a confident reader, writer, and thinker. When technology supports rather than substitutes human connection, we give children the best opportunity to thrive. The decisions we make today will shape not only how children learn to read, but how they experience learning and one another for years to come.
