Grantees will generate rigorous evidence that informs how AI tools can improve student outcomes.
Nashville, Tenn., (May 13, 2026) — Today, Accelerate announced the selection of 11 organizations for its second Call for Effective Technology (CET) grant program, a national effort to evaluate how artificial intelligence (AI) and other tech-enabled tools can be effectively integrated to solve real, persistent challenges for students. As schools navigate a rapidly expanding market of AI tools, the CET program generates actionable, research-backed insights on what does and doesn’t work in classrooms.
Selected from a competitive pool of 87 applicants – including nonprofits, edtech companies, and school systems – grantees will participate in a yearlong evaluation to assess whether their approach improves student outcomes, how it works in practice, and the cost to implement. The resulting research will better equip educators, system leaders, and policymakers to make informed decisions about what tools to adopt and scale.
“Focusing the conversation on student outcomes, and what the evidence tells us about how to improve them, is core to Accelerate’s work,” said Kevin Huffman, CEO of Accelerate. “Over the past five years, we’ve seen the evidence base on high-dosage tutoring, a proven personalized learning practice, grow significantly. AI tools should meet that same standard with rigorous testing and transparency on effectiveness and implementation requirements.”
The most promising tools from Accelerate’s inaugural 2025-26 CET program shared a common strength: the ability to target an individual student’s specific gap in real time. Unlike earlier generations of edtech, well-designed AI can hold a student’s history, the curriculum, and a map of common misconceptions all at once – and tailor its response accordingly. Grantees in the 2026-27 CET cohort will test that promise more rigorously, with larger study populations of at least 500 students, structured data on the cost and implementation of tools, and a focus on solutions addressing persistent instructional challenges in math and literacy.
2026-27 CET Grantees
- DREAM – Tutoring assistant that synthesizes student data
- EdLight – Formative assessment tool
- Eedi – Math diagnostic and tutoring platform
- eKidz – Literacy platform that combines reading, fluency, and writing feedback
- EVIDENCEB – Math platform that personalizes K–5 learning pathways
- Grokkoli – Math tutor that provides just-in-time conceptual instruction
- Inletech (Art Math) – Math platform using visual models and storytelling
- Learnie (Thinkverse) – AI co-teacher that provides adaptive hints
- Lit (Bloom) – Speech-based early literacy platform
- Littera Education – Hybrid (human + AI) tutoring model
- ROYO.AI – Literacy tool that generates personalized decodable texts
“Schools don’t need more AI tools. They need to know which tools actually work,” said Jennifer Bronson, Managing Director of Program at Accelerate. “Through CET, we’re generating credible evidence on which AI tools support teachers and accelerate student learning.”
About Accelerate
Accelerate is a national nonprofit that helps states turn strong evidence into real results for students. By aligning research, policy, and practice, Accelerate helps states scale proven strategies in public schools. Through grantmaking, research, partnerships, and state implementation support, Accelerate ensures that what works for students translates into measurable gains in classrooms nationwide. For more information, visit www.accelerate.us.
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