Research
Magpie’s curriculum is grounded in years of research and development conducted through Reading Reimagined, an initiative of the Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF). The curriculum and instructional model at the heart of Magpie’s tools emerged from this effort, drawing on the latest findings in reading science, learning science, and educational technology.
Reading Reimagined brought together a diverse group of research and development partners, including the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, NWEA, the University at Buffalo, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Stanford University, RAND, and the ETS Research Institute. Together, these organizations explored critical questions about literacy development, learner motivation, assessment, instructional design, and technology-enabled learning. Their work helped identify promising approaches for teaching foundational reading skills while also deepening our understanding of how students engage with and progress through literacy instruction.
At Magpie, we continue this research-driven approach as we build high-quality learning experiences for students on technology. Working closely with educators, students, and school leaders, we have studied how digital vendors can best support classroom implementation. This includes research on educator-facing supports, streamlined log-in experiences, responsive design across devices, and features that make high-quality instruction easier to access and use. Our co-development process ensures that product decisions are informed by the realities of classrooms and the needs of the learners we serve.
Efficacy is our North Star, so our research does not stop when a product is launched. We are committed to building evidence of impact through rigorous evaluation and improving students’ learning experiences year after year. During our K-2 development phase, we achieved an ESSA Tier II level of evidence, demonstrating promising results for student literacy outcomes. We continue to study implementation and effectiveness as we expand our work.
To learn more about the research that informed Magpie’s curriculum and design, visit the Reading Reimagined legacy site.