A new study is shedding light on a growing issue in K-12 education: the sheer number of digital applications that students, parents, and teachers must juggle daily. Instead of streamlining learning, the overuse of disjointed educational apps is causing confusion and inefficiency, according to the report App Overload: How A Fragmented Digital Landscape Is Failing K-12 Education.

Commissioned by Cornerstone Communications, LTD., in collaboration with K-12 learning platform vendor Edsby, the study surveyed more than 100 teachers, 125 parents, and 50 district and private school curriculum leaders. The findings reveal a disconnect between school administrators, who are largely optimistic about their chosen digital tools, and the educators and families struggling to manage multiple platforms.

A Growing Challenge for Schools and Families

“In many K-12 organizations, a patchwork of apps has become an integral part of the education system,” said Brooke Greenwald, President of Cornerstone Communications. “To truly support families, schools must rethink their approach to edtech integration.”

The study identifies several critical issues:

• Too Many Apps: Schools without a unified platform often rely on 10 to 15 different educational apps, leading to a fragmented and inconsistent experience for students and families.
• Parental Frustration: Nearly half (42%) of parents rated their experience with multiple education apps as 5 out of 10 or lower, citing difficulty navigating various systems.
• Increased Teacher Workload: Educators report spending an average of two to four hours each week managing multiple education apps, reducing valuable instructional time.
• Disconnect Between Administrators and Users: While district leaders believe their digital tools are effective, teachers and parents are calling for more streamlined, integrated solutions.

A Push for Change

The report urges school districts to consolidate digital platforms, enhance training for teachers and parents, and implement policies that consider user feedback. The focus is on creating a more seamless experience that improves efficiency and engagement in K-12 education.

“Technology has revolutionized education, but expecting teachers and families to navigate 15 different apps is impractical,” Greenwald said. “This report underscores the need for districts to prioritize integrated, user-friendly solutions.”

John Myers, CEO of Edsby, emphasized the importance of rethinking how schools implement edtech. “Many districts rapidly assembled their digital systems during the pandemic, but now they’re seeing the downsides of a fragmented approach. Schools should consider purpose-built platforms like Edsby that simplify learning and collaboration while reducing complexity.”

For a full copy of App Overload: How A Fragmented Digital Landscape Is Failing K-12 Education or to schedule an interview, contact Brooke Greenwald at [email protected]. The report is available at www.cornerstonepr.net.