Tech companies by the dozens wanted a chance to prove their software was what schools needed. Best of all, they often added, it wouldn't take a dime from district budgets: Schools could use their new federal money.
They did, and at a tremendous scale.
Analysis of public records found many of the largest school systems spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic money on software and services from tech companies, including licenses for apps, games and tutoring websites.
Schools, however, have little or no evidence the programs helped students. Some of the new software was rarely used.
The full scope of spending is unknown because the aid came with few reporting requirements. Congress gave schools a record $190 billion but didn't require them to publicly report individual purchases.
The AP asked the nation's 30 largest school districts for contracts funded by federal pandemic aid. About half provided records illuminating an array of software and technology, collectively called "edtech." Others didn't respond or demanded fees for producing the records totaling thousands of dollars.
Clark County schools in the Las Vegas area, for one, signed contracts worth at least $70 million over two years with 12 education technology consultants and companies. They include Achieve3000 (for a suite of learning apps), Age of Learning (for math and reading acceleration), Paper (for virtual tutoring) and Renaissance Learning (for learning apps Freckle and MyON).
The pandemic sparked a boom for tech companies as schools went online. Revenue skyrocketed and investors poured billions into startups.
At the same time, new marketing technology made it easier for companies to get school officials' attention, said Chris Ryan, who left a career in edtech to help districts use technology effectively. Equipped with automated sales tools, marketers bombarded teachers and school leaders with calls, emails and targeted ads.
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