Across Charlotte classrooms, a growing group of families is pushing back on i-Ready, the digital assessment and personalized-lesson platform used in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Parents and students say the program can feel like gamified busywork that pulls kids away from hands-on learning and even basic computer literacy.
Petitions and local complaints
According to WFAE, sixth grader Anastasia Bates launched a petition at Sedgefield Montessori that has drawn about 100 student signatures. At Collinswood Language Academy, families organized a Change.org petition with nearly 900 supporters calling on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to allow parents to opt their children out of i-Ready.
WFAE also reports that CMS issues a district device to every student and that kids spend roughly 90 minutes per week on i-Ready personalized lessons. The station notes that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools did not respond to its request for comment.
What the company says about screen time
Curriculum Associates, which makes i-Ready, says the platform is designed to support teachers rather than replace them. The company recommends students spend about 30-49 minutes per subject each week in personalized instruction, which it describes as less than 10 minutes per day per subject.
The company cites research showing academic gains when i-Ready is used with fidelity and publishes guidance for what it calls responsible, time-limited, teacher-led digital use in classrooms (Curriculum Associates).
Legal backdrop and national debate
The spread of i-Ready has attracted legal attention as well. Plaintiffs have filed a federal case alleging improper data practices, and Edtech.law shows Curriculum Associates has moved to dismiss the claims…