DENVER - On February 6, 2025, Governor Polis celebrated a year-one study demonstrating that students in Colorado who consistently used Zearn, an online digital math accelerator tool, saw   a positive  increase in math achievement scores. The study included over 6,000 students in Colorado ranging grades fourth through eighth. Zearn has been made available through a grant through  the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund to provide statewide access to Zearn licenses for all elementary and middle schools in the state to increase math proficiency for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

“In Colorado, We are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to boosting student math achievement to make sure Colorado kids have the support and practice they need to excel in math. This past year, students across Colorado have benefited from access to high-quality digital platforms that have boosted math proficiency and helped Colorado students to learn and grow,” said Governor Polis.

The study looked at a sample of 6,000 Colorado fourth through eighth grade students in key urban and rural districts comparing students who used Zearn consistently with matched peers who did not use Zearn. The study found that consistent use of Zearn across all student groups led to higher CMAS math achievement scores, with the most significant impacts seen among students with the lowest levels of math proficiency.  The study additionally highlighted that students utilizing Zearn three or more times a week saw the greatest impact on their CMAS scores.

“As a nonprofit built by teachers, we know how committed Colorado educators are to helping kids catch up and move forward in math. We have been privileged to be able to support them in this effort,” said Zearn CEO and Co-Founder Shalinee Sharma.

In 2023, Governor Polis announced a landmark investment into Zearn to provide math support and learning for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Provided at no cost to schools and school districts statewide that opt-in to participate, this innovative and data-driven digital math platform includes free high-quality instructional materials, ongoing training for educators, and after-school tutoring resources for K-8 students. 920 schools across Colorado chose to opt-in to use Zearn Math for math acceleration, alongside teacher instruction.

As Chair of The National Governors Association, Governor Polis launched “Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans For Success” focused on real solutions to ensure that students gain the skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.