Measures Matter: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Educational Apps on Preschool to Grade 3 Children’s Literacy and Math Skills

This CEPR READS Lab meta-analysis synthesized findings from 36 rigorous studies on educational apps for preschool through grade 3 students to assess their overall effectiveness in improving literacy and math outcomes. The study found that, on average, apps positively impacted student performance, but effectiveness varied widely based on study design, skill type, and student population. Apps targeting constrained skills (like letter naming or counting) and those tested with researcher-developed measures showed the largest gains, while standardized tests revealed smaller effects. The research cautions that although educational apps can be beneficial as supplements to instruction, results depend heavily on app design and the developmental stage of learners.

Read more about the READS Lab at readslab.org/research.