A new cohort of education technology companies is challenging the assumption that AI should lead classroom design. Instead, 13 EdTech providers accepted into LEAP Innovations' 2026-2027 EdTech Design Collective are building tools that place student needs and educator input at the center, with AI serving as a supporting tool rather than the primary driver of instruction.

What Makes This Different From Other AI Education Initiatives?

The EdTech Design Collective represents a shift in how education technology is being developed and evaluated. Rather than launching products and hoping schools will adopt them, these 13 companies are working directly with educators and students to refine their tools based on real classroom feedback. This approach stands apart from broader AI education rollouts because it prioritizes what researchers call "co-design," meaning teachers and learners have a voice in shaping the technology from the ground up.

To gain acceptance into the collective, each company underwent rigorous evaluation against LEAP's standards, which included product maturity, privacy and data security, evidence of learning impact, implementation quality, and commitment to personalized learning. Critically, each tool was also assessed for alignment with LEAP's Learning Framework and Convergence Framework, which are grounded in research about how students actually learn best.

"Our EdTech Design Collective provides a bridge connecting research, practice, and educational technology, and keeps everyone in this triad focused on LEAP's mission of providing young people with the learning they need and deserve to be successful," said Scott Frauenheim, CEO of LEAP Innovations.

Scott Frauenheim, CEO, LEAP Innovations

How Are These EdTech Companies Integrating AI Responsibly?

The 2026-2027 collective members include companies working across different learning domains, from writing support to personalized tutoring to project-based learning platforms. What unites them is a commitment to what LEAP calls "student-centered" design, meaning the technology adapts to individual learner needs rather than forcing all students into a one-size-fits-all model.

One member, Snorkl, focuses on how AI can support teaching and learning through direct collaboration with educators. According to the company's co-founder, the LEAP team has been instrumental in connecting them with schools and classrooms willing to provide real feedback on how AI tools perform in practice.

"The LEAP team has been fantastic in connecting our team with schools and educators who are curious about how AI can support teaching and learning. They've created meaningful opportunities for us to learn directly from classrooms and build with real educator input," said Jon Laven, Co-Founder of Snorkl.

Jon Laven, Co-Founder, Snorkl

This feedback loop is essential because it prevents companies from building features that sound good in theory but don't work in actual classrooms. Teachers know what their students need, and when EdTech developers listen to that expertise, the resulting tools tend to be more effective and more likely to be adopted.

What Are the Key Principles Behind Student-Centered AI Learning?

• Personalization Over One-Size-Fits-All: Tools are designed to adapt to individual learner needs and learning styles, rather than delivering the same content to every student in the same way.
• Real-World Connection: Technology helps students connect what they're learning to actual problems and contexts they care about, making learning feel relevant rather than abstract.
• Student Agency and Ownership: Students have a voice in their learning journey and can make choices about how they engage with the material, rather than passively consuming content.
• Responsible Integration: Tools are designed to fit naturally within a school's existing digital ecosystem and privacy practices, not to replace human judgment or teacher decision-making.

Jessica Paulsen, President of LEAP Innovations, explained that the alignment process uses research on learning and best practices to ensure each product supports these principles. "Our alignment process uses research on learning and best practices to detail how each product supports student ownership and agency, adapts to individual learner needs, connects to real-world contexts, and integrates responsibly within a district's digital ecosystem," Paulsen noted.

Jessica Paulsen, President of LEAP Innovations

Why Does This Matter for Schools Right Now?

Schools and districts are under pressure to adopt AI tools, but many educators worry that technology will replace human teaching or that AI-driven systems will make decisions without teacher input. The EdTech Design Collective addresses these concerns by ensuring that every tool in the cohort has been vetted for both effectiveness and alignment with how teachers actually want to work.

Membership in the collective provides companies with access to LEAP's research tools, coaching from education experts, and direct connections to schools and districts actively seeking student-centered solutions. For schools, this means they have a curated set of tools that have been evaluated against consistent standards, rather than having to navigate the overwhelming number of EdTech options on the market.

The Modern Classrooms Project, another collective member, emphasizes the importance of grounding EdTech in the science of learning. According to Aida Conroy, Chief Success Officer at Modern Classrooms Project, the challenge isn't finding research; it's translating that research into what teachers actually do on a Monday morning in their classrooms.

"LEAP partner districts already look to research when they make instructional decisions. What's harder to find is the layer that translates that research into what a teacher does on a Monday morning. With LEAP, we're building it: an educator-led, mastery-based approach, grounded in the science of learning, for educators around the world," said Aida Conroy, Chief Success Officer at Modern Classrooms Project.

Aida Conroy, Chief Success Officer, Modern Classrooms Project

What's Next for AI in K-12 Education?

The EdTech Design Collective is now in its third year, and membership provides companies with opportunities to scale their impact across multiple districts and states. By working through LEAP's network, these 13 companies can reach schools that are actively seeking solutions aligned with research-based practices and student-centered learning principles.

The broader message from this initiative is clear: technology should never lead the design of learning. But when used intentionally, with educator input and grounded in research about how students learn, AI and other digital tools can personalize instruction, enrich learning environments, and help students master critical skills. The EdTech Design Collective demonstrates that this approach is not only possible, but increasingly becoming the standard that schools and districts expect from the companies they partner with.