Is AI the new after school tutor? Tech tools are a low-cost solution to education gaps

As student performance levels hit all-time lows, disparities within the education system persist. As a teacher shortage fuels a lack of learning, working parents may be able to utilize AI and digital platforms to help their children come out on the positive side of the curve.

Nearly half of all public school students in the U.S. are lagging behind benchmarks this academic year, particularly in math and English, according to a new Department of Education report. A report from McKinsey shows that the math achievement gap between students in majority-Black schools and majority-white schools has grown in recent years. Parent involvement in schoolwork has been proven to result in better grades, but many parents — especially in lower socioeconomic areas — are lacking the bandwidth and resources, says Nhon Ma, founder and CEO of virtual learning platform Numerade. 

"Your zip code defines your education opportunities and circumstances," he says. "Distance learning has really driven a deficit in student learning and outcome over the past three years, and that is a big issue for us as a society at large going forward."

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With today's growing use of technology in the workplace, the focus on STEM learning (science, technology, engineering and math) is increasing, with new federal and state initiatives that provide funding. However, the slow-moving wheel of change leaves parents wondering how best to help their children now. Digital tools can help supplement learning both in the classroom and at home, Ma says. 

"AI has equalized this type of opportunity," he explains. "Families and their students will have access to the same type of supplemental learning — now the playing fields are essentially level."

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Numerade, which is available to both individuals and schools, offers videos, chatbots, educator-led bootcamps and virtual study sessions with peers, all in the interest of helping students find the support they need. This type of tech-based solution can remove the burden of high cost for parents, as well as challenges scheduling tutors or transporting kids to learning sessions. 

Pew research found that while 88% of parents are concerned that their children are financially independent and have a job or career they enjoy, only one in five high school graduates are prepared for college-level STEM coursework, according to iDTech. And yet, across all professional fields, STEM majors receive the highest starting salary, according to Big Economics. In a shifting educational and job landscape, parents can look to technology themselves to make sure their children are getting what they need to be successful, Ma says.

"What ends up happening is the parents are the tutors, which is tricky when they're not up to speed on subjects," he says. "The idea is that this [platform] helps them reduce a lot of cognitive load as well. Parents come home, they just want to be with their kids and relax, and tutoring is hard on parents in general. Let's minimize potential stressors at the end of the day."