In this report, the authors analyze the cost to implement Zearn Math in a large Texas school district. The results of this cost study, in combination with those from an earlier impact study, indicate that Zearn Math is a promising approach to improving math achievement and costs less than peer math products.

An Analysis of Zearn Math Implementation Costs

Thomas Goughnour, Christopher Joseph Doss

ResearchPublished Sep 14, 2026

Recent declines in U.S. student math performance, exacerbated by pandemic-related learning losses, have renewed attention on improving math instruction, particularly in late elementary grades, when students develop foundational skills for algebra and science, technology, engineering, and math success. Educational technology has emerged as a potential solution to support differentiated, adaptive instruction. Zearn Math is one such technology, designed to strengthen grade-level learning while addressing skill gaps, an acceleration approach that contrasts with programs emphasizing remediation of foundational skills first.

In this report, the authors analyze the cost to implement Zearn Math in a large Texas school district. This cost study complements a Zearn Math impact study in which researchers evaluated the program’s effects in grades 3–5 over two years in this district using a randomized controlled trial design. The results of this cost study, in combination with those from the randomized controlled trial, indicate that Zearn Math is a promising approach to improving math achievement and costs less than peer math products.

Key Takeaways

Zearn Math adoption costs were lower than peer educational technology costs documented in the literature

  • The average cost per school to implement Zearn Math was $20,601 in year one and $16,944 in year two.
  • The average cost per student to implement Zearn Math was $39.02 in year one and $32.48 in year two.

Two factors drove cost variation across schools

  • Larger schools spread fixed costs across more students, lowering the per-student cost.
  • There was school-level variation in the amount of uptake in Zearn-provided personnel training.

Calculating a cost-effectiveness ratio was not possible

  • Product-specific pricing and school autonomy in purchasing peer educational technology products in the comparison schools prevented accurate accounting of these schools’ math educational technology costs.

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Goughnour, Thomas and Christopher Joseph Doss, An Analysis of Zearn Math Implementation Costs. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2026. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4924-1.html.
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This research was sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education and conducted in RAND Education, Employment, and Infrastructure.

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