Penda Learning Earns Digital Promise ESSA Tier 3 Certification for Evidence-Based Science Instruction

Independent certification recognizes Penda's research-based approach to science instruction, supported by studies demonstrating improved student achievement.

STUART, Fla., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Penda Learning, an award-winning provider of science intervention solutions for grades 3–12, has earned the Evidence-Based EdTech: ESSA Tier 3 Product Certification from Digital Promise, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing innovation and improving learning opportunities for all students.

The certification recognizes education technology products grounded in learning sciences research and supported by quantitative evidence demonstrating positive benefits for learners. ESSA Tier 3, designated as promising evidence under the Every Student Succeeds Act, provides school and district leaders with an additional measure for evaluating evidence-based instructional solutions. Products meeting ESSA Tier 3 evidence standards may also be eligible for purchase using Title I school improvement funds, subject to applicable federal and local requirements.

Penda's certification is supported by a growing body of research demonstrating improvements in science achievement. A 2025 multi-site quasi-experimental study involving more than 19,000 students across 46 schools found that students using Penda demonstrated significantly greater science achievement gains than their peers in the comparison group, with an estimated 20% greater increase in science proficiency rates.

Additional research examining more than 33,000 students across five school districts found positive outcomes associated with Penda mastery and higher state test scores compared to students not using Penda Learning. These findings extended across fifth grade, eighth grade, and biology, as well as student subgroups, demonstrating positive outcomes across diverse student populations.

"School and district leaders are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their instructional investments are making a measurable difference for students," said Bill Tudor, CEO of Penda Learning. "Earning this certification from Digital Promise reinforces what our research and district partners have shown: Penda is helping schools address science learning gaps and improve student outcomes. We're proud to provide educators with a science intervention solution grounded in research, designed to engage students, and built to support teachers."

Supporting Evidence-Based Science Instruction

Designed to complement existing curricula, Penda Learning provides three-dimensional, phenomena-based science activities and assessments that support classroom instruction, targeted intervention, remediation, and enrichment. Each activity and assessment is handcrafted to align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or specific state standards, including Florida's State Academic Standards for Science (SASS) and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The platform combines engaging learning experiences with gamification-based rewards and automated assignments, grading, and reporting to help educators identify learning gaps, monitor standards mastery, and deliver differentiated instruction.

Digital Promise's Evidence-Based EdTech certification evaluates products against research-based criteria, including a research-supported logic model, documented application of learning sciences principles, and at least one well-designed quantitative study examining the product's impact on learners or educators.

For districts navigating increasingly rigorous science standards, persistent achievement gaps, and limited instructional resources, the certification provides an independent measure to help inform purchasing and implementation decisions.

The recognition adds to a series of national honors for Penda Learning in 2026, including the CODiE Award for Best Science Instructional Solution and a No. 14 ranking on TIME and Statista's list of America's Top EdTech Companies.

To learn more about Penda Learning and its research-based science intervention solutions, visit www.pendalearning.com.

About Penda Learning

Penda Learning, a Learning 2020 company, is an award-winning digital science intervention platform serving students in grades 3–12. Designed to complement existing science curricula, Penda delivers engaging, three-dimensional science activities and assessments handcrafted to state science standards, including NGSS, Texas TEKS, Florida SASS, and Pennsylvania STEELS. By combining proven pedagogies, gamification, and instructional automation, Penda helps educators close learning gaps, engage diverse learners, and improve science achievement. Learn more at www.pendalearning.com.

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a global nonprofit organization working to expand opportunity for every learner. Through research, partnerships, and innovation, Digital Promise brings together educators, researchers, and technology developers to improve teaching and learning. Its Product Certifications provide education leaders with independent information about education technology products and their alignment with research-based criteria. Learn more at www.digitalpromise.org.

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SOURCE Penda Learning