USA Today: Online programs used for coronavirus-era school promise results. The claims are misleading. “Misleading research claims are increasingly common in the world of ed tech. In 2002, federal education law began requiring schools to spend federal money only on research-based products. As more schools went online and demand for education software grew, more companies began designing and commissioning their own studies about their products. There is little accountability to make sure companies conduct quality research and describe it accurately, so they’ve been free to push the limits as they try to hook principals and administrators. This problem has been exacerbated by the coronavirus as widespread school closures forced districts to turn to online learning. Many educators have been making quick decisions about what products to lean on as they try to provide remote learning options for students.”