Building Brighter Futures: Toledo Pilot Helps Students Thrive at Escuela SMART Academy

Students from third and fourth grade at Escuela SMART Academy pose for a group photo with a Learn Kernel team member (back left) as part of the school's educational technology pilot.

Toledo, Ohio — Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of language barriers, internet access, or household income. At Toledo, Ohio's Escuela SMART Academy, part of Toledo Public Schools, a recent educational pilot is showing how strong school-community partnerships can open new doors for student success.

Serving a diverse student population, including many students from Spanish-speaking households, Escuela SMART Academy continues working to ensure that all children have equitable access to learning opportunities. The Learn Kernel pilot became one more tool in that ongoing effort.

From December 2025 through June 2026, Learn Kernel partnered with the school to support third and fourth grade students with offline, bilingual learning resources focused on reading, English Language Arts (ELA), and mathematics. While the program introduced new educational tools, the heart of the story remained the students, families, and educators who brought it to life.

We Want Every Child to Succeed

School leadership emphasized that the goal was simple: support students in every way possible.

“We are always looking for ways to help our students succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” said Principal Natasha Allen at Escuela SMART Academy. She continued “The pilot provided additional opportunities for students to strengthen their reading and math skills while also allowing families to stay more connected to their children's learning.”

Supporting Students Where They Are

The Learn Kernel resources were designed to support students both in school and at home. Because the devices function offline, students did not need internet access to continue learning outside of the classroom.

Nearly half of participating students benefited from Spanish-language learning support, reinforcing the importance of bilingual education in helping students fully demonstrate what they know and can do.

For many multilingual learners, the challenge is not ability—it is access. When instruction is available in both English and Spanish, students are better able to engage, understand, and build confidence in their learning.

Strong Academic Growth Across Subjects

The pilot included 40 students across third and fourth grade and resulted in meaningful academic gains:

• Overall academic performance increased by 23.6%

• English Language Arts scores improved by 26.5%

• Mathematics scores increased by 20.3%

• Nearly 89% of students met or exceeded their academic growth goals

  
  

These results are especially important given that third grade is a critical milestone in a child's education, particularly for reading development

Family Engagement and Learning at Home

For many families, especially those in multilingual households, the program created new opportunities to engage with their children's education at home.

Because students were able to continue learning without internet access, parents and guardians were better able to support daily learning routines.

"For many families, particularly those in multilingual households, the ability for students to continue learning at home without requiring internet access created new opportunities for parents and guardians to participate in their children's educational journey." Said Belinda El Centro Hub Director Escuela SMART Academy of Toledo Public Schools.

Teachers at the Center of Success

School leaders and program partners noted that the success of the pilot was supported in part by the ongoing efforts of classroom teachers.

Teachers helped incorporate the program into the broader learning environment and provided important structure and guidance as students engaged with the materials throughout the school year.

Their role contributed to a stable and supportive classroom setting that allowed students to participate consistently and benefit from the program.

“I feel like the Learn Kernel was an intervention tool for them [to use] at their own pace. For me, I know it was something they could use at home besides what I provided for them to study or use as homework. I know a lot of parents would have them use their own iPads or phones but sometimes they would get distracted or...go to commercials or other videos and the Learn Kernel for some students is just those videos and they were engaged with that without any interruption...I would definitely recommend the Learn Kernel to everyone.” Stated Liliana Barrera-Roman of Escuela SMART Academy

Building Confidence Through Bilingual Learning

A key finding from the pilot was that many students already had strong academic potential—the difference came when they were given access to instruction in a language they fully understood.

Students who used both English and Spanish learning materials demonstrated stronger comprehension and improved performance across subjects. The results highlight how bilingual education can serve as a bridge to equity, helping students fully express what they know.

While the pilot served students from diverse backgrounds, the outcomes were especially encouraging for multilingual learners and students from Spanish-speaking households, reinforcing the importance of language-accessible education in creating more equitable opportunities for success.

Toledo Pride and Community Impact

What began as a local educational initiative in Toledo is now helping demonstrate how community partnerships can strengthen student achievement while addressing broader challenges in educational and digital equity.

The success at Escuela SMART Academy reflects not only the impact of the program, but also the commitment of a community working together to support its children.

More Than Test Scores

Students did not just participate—they engaged deeply with the learning process.

• In third Grade, 95% reported learning something new and 90% said the program helped them understand concepts better.

• In fourth Grade, 75% reported learning something new and 85% reported improved understanding.

  
  

Students responded positively to the mix of video-based instruction and hands-on workbook activities, which helped make learning more accessible and engaging

Looking Ahead

As students packed their backpacks for summer break, the results of the pilot represented more than improved test scores. They reflected increased confidence, stronger reading skills, new learning opportunities, and a reminder that when students are given the tools and support they need, they can achieve remarkable things.

At Escuela SMART Academy, those brighter futures are already beginning to take shape.

About Learn Kernel

Learn Kernel is a Toledo-based educational tech organization focused on bridging the educational and digital divide through accessible offline learning solutions. Working with schools, nonprofits, governments, and community partners, Learn Kernel helps expand access to quality education regardless of internet connectivity, geography, or economic circumstance.