Parent urges district to drop i‑Ready over privacy and weak evidence; superintendent says district not sending behavioral data

A Fairbanks resident urged the school board May 19 to stop using the i‑Ready platform in district classrooms, saying the program collects extensive student data and lacks independent evidence of learning benefits.

"I'm here tonight to voice my concerns about the use of I Ready in our district's classrooms," Sydney Mullen said during public comment. She cited a pending federal class‑action lawsuit and a forensic analysis she said shows student profile data being transmitted to Google Analytics, and told the board the district pays roughly $60 per student — an annual cost she estimated at about $390,000 for 6,500 students.

Mullen also challenged the research base for i‑Ready, saying peer‑reviewed studies are limited and that two Johns Hopkins studies were released as white papers in partnership with the vendor.

During questions from the board, Superintendent Dr. Meinert said the district is not seeing behavioral data being sent from the vendor. "That's correct. We're not seeing that either," he told members when asked to clarify whether behavioral information from i‑Ready is transmitted from district systems.

Administration said math materials will be up for adoption next year and that the district will review i‑Ready alongside other options, including paper‑based interventions such as spring math being piloted at Denali Elementary. Board members asked for an internal audit and for any additional information to be shared with the board and public ahead of adoption decisions.

The board did not take action at the meeting; testimony on curriculum options and procurement will be part of the district’s regular adoption process.