Plabook is an AI reading technology that uses natural language processing and speech recognition to teach children to read. This technology is designed to equip teachers, parents and students with the tools and resources to build fundamental reading skills, including phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Plabook aims to support reading instruction in the classroom, providing teachers with real-time data to help them create assignments, track performance, and address learning gaps.

UERC is conducting a three-year evaluation of Plabook in a group of elementary schools in Kansas City. This evaluation examines the implementation of the Plabook initiative and its impact on students and teachers. Researchers are assessing teacher satisfaction, technology usage, student patterns of engagement with technology, and changes in reading skills. Both qualitative and quantitative data are being collected to identify early successes and areas for improvement. To evaluate program impact, UERC is analyzing data from a comparison group of students in non-Plabook schools.