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Implementing a Digital Literacy Tool in the Early Grades: Findings from a Study of Magpie Literacy
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Implementing a Digital Literacy Tool in the Early Grades: Findings from a Study of Magpie Literacy

Published: Oct 30, 2026
Publisher: Mathematica
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Human Services Education Literacy and Numeracy Foundations

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Authors

Tareena Musaddiq

Michelle Bennett

Kate Place

Key Findings

  • Most observed students were actively engaged with Magpie for the majority of each session, and on average, students used Magpie more than the recommended time.
  • Classroom routines, easy log-in procedures, educator support, engaging student activities, and high-quality literacy content all facilitated the use of Magpie in classrooms.
  • Limited visibility into students’ learning and progress, insufficient implementation guidance and professional learning, and technology challenges sometimes impeded implementation of Magpie.
  • Higher Magpie usage was associated with slightly larger gains in literacy scores, as measured by DIBELS score growth from the middle to the end of the school year.
Magpie Literacy's Reading Foundations Tool (Magpie) is an adaptive digital tool that uses instructional videos and interactive learning activities to teach K-2 students the essential components of early literacy. Mathematica is conducting a study of the implementation and impact of the K-2 Magpie tool in two large school districts in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. This report focuses on Magpie implementation during the 2025-2026 school year in grades K-2 across 14 schools in two school districts. The study uses platform usage data, teacher focus groups, and classroom observations to understand the extent to which Magpie is implemented as intended and is perceived as being easy to use, useful for student learning, and engaging to students and teachers. The study also explores the factors that support or hinder implementation of the ed tech in early-grade classrooms. This research and publication were funded by Overdeck Family Foundation.

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