Recent research conducted by the School District of Osceola County indicated that DreamBox Math by Discovery Education, an engaging and adaptive math program that brings together curriculum and continuous formative assessments to personalize instruction, has a positive impact on state assessment scores and can be classified as a highly successful intervention. After considering the required costs of DreamBox Math by Discovery Education—professional learning, teacher salaries, and internet connectivity—researchers calculated a Return on Investment (ROI) of 196%.

Inspiring all learners to reach their highest potential as responsible, productive citizens, Osceola’s 56 non-charter and 25 charter schools provide academic instruction, rigor, and support each school day to approximately 80,000 students. Representing 140 different countries, Osceola’s students speak over 98 languages. About 25% percent of the total student population participate in the school district’s English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.

In the fall of 2021, Osceola adopted DreamBox Math by Discovery Education for 934 students in 2 schools. During the 2021-2022 school year, over 1 million minutes were spent by students in the program and 113,158 lessons were completed.

Researchers in the school district independently evaluated the effectiveness of DreamBox Math to answer the following questions:

• Is success in DreamBox Math associated with success on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)?
• What relationship exists, if any, between the implementation of DreamBox Math and academic increases?
• To what extent does the implementation of DreamBox Math impact student outcomes?
• What is the ROI for using DreamBox Math?

Following their review of the relevant data, Osceola’s research team found that progressing in DreamBox Math (growth measure) is associated with higher Florida State Assessment (FSA) scores, and higher usage is associated with higher-than-average FSA scores. This effect was especially evident among students using DreamBox Math the recommended amount.

The unique effect of DreamBox Math on state assessment scores was strong enough to be classified as a “highly successful intervention.” Osceola researchers also found DreamBox Math’s effect to be stronger than other digital interventions it has internally evaluated, including iReady and Penda.

“The School District of Osceola County’s careful research into the district’s return on investment in Discovery Education’s adaptive digital resources offers a powerful new way of assessing the effectiveness of digital resources,” said Lisa Katz, Vice President of Research and Analytics at Discovery Education. “We are proud to share Osceola’s findings in the hope that other districts will find both this data and research methodology helpful.”

For the complete Research Brief on this study and to access all of Discovery Education’s research studies, visit Discovery Education’s Research and Impact page here.

All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.