Small Moments, Real Connection: Our Standard for Technology in Schools

Technology in schools is a rightfully fraught topic. Schools have seen a variety of responses and opinions, ranging from full AI-enablement to unilateral technology bans. As the founders of Sown To Grow, and as parents of four K–12 boys between us, this conversation is both professional and deeply personal.

‍

‍

‍

We came to this work after years inside the education system. As colleagues in a large urban school district, we saw how outdated structures made effective practices hard to implement —and how much those structures asked of already-stretched educators.  We were asking them to do more without giving them the tools to make that work manageable.

‍

Outside of K-12, we have also worked in the private sector, where there can be little accountability for the broader impact of corporate actions (case in point: recent litigation against social media companies).

‍

Experiencing both sides shaped how we built Sown To Grow: we wanted to bring the best of technology to education while staying grounded in the realities of the classroom. We believe in supporting students, educators, and schools with thoughtful technology that helps them do the most important work: ensuring that every student is seen, supported and learning at their best.

‍

Here are the questions we ask ourselves to hold to that standard:

‍

Does the approach strengthen human relationships, or interfere with them?

‍

This matters more than ever, when so many digital spaces pull students toward isolation. Sown To Grow is built to amplify human connection, not replace it.

‍

Our core routine is simple. Each week, students select an emoji to share how they are doing, respond to a prompt about their learning, and can tell their teacher anything else they would like them to know. The technology creates an ongoing line of communication between students and their teachers. Teachers can read and respond to entries, helping students connect the dots between how they are feeling, what they need, and what helps them learn and thrive.

‍

Because reflections are accessible in an online system, educators can also identify patterns and better understand individual and classroom needs. A student might share that they’re having an argument with friends, for example, creating an opportunity to support conflict resolution and relationship-building. Admin can also identify concerns that may warrant additional support, including stress or anxiety, grief, bullying, or adverse childhood experiences.

‍

‍

‍

Most importantly, the technology supports the adults at the center of the relationship rather than replacing them. Students do not use Sown To Grow independently. Every reflection is shared with a staff member, and there is no chatbot or automated response. Educators decide how to communicate, when to follow up, and what support a student needs.

‍

A few minutes of reflection can also reach students that adults might otherwise miss. Tier 1 check-ins can lift up the voices of quieter, internalizing students who might otherwise fly under the radar. As we frequently hear from our partners, this can open the door to meaningful connection:

‍

_{Sown To Grow has allowed for deeper connections and private conversations in a less personal and daunting manner. It facilitates vulnerability without the awkwardness of being vulnerable face to face—yet it has the effect of making face to face moments more intimate/real. - Elementary Teacher, Los Angeles, CA}

_{Sown to Grow allows me to get insightful and meaningful information from my students, especially those who are reluctant to “share out loud” or too shy to ask for support in person. It has fostered positive connections with many of my students that I think have impacted their sense of belonging in my class. - High School Teacher, Nashville, TN}

‍

Does it have positive and measurable outcomes?

‍

Technology should not be used for technology’s sake. It should serve a clear purpose, and that purpose should be measurable and independently evaluated. At Sown To Grow, that also means asking whether our approach is making a meaningful difference for students who are most likely to be overlooked or underserved.

‍

Sown To Grow is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Digital Promise, and other nonprofit research organizations. Independent evaluations have found that our weekly routine can improve student sense of belonging, self-awareness and self-reflective skills, as well as academic indicators including chronic absenteeism and student behavior. Our latest research meets ESSA Tier 2 evidence criteria and has received CASEL’s highest evidence-based designation.

‍

‍

‍

Is it safe and secure?

‍

As educators and parents ourselves, we share families' concerns about protecting student information.

‍

Sown To Grow is verified by Common Sense Media and follows industry-standard student data privacy practices governed by the California Student Privacy Alliance and National Student Data Privacy Consortium. Where a district's privacy requirements are more stringent, they supersede our standard terms. 

‍

Student reflections are protected by multiple layers of access controls and are available only to authorized teachers and staff who need the information to support students or administer the program. We collect only the information needed to operate the program. Student data is never sold or used for advertising or marketing, and we do not share personal information with third parties—including researchers—without district consent and a separate data agreement. Data is encrypted, stored on secure U.S.-based servers, and regularly security tested.

‍

Would we want our own kids to use it?

‍

It is telling when tech executives don’t let their own kids use their products. 

‍

Our own children attend schools and districts that use Sown To Grow. We believe they, like all kids, deserve strong relationships with trusted adults at school. Their voices, experiences, and well-being matter.

‍

As parents, we know our children can't learn at their best if they don't feel at their best. When one of our kids is upset or stressed, we want a caring adult to help them process, problem-solve, and move forward. When they're thriving, we love knowing their teachers are celebrating with them.

‍

That's what Sown To Grow is designed to support: a safe space for students to share the full range of their experiences, build self-reflection skills, and strengthen the relationships that help them learn and grow.

‍

‍

‍