ESSA Tier 4 Certified

Evidence & Impact

Turtle Learn is built on a rigorous evidence base and officially recognized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), making it eligible for federal education funding

* Eligible for Title I-IV & ESSER federal education funding

Download Report (PDF) Download Certificate (PDF)

Pilot Study Results

Real outcomes from Hong Kong classrooms

A study conducted in 2022–23 across three primary schools in Hong Kong (Primary 1 to Primary 3) demonstrated significant gains in Chinese language test scores for students learning with Turtle Learn in the classroom.

28%

improvement in test scores

for the lowest-performing group (1st quartile)

15%

improvement in test scores

for below-average students (2nd quartile)

15%+

of Hong Kong schools

already use and trust Turtle Learn

Turtle Learn narrows the achievement gap — delivering the greatest gains for underserved students who need support most, making it a powerful tool for educational equity.

This study was an initial company-commissioned study pending peer review. WiKIT considers it a promising foundation for future rigorous academic research, with a 5-year research roadmap now in place.

What is ESSA?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is US federal education legislation with educational equity at its core — requiring schools to use evidence-based interventions when spending federal funds, with a focus on closing achievement gaps for underserved students. ESSA certification means a product has been independently reviewed and verified against a rigorous evidence standard.

ESSA Evidence Tiers

ESSA classifies educational products across four evidence tiers

Tier 1

Strong Evidence

At least one well-designed randomized controlled trial showing significant effects

Tier 2

Moderate Evidence

At least one well-designed quasi-experimental study showing significant effects

Tier 3

Promising Evidence

Correlational study with statistical controls showing positive effects

Tier 4

Demonstrates a Rationale

Based on high-quality research findings with a clear logic model for improving student outcomes

Turtle Learn

What This Means for Turtle Learn

Passed rigorous independent third-party evidence review
Research-grounded pedagogical framework
Clear logic model demonstrating path to student outcomes
Ongoing efficacy studies in real classrooms
Measurable impact for underserved and struggling learners — supporting educational equity goals

Federal Funding Eligibility

ESSA Tier 4 certification means schools can use multiple federal funding streams to purchase Turtle Learn, including Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, and ESSER grants.

Title I Title II Title III Title IV ESSER

Certification Documents

Download the official research report and certificate

Research Report

The full ESSA Tier 4 evidence report detailing research methodology, learning outcome data, and the basis for certification.

Download Report (PDF)

Award Certificate

The official ESSA Tier 4 certification certificate issued by the certifying body.

Download Certificate (PDF)

Want to Learn More?

Our team can provide additional documentation and evidence summaries to support your grant application or purchasing decision.