MLC Number Chart
Product by The Math Learning Center
The Bottom Line
Partially. MLC Number Chart does not teach independently, but it serves as an excellent digital manipulative to visualize mathematical patterns. Because it lacks built-in instruction, feedback loops, or retrieval practice, its effectiveness depends entirely on a parent or educator guiding the learning experience and posing structured questions.
Pros
- Allows visualization of numerical patterns using a customizable grid system.
- Supports a wide range of number types, including decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers.
- Features a stamp tool that helps learners highlight and group specific mathematical sequences.
- Provides play and pause functions that facilitate educator-led choral counting exercises.
Cons
- Lacks automated feedback to correct student misconceptions in real time.
- Contains no built-in instruction, worked examples, or structured lesson paths.
- Offers no spaced repetition or retrieval practice to ensure long-term retention.
- Requires constant adult supervision and pedagogical guidance to be effective.
What Do We Know About MLC Number Chart?
MLC Number Chart is not a standalone learning program, but rather a digital blank canvas that requires adult guidance to be effective. Your child will not find tutorials, adaptive quizzes, or automated feedback here. Instead, this app acts as a virtual replacement for physical classroom manipulatives like a hundreds board. You must drive the instruction. If your child is struggling with counting sequences, skip counting, or decimal relationships, you can use this tool to build a visual model of those concepts. Visualizing math is a proven way to reduce cognitive load, helping learners transition from concrete counting to abstract arithmetic. However, without a teacher or parent to ask questions like "What pattern do you see when we stamp every fifth number?", the app offers little value. It does not track progress or adjust difficulty. Parents should view this strictly as a visual aid to supplement existing homework or math curriculum, rather than a self-paced educational game.
How Does MLC Number Chart Work?
MLC Number Chart functions as an open-ended digital manipulative rather than a structured instructional tool. Users begin by selecting a grid size, which can range from a traditional 10x10 hundreds chart to custom dimensions. The grid can be populated with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or mixed numbers. Learners and educators use digital stamps and colors to highlight specific cells. This mechanic allows your child to visually isolate multiples, identify prime numbers, or track skip-counting patterns. A built-in playback feature automates the progression through numbers, supporting choral counting routines often used in elementary classrooms. Because the environment is entirely open, the user dictates the complexity. A first grader might work on a 1-to-20 chart, while a fifth grader might explore a grid of decimal equivalents. There are no levels to beat or points to earn; the mechanics are purely designed to support guided mathematical exploration and pattern recognition.
Strengths and tradeoffs of MLC Number Chart
The biggest strength of MLC Number Chart is its ability to make abstract numerical patterns visual, while its biggest weakness is the complete absence of built-in pedagogy. Visual representation is highly supported by learning science as a method to reduce cognitive load; when learners can see the physical layout of skip counting on a grid, they process the relationships between numbers more efficiently. The app's flexibility in handling fractions and decimals means this visual scaffolding extends well beyond early elementary concepts. Customization allows educators to tailor the board precisely to the lesson at hand.
However, the lack of immediate feedback violates a core principle of effective digital learning. If your child misidentifies a pattern or stamps the wrong multiple, the app will not correct them. It completely lacks retrieval practice and spaced repetition, meaning it cannot reinforce skills for long-term retention. Without worked examples or guided prompts, learners rely entirely on an adult to construct the learning experience, making it an incomplete solution for independent study.
Who Might Benefit From MLC Number Chart?
MLC Number Chart is best for educators and heavily involved parents who need a flexible visual aid to teach number sense, patterns, and arithmetic. It is highly effective for elementary-aged students (grades K-5) who are currently learning to count, skip count, or grasp the relationship between decimals and fractions. Your child will benefit most from this app if they struggle with abstract math and need to see how numbers relate on a structured grid. It is not recommended for students seeking independent practice or those who require step-by-step instruction.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
MLC Number Chart does not meet our data transparency standard. Its privacy policy does not document basic protections, including limits on sharing children's data, a COPPA or FERPA commitment and parents' right to see their child's data.
13 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated September 2026
Apps Privacy Statement →Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Not documented: limits on sharing children's data, a COPPA or FERPA commitment, parents' right to see their child's data, parents' right to delete their child's data
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Not documented: self-service deletion
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access0/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
The policy does not mention parents.
Can parents view their child's data?
The policy does not address parental access to a child's data.
Can parents modify their child's data?
The policy does not address parents modifying a child's data.
Can parents delete their child's account?
The policy does not address parents deleting a child's data or account.
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
The policy has no dedicated children's privacy section.
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
The policy does not reference COPPA.
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
The policy does not reference FERPA.
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
The policy does not address parental consent for child accounts.
Data Portability2/5
Can users access their personal data?
“If you wish to access, correct, update, or request deletion of your personal information, you can do so at any time as described in the “Updating & Correcting Personal Information” heading below.”
Can users download/export their data?
“In addition, you can object to processing of your personal information, ask us to restrict processing of your personal information, or request portability of your personal information. You can exercise these rights by contacting us at MLCinfo@mathlearningcenter.org.”
Is there a self-service data access tool?
The policy only describes access requests made by email, not a self-service tool.
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy mentions portability but does not name an export format.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not mention an API for data access.
Data Minimization3/6
Is data collection itemized?
“some of the specific information we may collect automatically when you visit the Website includes usage data, such as the date and time of visit, duration of visit, type of web browser used, operating system/platform used, your IP address or mobile device ID, the websites from which you linked to the Website, and your CPU speed.”
Can the app be used without a real name?
“We will never ask you to provide us with your or someone else’s personal information in order to access, or while you are using, the Apps.”
Can the app be used without an email?
“We will never ask you to provide us with your or someone else’s personal information in order to access, or while you are using, the Apps.”
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
The policy says required fields are needed to provide the services requested but does not state that collection overall is limited to what is necessary.
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy says IP addresses are collected and does not state they are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy says aggregated regional location data is collected and does not exclude location tracking.
Third-Party Protection5/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
“Except in the limited circumstances stated in this Privacy Statement, we do not share, sell, or otherwise transfer or disclose your personal information to any third party.”
Are third-party providers named?
“Google Analytics™: We use Google Analytics™ on our Website to gather usage data from our Website, including our Web Apps.”
Are providers contractually restricted?
“These third parties are required to keep the information confidential and are not authorized to process your personal information or Automatically Collected Information for any other purpose other than as instructed by us.”
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
“We do not use any advertising, targeting, or marketing cookies on our Website or Apps.”
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
The policy does not address AI or machine learning.
Child-specific sharing restriction?
The policy has no sharing restrictions specific to children.
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“We use session-type functionality cookies to enable the website to temporarily remember choices you make on the Website, and to provide a more personalized experience. You can customize or disable these cookies through your browser settings.”
Deletion & Retention3/5
Can users delete their account?
“If you request that your personal information be changed or deleted from our databases, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to remove your personal information from our databases”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
The policy only describes deletion by email request, not a self-service mechanism.
Specific data retention timeline?
“Save States expire: A Save State will be automatically deleted if it has not been accessed for a set period of time. Currently, Save States are set to automatically delete after two years from their last date of access.”
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy auto-deletes anonymous Save States after two years but does not say inactive accounts are auto-deleted.
Post-deletion handling described?
“When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete it or anonymize it, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.”
Advertising0/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
The policy says it does not use advertising cookies but does not state whether the product displays advertising.
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy says it does not use advertising cookies but does not state that the product has no third-party ads.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
The policy does not address children and ad targeting specifically.
Ad-free option available?
The policy does not state that the product has no advertising or offer an ad-free option.
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Apps Privacy Statement using the Common Sense Privacy Program framework. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe the policy disclosures we assessed; unknown checks are excluded from scores. Privacy policies can change. This review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how MLC Number Chart works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About MLC Number Chart
Is MLC Number Chart free?
Yes, MLC Number Chart is completely free. The Math Learning Center provides it as an open-access web and tablet application without subscriptions, in-app purchases, or paywalls.
Is MLC Number Chart good for elementary students?
Yes, it is an excellent tool for elementary students when used alongside adult instruction. It helps young learners visualize early math concepts like counting to 100, skip counting, and basic fraction relationships, though they cannot use it effectively on their own.
What does MLC Number Chart teach?
It does not teach concepts directly, but it facilitates the learning of number sense, patterns, choral counting, decimals, and fractions. It serves as a visual framework where parents or teachers can demonstrate how numerical systems are organized.
How does MLC Number Chart compare to Khan Academy Kids?
Khan Academy Kids is a comprehensive, self-paced curriculum that teaches independently using structured lessons and automated feedback. MLC Number Chart is simply a digital whiteboard for numbers; it requires a teacher or parent to provide the actual instruction.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated MLC Number Chart?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well MLC Number Chart teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and does not yet document the basic protections (Level 1).
Is MLC Number Chart COPPA compliant?
A COPPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with COPPA. Policy review note: The policy does not reference COPPA.
Is MLC Number Chart FERPA compliant?
A FERPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with FERPA. Policy review note: The policy does not reference FERPA.
Does MLC Number Chart have a children's privacy policy?
No dedicated children's privacy section was found in the reviewed policy. Policy review note: The policy has no dedicated children's privacy section.
Does MLC Number Chart sell student data?
The reviewed policy states that the app does not sell data. This is a policy statement; actual data practices were not verified. Policy review note: The vendor states it does not sell personal information.
Can you delete your data from MLC Number Chart?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: Users can request deletion of their personal information.
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