The education technology provider Cambium Learning Group recently published its fourth annual impact report, detailing the reach of its academic software during the 2025-26 school year. While the report presents large user statistics and high success metrics across its brands, independent educational research reveals a more complex reality. For parents and educators, understanding the difference between internal software data and independent academic outcomes is important when evaluating these tools.
What Happened
According to the newly released Cambium Impact Report, the company’s services reached 96% of U.S. school districts during the 2025-26 school year, serving more than 26 million students and teachers. The company also reported serving over 33 million family members, which was a 38% increase since 2024. The report aligned its timeline with the academic year rather than the calendar year to match school schedules.
The report lists notable claims for several of its core products. Cambium states that students using Reflex were 2.6 times more likely to meet grade-level math proficiency. In reading instruction, the company reports that students using Lexia Core5 scored 52% more points if their teachers completed the Lexia LETRS professional development course. The company also credits Time4Learning’s Cinema Series with increasing student grades by 16%, and claims that users of its Frax math program were 40% to 60% more likely to meet state standard proficiencies.
The Bigger Picture
When looking past internal marketing data, independent studies offer a clearer picture of how these programs function. For example, while Cambium reports high proficiency gains for Reflex, an independent review by Lunoo Serious Game Review rates the program a modest 6.81 out of 10. The evaluation notes that Reflex primarily focuses on basic math fact fluency, such as addition and division speed, rather than deep conceptual mathematical reasoning.
Independent evidence supports the claim that teacher training programs like Lexia LETRS boost reading outcomes. A study by the Kentucky Reading Research Center, conducted in partnership with the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Department of Education, analyzed state test results across 574 elementary schools. Researchers found that schools with higher concentrations of LETRS-trained teachers achieved a 4.26% growth in 'Proficient' readers on state exams, compared to only 2.90% growth in schools with lower training rates. A rigorous difference-in-differences analysis confirmed that the teacher training itself led to statistically significant gains on independent state exams, rather than just boosting internal software scores.
Similarly, while independent data for Frax specifically is limited, broader research consistently shows that interactive, digital math tools outperform paper worksheets. A randomized controlled trial published in ZDM Mathematics Education found that digital math simulations increase a student's intrinsic motivation, which directly translates to higher scores on fractional math assessments. Another study on MathFrac Edu found that elementary schoolers using interactive digital media developed a significantly stronger conceptual grasp of fractions. Research published in the European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education shows that combining digital mathematics tools with artificial intelligence frameworks improves student engagement and procedural fluency.
What This Means for Families
For parents and school boards, software alone is rarely a magic bullet. Academic performance improves most when digital tools are paired with trained educators. As we previously reported on classroom training gaps, school systems often purchase expensive software without investing in the professional development teachers need to use those tools effectively.
When evaluating math tools like Reflex or Frax, families should recognize that speed drills are only one part of mathematics. While these programs help kids memorize basic facts, children still need offline, conceptual practice to succeed in higher-level math like algebra.
What You Can Do
- Ask school administrators if teachers receive professional development, such as LETRS, alongside new software.
- If your child uses math games like Reflex, make sure they also work on conceptual, word-based math problems.
- Prioritize educational programs that use interactive simulations and physical modeling over passive, multiple-choice screen time.