“Is Clicker ESSA-approved?”
This was one of many federal funding questions raised during a recent education conference.
ESSA funding is complex, and its requirements are interpreted differently across districts and states. There is ample confusion about what counts, what qualifies, and which funds are being dispersed.
While school leaders try to plan ahead, this uncertainty makes it hard to commit to the tools and programs they know students need.
If you’ve ever hesitated to fund tools like Clicker with federal dollars, this guide is for you. In the following sections, we’ll break down what ESSA says, how Clicker qualifies, and how to frame it in your next Title I, III, or IV request.
ESSA funding has clear parameters for how dollars can be allocated. But there's a myth that districts can only qualify for funding with "ESSA-endorsed" products.
ESSA does not approve or reject technology products.
Districts use ESSA funds for specific activities. For example, they may invest in teacher PD, literacy intervention, or support for multilingual learners.
If a product is being used to carry out one of those activities, it’s an allowable expense.
The Department of Education outlines four tiers of evidence to guide purchasing decisions. Local educational districts (LEAs) approve what qualifies. But, as long as the tool fits one of these tiers and helps student outcomes, it's usually accepted.
| Tier | Definition |
|---|---|
| I | Strong evidence from 1+ randomized control trials |
| II | Moderate evidence from quasi-experimental studies |
| III | Promising evidence from correlational studies with controls |
| IV | Shows a rationale + logic model + plan for evaluation |
Tier IV is the most flexible. If your district can show:
...you can fund it.
Districts don’t need federal “approval” to fund a tool like Clicker. All you need is a clear rationale that aligns with ESSA’s evidence standards and your district’s instructional goals.
A logic model is simply a clear plan that shows how a tool will help students succeed. For example, the logic model for Clicker might look like this:
This meets the ESSA requirement for a “research-based rationale” (Tier IV) and can be adapted to justify Title I, III, or IV-A funding.
Clicker really works in supporting student writing. Here’s the classroom evidence:
Together, these examples provide a documented rationale for use and a foundation for ongoing evaluation.
You also need to show how Clicker supports your existing goals and aligns with allowable uses under ESSA funding:
| ESSA title | Goal | Clicker alignment |
|---|---|---|
| Title I, Part A | Improve literacy and outcomes for at-risk students | Clicker supports struggling writers, students with IEPs, and below-grade level writers |
| Title III | Support English learners’ language development and access to academic content | Clicker supports English learners by building vocabulary, sentence structure, and written expression across content areas |
| Title IV-A | Use of technology to support academic achievement | Clicker meets inclusion, accessibility, and literacy goals via educational and assistive technology |
Then add:
“Clicker demonstrates a research-based rationale for improving writing outcomes and includes plans for ongoing evaluation via built-in analytics and sample work reviews.”
ESSA funding that supports student growth in writing.
ESSA funds give schools more choices when their own budgets can’t.They support students, improve instruction, and remove barriers to learning.
When used intentionally, Clicker supports literacy, language development, and access for diverse learners across classrooms. When funding streams are clear and aligned, students get better support.
Explore more Clicker success stories now.
The following sample language you can adapt to fit your district’s context and state ESSA plan.
Purpose: To support funding requests under Title I, III, or IV-A using Clicker.
We are selecting Clicker as an evidence-based literacy tool that supports improved writing outcomes for students with diverse learning needs. Clicker is grounded in research on Universal Design for Learning, assistive technology, and literacy instruction. It provides writing support for students with learning disabilities, multilingual learners, and developing and emerging writers to build fluency and independence.
Clicker fits within ESSA’s Tier IV evidence framework because it has a clear, research-informed rationale for supporting student writing. In our district, we are using Clicker as one part of a broader literacy approach, alongside core instruction already in place.
Funding will support our goals under [insert Title I, III, or IV objective], specifically [e.g., increasing inclusive writing instruction, providing supplemental support for struggling writers, or embedding UDL-aligned tools in general education classrooms].
You can tweak this depending on which funding stream you're applying under:
| Component | Clicker |
|---|---|
| Inputs | Clicker software; student devices (iPads, Chromebooks); teacher onboarding/training |
| Activities | Students use Clicker for sentence building, speech-supported word banks, writing journals, and feedback |
| Outputs | Increased writing frequency; reduced adult prompting; more engagement |
| Short-term outcomes | Students write independently, complete assignments, and meet IEP goals |
| Long-term outcomes | More students included in general education writing; yields improved literacy, self-confidence, and independence |
| Impact | Equity in writing access; greater autonomy for students with disabilities; scalable instructional support |
Yes. If Clicker helps meet your school’s learning goals and you document how you will use it, you can use ESSA funds like Title I, III, and IV-A.
ESSA does not officially "approve" programs. The law doesn’t give out stamps of approval. Instead, it says schools must choose tools based on research and student needs.
It means a program or tool is supported by research and has a plan to track how it helps students. ESSA provides four levels of evidence. Tier 1 is the strongest. Tier 4 is for programs that show promise and are backed by good reasoning.
Clicker fits Tier 4 and Tier 3 in most cases. That means:
Yes - you just need to show why the tool makes sense for your students and how you will check that it works.
Yes. Many schools use Clicker for writing support, especially with English learners, students with IEPs, and struggling writers. They include it in Title I literacy plans or Title IV tech and inclusion goals.
If you want to explore how you could Clicker to support writing and inclusion in your school or district, you can schedule a free discovery call with our team.