What We've Learned and Where Algebro Is Headed

When we first launched Algebro, we had a vision for what the platform could be: a comprehensive, end-to-end math curriculum that could serve as a complete online textbook. We built lessons, practice problems, and AI-powered guidance all designed to take students through entire math courses from start to finish.

But here's the honest truth: classroom usage hasn't been as extensive as we would have liked. And after talking to teachers and gathering feedback, we now understand why.

Listening to Teachers

Two things became very clear from the feedback we received.

First, the curriculum we built was structured more like a homeschool program, basically a full online textbook experience. That's great for certain use cases, but it's not what most classroom teachers are looking for. They already have a curriculum. They don't need another one competing for space in their lesson plans.

Second, and this was really the bigger insight, most teachers have somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour of computer time with their students each week. That's it. When they open up a platform during that window, they're not looking for a textbook. They want targeted, standard-specific practice and quizzes that reinforce what they're already teaching in class.

That feedback changed everything for us.

What We're Building Now

We're shifting our focus to what teachers actually need: standard-specific practice and quiz modules. These are shorter, more focused sessions tied directly to individual math standards that teachers can drop into their existing routines without overhauling anything. A teacher covering ratios and proportional relationships that week can pull up a practice set aligned to that exact standard, assign it, and let Algebro's AI-powered guidance support students as they work through it.

This is where we believe Algebro can make the biggest impact. Not replacing the teacher's curriculum, but giving students meaningful, targeted practice with built-in support when they get stuck.

To be clear, the textbook-style curriculum isn't going away. We had our Pre-Algebra and 6th grade courses well underway, and that work will remain available on the platform. But we're pausing further development on those to focus on building out standard-specific practice and quiz modules for 6th grade, 7th grade, and Pre-Algebra first. Once those are in a strong place, we'll shift back to continuing the full textbook-style courses. It's not a change in vision, it's a change in priority based on what classrooms are telling us they need right now.

A Better Onboarding Experience

The other major change we've made is how teachers and students get started on the platform. Previously, our onboarding process was clunky. A teacher would receive a batch of pre-made student accounts and be left to distribute them, sorting through spreadsheets, assigning usernames, dealing with login issues. It wasn't a great experience for anyone.

Now, the process is simple. A teacher creates their class on Algebro, and students create their own accounts in about two minutes. It's faster, cleaner, and puts less on the teacher's plate.

This updated onboarding does come with one important addition: because students are now creating their own accounts, we require a data privacy agreement with the school to ensure full FERPA compliance. Protecting student data is something we take seriously, and this step ensures that every school using Algebro can do so with confidence that their students' information is handled properly.

Looking Ahead

We're a small, local team based in East Orlando, and we're building Algebro because we believe math education technology can be better. More focused, more supportive, and more aligned with how classrooms actually work. The feedback we've received has made the product stronger, and we're excited about where things are headed.

If you're a teacher or administrator interested in piloting Algebro's standard-specific practice and quiz modules with your students, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us and let's talk.

— Justin Korwin, Founder