What is the first step in choosing reading-support technology?

Defining the specific student problem or barrier — not starting with a product.

What should be defined before purchasing to measure success later?

A clear definition of what success looks like, such as student independence or reduced interruptions, decided before deployment.

School Buying Guide: How to Choose Reading Support Technology

A ten-step framework for evaluating reading-support technology for a school purchase — starting with the student need and ending with a plan to measure whether the deployment worked.

Buying for a School Is Different From Buying a Consumer Product

You need to evaluate educational fit, technical fit, procurement fit, and implementation fit.

This guide walks through that evaluation decision by decision — what to determine and in what order — before any paperwork starts. Once the right model and quantity are clear, the school purchasing guide in the resource center turns that decision into a procurement checklist you can hand to a purchasing office.

Step 1 — Define the Problem

Don’t start with the product. Start with the student. What barrier are you trying to address?

Step 2 — Identify the Material

Is the student working primarily with printed books, worksheets, handouts, digital documents, or mixed materials?

Step 3 — Define Required Features

Potential requirements include OCR, text-to-speech, dictionary, translation, connectivity, offline operation, and language support.

Step 4 — Evaluate the User

Can the student hold the device, scan accurately, navigate the interface, use headphones, and operate it independently?

Step 5 — Evaluate the Classroom

Will the device work without unnecessarily disrupting instruction?

Step 6 — Evaluate IT

Determine whether the chosen model requires software, computer connectivity, internet, specific operating systems, or device configuration.

Step 7 — Determine Quantity

Consider individual assignment, classroom sets, shared devices, special education programs, and school-wide deployment.

Step 8 — Review Procurement

Determine whether you need a quote, purchase order, vendor registration, bulk pricing, or approval.

Step 9 — Plan Implementation

Buying the device is only the beginning. Plan teacher and student onboarding.

Step 10 — Measure the Deployment

Define what success means — for example, student independence, reduced interruptions, improved access to printed materials, or increased ability to complete assigned work.

Important: Information in this guide is provided for educational and procurement planning purposes and is not a substitute for professional, legal, or funding-program guidance. Scanmarker is assistive technology intended to support access to printed information — it does not replace reading instruction, special education services, or individualized accommodations. Schools and districts should confirm current funding eligibility, procurement requirements, and product specifications directly with the appropriate authority before purchasing.