EdTech products are rapidly transforming math education, yet culturally responsive and sustaining education (CRSE) principles remain largely absent from how these tools are designed and selected. While the broader education field recognizes the value of culturally responsive practices, concrete guidance on how to apply these principles in EdTech contexts, particularly as products evolve to incorporate new AI features, has been limited.

WestEd developed the REAL Mathematics Digital Design Companion to help bridge that gap, offering a practical guide for EdTech development teams and school and district leaders involved in procurement decisions. Rather than being a compliance checklist, the companion is designed to expand the factors teams consider when building or evaluating math EdTech products, helping ensure these tools are accessible for all students and do not replicate the pitfalls of the past. This resource is part of WestEd’s broader REAL Mathematics work supporting relevant, engaging, and applied learning in mathematics.