ExACT

The Future of Standards Alignment: Balancing Innovation and Integrity

sschuller — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:35:23 +0000

The Future of Standards Alignment: Balancing Innovation and Integrity

Client Solution

ExACT

EdGate Services

sschuller Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:35

The Future of Standards Alignment: Balancing Innovation and Integrity

October 13 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

For more than two decades, EdGate has been at the center of one of education’s most complex challenges: keeping learning materials aligned to ever-changing academic standards. Every year, states revise or adopt new frameworks, update subject guidelines, or adjust course structures. That constant motion makes it difficult for publishers and content providers to keep their materials current.

We built the ExACT Standards Alignment Platform to help solve these complex challenges. ExACT is a tool where clients can Author, Manage, Align, Analyze and Publish standards and content. It is designed to make alignment faster, smarter, and more accurate without losing the human judgment that makes quality alignment possible.

Our team has always believed that technology should enhance expert work, not replace it. That belief shaped how we developed ExACT and the Advanced Technology that powers it. While many alignment systems depend solely on algorithms, ExACT blends automation with deep educational insight. It’s supported by a patented proprietary, education-focused large language model developed specifically for standards alignment, guided at every step by EdGate’s subject matter experts and data specialists.

This collaboration between human expertise and AI has changed what’s possible. ExACT can identify connections between standards, even when they are phrased differently, suggest potential alignments, support cross-language comparisons, and analyze where content meets or misses key learning goals. These intelligent capabilities speed up the alignment process and allow the team to focus on what matters most: ensuring accuracy, consistency, and instructional value.

Of course, innovation only matters if it’s done responsibly. That’s why security and privacy are central to how we use technology. Every process in ExACT happens within EdGate’s secure systems. No client data is shared externally, and no third-party AI tools are granted access to private materials. We are building a foundation that’s both advanced and trustworthy, where efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of data integrity.

Our vision for ExACT’s future is rooted in this balance. We continue to refine our model, expanding its ability to handle new frameworks, languages, and content types. But our approach will always center on transparency, control, and the irreplaceable role of human expertise.

Standards alignment will always evolve, just like the education system itself. With ExACT, we are helping it evolve in the right direction, with a goal towards a future where technology and expertise work hand in hand to create faster, more accurate, and more reliable results.

If you’d like to explore how ExACT’s technology works in practice visit our Future of Standards Alignment page to learn more.

Deeper Insights with Semantic Matching in ExACT

sschuller — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:59:47 +0000

Deeper Insights with Semantic Matching in ExACT

ExACT

EdGate Services

Align Across Languages with Confidence

With Semantic Matching, standards written in other languages can be compared to English frameworks, and the reverse is also possible. These semantic translations account for meaning, not just word-for-word equivalents, making it possible to align content across language barriers with precision.

This feature supports broader and more inclusive alignment work, making it easier for organizations to align across states, countries, and languages using a single, unified platform.

Custom State-to-State and International Comparisons

ExACT users already have access to national benchmarks, such as comparing state standards to Common Core or NGSS using EdGate’s proprietary Concept Index. With Semantic Matching enabled, clients can take this further and generate comparison reports from state to state, from legacy to updated standards, or from U.S. standards to international frameworks.

This added flexibility is especially useful for publishers working across multiple jurisdictions and for agencies conducting standards reviews or preparing for upcoming adoptions.

A Premium Feature for Deeper Insight

Semantic Matching is a premium feature within ExACT. Once enabled, it allows your team to create custom comparison reports, work across languages, and export results in several formats.

More than just a comparison tool, our Semantic Matching is an asset that helps you uncover alignment insights you can act on. For organizations that depend on accuracy and scaling, EdGate provides one of the most advanced standards alignment platforms available.

Leading the Way in Standards Alignment with Semantic Matching

For more than 20 years, EdGate has been a trusted source for academic standards data, crosswalks, and alignment services. Our subject matter experts and proprietary tools, including the ExACT platform and Concept Index, continue to set the bar for quality and precision in standards comparison.

Explore our free online comparison tools to see how state standards compare with Common Core across subjects and grades. To unlock full access to Semantic Matching and build your own comparison reports contact us to get started.

Leading the Future of Standards Authoring

sschuller — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:38:46 +0000

Leading the Future of Standards Authoring

ExACT

EdGate Services

Hot Topic

sschuller Mon, 07/28/2025 - 08:38

Leading the Future of Standards Authoring with Technology and Expertise

July 28 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

For more than two decades, EdGate has been the trusted partner in the education industry for the conversion of academic standards into machine-readable format, as well as the organization and maintenance of standards documents. As that work has evolved, so has the need for smarter tools that offer a better way to author, structure, and publish standards. Standards Authoring isn’t just about writing, it requires a deep understanding of instructional practice, consistency across subjects and grades, and tools that ensure accuracy, transparency, and long-term usability. EdGate has combined this understanding with purpose-built technology to become the industry leader in standards creation, framework development, and framework publishing.

Purpose-Built Platform for the Full Lifecycle

With the ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, clients gain access to a robust environment designed specifically for the full lifecycle of standards work. This includes everything from framework creation and metadata tagging to version control, public review, and crosswalking all in one system. ExACT allows teams to build nested frameworks with unlimited hierarchical levels, apply rich metadata like implementation or retirement dates, and edit in batches for faster, more consistent outcomes. Unlike general-purpose platforms, ExACT was built exclusively for standards, meaning every feature serves a focused purpose.

Patented Alignment Technology

The platform also integrates patented alignment technology that goes beyond basic matching or keyword-based tagging. Our natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning capabilities are trained specifically on educational data, offering powerful technology-assisted tools for reducing redundancy, improving clarity, and guiding alignment decisions. This patented process is unique to EdGate and provides unmatched accuracy in connecting new or revised standards to content, assessments, or other frameworks.

Transparent, Streamlined Public Review

Transparent, well-managed public review is essential to building trust in your standards. ExACT supports that process every step of the way. Clients can publish directly to an EdGate-hosted, client-branded public site, allowing reviewers to access authored standards and submit feedback in a secure interface. Feedback is stored, tracked, and exportable, streamlining response workflows and offering complete transparency. Whether your process includes internal committees, public stakeholders, or both, ExACT keeps everything organized and documented.

One Unified System

Some tools available today focus primarily on publishing existing standards in machine-readable formats, with separate add-ons for alignment or hosting. These systems may support basic editing or CASE formatting but often rely on multiple disconnected workflows and offer limited control over the authoring process. In contrast, EdGate delivers a unified, expert-supported platform designed specifically for standards creation. From the initial draft to final publication, ExACT gives your team full control, with expert guidance when you need it.

EdGate Leads the Way in Standards Authoring

If you're searching for a comprehensive solution to create, update, align, and manage standards more effectively, EdGate’s ExACT platform offers the most advanced tools available. Backed by patented technology and decades of real-world experience, EdGate continues to lead the field in modern standards authoring. For a side-by-side feature breakdown, view our comparison chart to see what truly sets ExACT apart.

Explore more about our Standards Authoring Tools, review the benefits of our Advanced Technologies, or download our overview PDF to share with your team.

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

sschuller — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:53:06 +0000

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

EdTech

ExACT

Hot Topic

What Others Are Just Launching, EdGate Has Long Delivered

Some platforms recently announced the availability of Health and PE, World Languages, and Computer Science standards across 50 states. That’s great news—for those just getting started.

EdGate has long offered these standards for all 50 states and D.C., along with coverage that goes far beyond the basics. Our repository includes subjects that are critical to a well-rounded curriculum, including:

Arts Education
Career Development
Early Childhood Education
English Language Learners
Financial Literacy
Gifted Education

Health and PE
Language Arts
Library Media
Mathematics
Professional Development
Religious Studies

Science
Social Studies
Social and Emotional Learning
Special Skills
Technology Education
World Languages

If your alignment solution isn’t covering these, it might be time to reassess.

Curious how your current alignment solution compares?

You can try ExACT free for 30 days and explore the difference for yourself.

Start Your Trial Today

Exporting Standards Shouldn’t Come with Errors

Some “open access” tools boast that users can view and export standards freely. But upon closer inspection, publishers often hit a wall when trying to export data, receiving error messages unless they create specific registered accounts or meet eligibility criteria.

At EdGate, exports are seamless. Our standards data is ready for integration into SIS, LMS, assessment systems, and beyond. Whether you’re a publisher looking to align across all 50 states or a district needing local coverage, our systems are built to support scale, speed, and accuracy, without the headaches.

Built for More Than Educators

Some platforms prioritize access for individual educators. While helpful, this approach is often limited. An educator may only need access to a single subject in one state. In contrast, publishers and edtech platforms typically require access to multiple subjects across multiple states and in multiple formats. That’s where EdGate truly excels.

Our platform and premium tools, like the ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, are designed with publishers and content developers in mind. With automated alignment, export-ready data, and expert-backed insights, ExACT gives curriculum teams the tools they need to clearly see how their content aligns, or doesn’t, with state and national standards.

Don’t Settle for Partial Solutions

If your current solution requires workarounds, limited access, or narrow subject coverage, it might be time to upgrade. EdGate delivers the comprehensive standards data, deep alignment support, and dedicated service that today’s educational ecosystem demands.

EdGate’s Correlation Services set the industry standard with an unparalleled, patented alignment methodology that ensures precise crosswalking across all state and international educational standards. Unlike other providers, EdGate offers a comprehensive and scalable approach that guarantees educators, publishers, and EdTech companies seamless alignment to global curriculum frameworks. With a commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and innovation, EdGate delivers exclusive services that empower organizations to meet diverse learning objectives with confidence. This ensures your content remains relevant, compliant, and accessible across every market.

Curious how EdGate stacks up against other solutions?

Check out our side-by-side comparison chart to see how we measure up in coverage, access, and value.

Not sure if your current alignment solution is keeping up? Try ExACT for free and find out

Reach out to learn how your alignment strategy can go further—with less effort.

The High Cost of Curriculum Misalignment

sschuller — Thu, 15 May 2025 21:56:12 +0000

The High Cost of Curriculum Misalignment

ExACT

Hot Topic

sschuller Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:56

The High Cost of Curriculum Misalignment: What EdTech and EdPublishers Need to Know

May 15 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

We are all coming to realize that state-level K–12 curriculum adoption is a high-stakes process for both EdTech companies and education publishers. If your instructional content doesn’t align with state standards, you risk costly revisions, lost contracts, and delayed revenue. Misalignment isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a direct threat to business growth, operational efficiency, and brand credibility.

The Hidden Costs of Misalignment

1. Lost Revenue Opportunities

We know that EdTech companies and publishers often invest months—sometimes years—developing curriculum. A single rejection due to poor alignment with state standards can derail entire product launches. Each failed submission represents not only lost revenue, but also the sunk cost of development and the added expense of rework.

2. Increased Operational Costs

Manual curriculum alignment is resource-intensive. EdGate has been at it for 27 years - subject-matter experts, instructional designers, and compliance teams must sift through complex and evolving standards to ensure alignment. This reactive, manual approach takes time away from higher-impact work like improving pedagogy, user experience, or product differentiation. That’s why we’ve put so many resources into developing ExACT Standards Alignment Platform — to reduce complexities, speed alignments and reduce costs.

3. Delayed Market Entry

Alignment issues lead to missed deadlines in highly regimented adoption cycles. Many states review instructional materials on a fixed multi-year calendar. Missing one of these deadlines due to misalignment can result in waiting years for the next opportunity—a costly delay in a competitive market.

4. Damaged Brand Credibility

Frequent rejections or visible alignment errors can erode trust with educators, districts, and state departments. In an industry where reputation matters, even small missteps can lead to long-term brand damage and lost market share.

The Role of Technology in Solving the Alignment Problem

Fortunately, the alignment process is being transformed by advanced technologies, including technology-driven solutions. These tools can:

Automate alignment checks to ensure content is mapped to the latest state standards before submission.
Identify gaps and overlaps in real time, allowing teams to revise content early in the development cycle.

Generate interactive curriculum maps that make it easy for state reviewers to assess alignment quickly and confidently.
Reduce review time and revision cycles, enabling faster approval and quicker time-to-market.

Misalignment is a business risk EdTech companies and publishers can no longer afford to ignore. With state standards evolving and competition growing, leveraging technology to streamline alignment is not just a smart investment—it’s a strategic necessity. With 27 years of standards management and alignment experience, EdGate has leveraged our six U.S. patents on our Taxonomy to develop the world’s leading standards creation, management, alignment, reporting and analysis tool: ExACT, to help EdTech companies and education publishers solve these pressing challenges.

How to Future-Proof Your Curriculum Strategy

The key to avoiding misalignment pitfalls is leveraging the right technology. On June 12, 2025, we’re hosting a live webinar on how technology and automation can streamline curriculum alignment, cut costs, and increase approval rates.

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

sschuller — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:21:44 +0000

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

EdTech

ExACT

EdGate Services

sschuller Tue, 04/01/2025 - 11:21

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption with Advanced Technology

April 01 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

State-level K-12 curriculum adoption is a high-stakes process for EdTech companies and education publishers. If your content doesn’t align with state standards, you risk costly revisions, lost contracts, and delayed revenue. Misalignment isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a direct threat to growth. EdGate is committed to providing solutions leveraging advanced technology that reduce cost and speed solutions without compromising quality.

The Hidden Costs of Misalignment

Lost Revenue Opportunities

EdTech companies and publishers spend months and years developing curriculum, but when state’s reject content due to misalignment with state requirements, it means lost revenue and additional time spent on revisions.

Increased Operational Costs

Manual curriculum alignment is a labor-intensive process that can drain resources. Subject-matter experts, instructional designers, and compliance teams spend countless hours reviewing standards instead of innovating.

Delayed Market Entry

Education providers that struggle with alignment take longer to enter new markets. In an industry where state adoption cycles are rigid, missing deadlines can mean waiting years for the next opportunity.

How State-Level Curriculum Adoption Works

And Where It Breaks Down

View Our Infographic

The Role of Advanced Technology in Streamlining the Alignment Process

Advanced technology, like EdGate’s ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, can:

Automate alignment checks to ensure content meets state standards before submission. This includes advanced reporting like Gap Analysis that outlines alignment gaps from one state to the next.
Provide real-time insights on where content falls short, reducing revision cycles. ExACT can take that information and accurately migrate the aligned resources and map to any set of standards in our repository.
Streamline approvals by creating easy-to-navigate curriculum maps for state reviewers.
Know content is aligned, while you develop it. ExACT is the only comprehensive platform that lets your team test alignments while they create classroom content. Within ExACT, they gain access to a repository of over 5.5 million enhanced academic and CTE standards, all with added metadata for discovery, and CASE GUIDs where appropriate.

Next Steps: How to Future-Proof Your Curriculum Strategy

The key to avoiding misalignment pitfalls is leveraging the right technology. On June 12, 2025, we’re hosting a live webinar on how advanced technologies, like AI, machine learning, natural language processing, advanced text analysis and data analytics and automation can streamline curriculum adoption, boost revenue, and reduce costs.

Pre-Register Now to gain insights from industry experts and see real-world examples of alignment success.

A Client’s View on how to Access the U.S. Education Market Successfully

sschuller — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:51 +0000

A Client’s View on how to Access the U.S. Education Market Successfully

EdTech

ExACT

EdGate Services

Join us February 27, 2025 at 11 AM PST, 2PM EST

There will be a Q&A; portion, so please bring your questions!

Unlock New Markets by Bridging the Gaps in Your Content

sschuller — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 22:49:55 +0000

Unlock New Markets by Bridging the Gaps in Your Content

ExACT

EdGate Services

sschuller Thu, 08/22/2024 - 15:49

Unlock New Markets by Bridging the Gaps in Your Content

August 22 2024

Author

Sharla Schuller

Expanding into new states or navigating complex educational standards can be a challenge for any educational publisher. If you're finding it tough to gain traction in a new market or ensure your content meets specific standards, ExACT’s Gap Reporting feature provides the clarity you need.

Why Gap Reporting is a Game-Changer

Gap Reporting is more than just a tool—it's designed to spotlight discrepancies between your educational content and the standards you're aiming to meet. This powerful feature in ExACT doesn’t just show where your content aligns, it reveals where it doesn’t, offering actionable insights that allow you to make targeted adjustments. The result? Content that’s fully aligned with the required standards, giving you a competitive edge in any market.

Benefits of ExACT’s Gap Reporting

Accelerate Market Expansion

By quickly identifying gaps in content alignment, you can adapt your materials to meet the standards of new states or districts. This proactive approach not only speeds up market entry but also increases the likelihood of adoption.

Save Time and Resources

Manual gap analysis is time-consuming and prone to error. ExACT’s Gap Reporting automates this process, providing instant visibility into both correlated and non-correlated standards. This efficiency frees up your team to focus on refining content rather than getting bogged down in tedious manual work.

Enhance Content Quality

With detailed insights into where your content meets or falls short of standards, you can make informed decisions on where to focus development efforts. This targeted approach ensures that your content not only meets but exceeds the expectations of educators and decision-makers.

Key Features to Drive Your Success

Comprehensive Views: ExACT allows you to choose between viewing all data (correlated and uncorrelated), only correlated standards, or just uncorrelated standards (the gaps). This flexibility ensures you’re always in control of your content’s alignment strategy.

Up-to-Date Content Alignment: Staying current with ever-evolving standards is no small feat. With ExACT, you can rest easy knowing that your gap analysis is based on the latest data from the EdGate Standards Repository, keeping your content relevant and competitive.

In-Depth Statistical Reports: The inclusion of Correlation Statistics in your gap reports provides a deeper level of insight, making it easier to fine-tune your content for maximum alignment. Whether you’re preparing for state bids or refining content for a specific district, these reports are invaluable tools for success.

Maximize Your Content’s Potential

The insights gained from Gap Reporting can transform your content development strategy, ensuring that your materials are not only aligned with standards but also optimized for success in any educational market. By leveraging ExACT’s user-friendly reports, you are better equipped to deliver high-quality content that meets the needs of educators and students.

Ready to take your content alignment to the next level? Reach out to our representatives today to explore gap reporting and all the powerful features in ExACT.

Harnessing the Power of EdGate's ExACT Standards Authoring

sschuller — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:41:21 +0000

Harnessing the Power of EdGate's ExACT Standards Authoring

sschuller Mon, 06/17/2024 - 09:41

Harnessing the Power of EdGate's ExACT Standards Authoring

June 17 2024

Author

Sharla Schuller

The need for robust tools to manage and align educational standards has never been more critical to the education market. Enter EdGate's ExACT Standards Platform, a comprehensive suite of digital tools designed to streamline the management, reporting, and alignment of content standards. Today, we are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to this powerful platform: Standards Authoring.

Introducing Standards Authoring

Responding to the growing demand from our clients, Standards Authoring is now available within the ExACT Standards Platform. This innovative application not only allows for the importing of existing standards and frameworks but also enables users to manage, edit, and even create entirely new frameworks. Whether you are part of a State Department of Education, a publisher, or a non-profit organization, ExACT offers a tailored solution to meet your unique needs.

Centralized and Secure Management

Many organizations currently juggle their standards across numerous Google spreadsheets, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors. The ExACT Standards Authoring tool provides a centralized, secure environment for organizing and storing standards. This ensures that all standards are safely managed and easily accessible as they are being developed.

Key Features of ExACT Standards Authoring

Design and Develop Content Standards: Create and refine content standards for all K-12 subjects, ensuring they meet your specific educational goals.
Import/Export Functionality: Seamlessly import existing standards and export them as needed, making transitions and updates smooth and efficient.
Alignments: Leverage the EdGate Concept Index to link relevant terms with newly created frameworks, and utilize EdGate’s alignment methodology for detailed content alignments and standards comparisons.
Standards Comparison: Generate comprehensive reports that compare authored standards with other state and national standards, ensuring consistency and compliance.
CASE Formatting: Ensure that your standards are formatted according to the 1EdTech CASE standards, promoting interoperability and ease of use.
Secure Hosting: Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with secure hosting of your standards within EdGate’s repository.

Access to the World's Largest Standards Repository

EdGate is proud to offer access to the world’s largest repository of enhanced U.S. and international education standards. Our expertise in providing SaaS solutions for standards framework analytics and design is backed by a dedicated team of subject area experts, ensuring that your content is managed within a secure environment.

Exciting New Features on the Horizon

Our development team is continuously working to enhance the Standards Authoring application. Upcoming features will provide even greater control and flexibility, making it easier to manage and maintain educational standards. Here’s a sneak peek at what's coming:

Rights Management: Assign and manage rights, monitor modifications, and approve edits throughout the workflow stages.

Review, Approval, and Authorization Levels: Tools for reviewing, approving/rejecting, and commenting on standards and updates within your group profile.

Retention of History & Tracking of Edits: Maintain logs of changes/edits and approvals by user, and generate reports based on user activity.

Versioning and Archiving: Keep track of different versions and archive older standards for easy retrieval.

Public Commenting: Collect and manage public comments directly within the tool, fostering community engagement and feedback.

EdGate’s ExACT Standards Platform, with its new Standards Authoring application, is designed to empower educators and institutions by simplifying the standards management process. With the ability to publish, manage, and create new frameworks effortlessly, ExACT is the trusted solution for many educational entities. Join us in revolutionizing the way educational standards are managed and aligned.

For more information or to see a demo of the ExACT Standards Platform, contact us today. Let EdGate help you harness the power of standards management to enhance educational outcomes

Unleash the Power of Premium Comparison Reports

sschuller — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:35:34 +0000

Unleash the Power of Premium Comparison Reports

Client Solution

ExACT

EdGate Services

sschuller Wed, 02/14/2024 - 13:35

Elevating Standards Analysis with EdGate's ExACT Alignment System: Unleash the Power of Premium Comparison Reports

February 14 2024

Author

Sharla Schuller

A challenge we often hear from clients is that comparing Standards for concepts and skill similarities is very difficult. With the new Standards Comparison Report, we’ve taken a dead aim at solving for it. Standards Comparison Reports are a new, premium feature of ExACT. The Reporting not only streamlines but enhances the process of comparing educational standards, providing a robust solution tailored to each companies' needs.

A Seamless Workflow

Define Your Baseline: Choose the primary set of standards you wish to use as your baseline – be it Common Core or any other.
Select Comparative States: Handpick secondary sets for comparison, choosing states that align with your analysis goals.
Specify Subject and Grade Level: Customize your comparison by selecting the subject and grade level. With a simple click, ExACT generates a detailed report in your preferred format – Excel or Word.

Premium Flexibility with Gap Reports

EdGate's ExACT Application ensures your Standards Comparison Reports are not only comprehensive but also insightful. Gap reports integrated seamlessly into these documents provide a deeper understanding of the variations between standards, allowing for a holistic analysis.

The Repository Advantage

EdGate's Standards Repository, enriched over two decades, houses over 5 million educational standards. This wealth of data guarantees accuracy and efficiency in your standards comparison process.

Explore the Enhanced Standards Comparison Experience

Whether you're comparing multiple states, subjects, or grades, ExACT delivers a premium experience. Dive into the enhanced standards comparison process, eliminating complexities and making educational standards analysis seamless.

Get Started Today

Ready to revolutionize your approach to educational standards analysis? Explore the enhanced features of Standards Comparison Reports on EdGate's ExACT Application. Visit our website for more information or reach out to our experienced Account Executives, who are eager to schedule an appointment and demonstrate how ExACT can elevate your standards analysis to new heights. Say hello to a refined, premium experience in understanding educational standards.