Arizona families turn to tablets to prepare children for kindergarten

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

As Arizona continues to grapple with early literacy challenges and uneven access to preschool, a new wave of at-home education tools is positioning themselves as a potential bridge offering structured learning environments outside traditional systems.

One of the latest entrants, Smile Zemi, launched its U.S. platform in 2023 after more than a decade of use in Japan, where parent company JustSystems reports its software is installed in approximately 85% of public elementary schools.

Now, the company is targeting younger learners in the U.S. with the recent launch of a pre-K program designed for children ages 3 and 4. The goal: bring students to a first-grade readiness level before they even begin kindergarten. 

The newly launched Smile Zemi Pre-K program currently begins at $99.99 per month for a 12-month subscription plan and offers a 21-day home trial for new users.  It has also just gained approval as an ESA provider, enabling voucher participants to take advantage of it's features.

A response to a growing gap

Early childhood advocates in Arizona have long warned that many children arrive at kindergarten already behind — particularly in literacy, language development and social-emotional skills. Organizations like First Things First and Read On Arizona have emphasized that early learning experiences, especially before age five, play a critical role in long-term academic success.

“Only 32% of Arizona’s 3- (to) 4-year-olds are enrolled in high-quality early learning settings,” according to Read On Arizona, which notes that “the learning that happens before kindergarten prepares children for school success.”

“Teaching very young children early literacy skills gives them an unshakable foundation for a lifetime of learning,” Jodi Gunning, superintendent of Litchfield Elementary School District told First Things First.

For families unable to access formal preschool programs, whether due to cost, availability or scheduling constraints, structured home-based learning tools are becoming a popular alternative.

Taking a different approach

Smile Zemi’s approach differs from some traditional learning apps in a few ways. 

Students use a stylus rather than tapping a screen, mimicking pencil-and-paper writing. The system is also closed — meaning no internet browsing, social media or external apps — an intentional design aimed at reducing distractions and limiting exposure to non-educational content.

The curriculum covers math, English language arts, science, social skills and creative subjects. It also aligns with the Common Core standards used in many U.S. schools.

“The platform adapts to each student’s pace and level of understanding,” said Fusayo Terao, senior expert at JustSystems, developer of Smile Zemi. “Based on a child’s progress, the system analyzes performance and recommends daily learning tasks designed to keep subjects balanced rather than allowing students to focus only on the areas they already enjoy.” 

In an eight-week pilot program conducted in New Jersey last year, the company reports second-grade students improved math scores by an average of 29 percentage points, while third-grade students saw a 21-point increase in English language arts after eight weeks.

“Each day, students are presented with guided learning activities across multiple subject areas,”said Terao. “The goal is to create a more well-rounded learning experience while still personalizing instruction to the child.” 

The rise of adaptive learning technology

Adaptive learning technology is increasingly being studied as a tool to personalize instruction and help students progress at their own pace.

Research reviews have found that AI-powered tutoring systems like Smile Zemi generally produce positive academic gains, with some studies showing learning improvements equivalent to several additional months of instruction. Large-scale evaluations of programs such as DreamBox have also found students who use adaptive learning tools as recommended tend to post stronger achievement gains.

While experts say technology is not a substitute for effective teaching, the evidence suggests well-designed adaptive platforms can help schools provide more individualized support, particularly for students who are behind grade level.

Barbara Pape of Digital Promise argues that effective personalization begins with understanding each student's strengths, needs and learning pace rather than delivering the same instruction to every child.

Access versus advantage

In Arizona, where parent-directed education options have expanded rapidly through the state’s ESA program, Smile Zemi has been approved as an ESA marketplace vendor through ClassWallet. 

While tools like Smile Zemi may offer structured support, they also raise questions about access — and whether solutions like these risk widening existing gaps.

“While the system typically connects to the internet for updates and progress tracking, families can also use a travel mode that allows children to continue learning offline,” Terao said.  

In Arizona, where thousands of families rely on subsidized child care programs — and where waitlists for assistance can stretch into the tens of thousands — the emergence of private, at-home learning tools highlights a growing divide in how early education is accessed.

The Children’s Action Alliance has argued Arizona still has “much work to do” to ensure students have the resources and support needed to succeed academically.

A shift already underway

Arizona has seen a steady rise in parent-directed education, from microschools to homeschooling to customized learning through Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.

While Smile Zemi is not tied to any public funding mechanism, its growth reflects a broader trend: families taking a more active role in shaping early education.

Whether platforms like this can meaningfully close readiness gaps, or simply shift them, remains an open question. But as kindergarten expectations rise and access to early learning remains uneven, one thing is clear: more families are looking for solutions long before the first day of school.

Editor’s note:  A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.