Putting Learners First: Broadening Access Through Technology Evaluation in California Community Colleges

Putting Learners First details a multi-year collaboration between Digital Promise and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to redesign how education technology is evaluated and procured. Through a co-design process engaging over 400 students, faculty, and staff, the team developed a new Contact Initiation Form and three product badges focused on equity, faculty agency, and continuous improvement. The resulting framework shifts evaluation responsibility to vendors, centers learner voice, and establishes transparent, evidence-based criteria to ensure edtech products serve diverse community college populations.