Podcast Summary: “I've sued i-Ready | Answering your questions (with attorney Andy Liddell)”

Podcast: Scrolling 2 Death
Host: Nicki Petrossi
Guest: Attorney Andy Liddell (Edtech Law Center)
Date: April 6, 2026

Overview

This episode centers on host Nicki Petrossi’s lawsuit, with Edtech Law Center, against edtech giant Curriculum Associates, the makers of i-Ready—a software used in schools by millions of children. Petrossi and attorney Andy Liddell address widespread concerns from parents and teachers regarding the data collection, privacy, and potential harms associated with i-Ready and similar educational technology platforms. In a Q&A format, they break down what the lawsuit entails, the risks to families, and actions parents and educators can consider.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lawsuit Against Curriculum Associates / i-Ready (00:07–03:54)

• Background: Nicki Petrossi announces filing a lawsuit, with legal support from Edtech Law Center, against Curriculum Associates for their practices with i-Ready.
• Allegations: The lawsuit claims that i-Ready’s core business model is based on extensive data collection and monetization of children’s personal and psychometric information—often without parental consent.
• Scale of Issue: i-Ready is used by approximately 14 million children. Schools use, on average, 3,000 edtech tools yearly, with each child engaging with about 50, often without informed parental consent.

"We are alleging that the core business model of this company is to harvest as much information as is technologically possible on our children and then monetize that data." — Nicki Petrossi (01:05)

2. What Data is i-Ready Collecting? (04:27–08:26)

• Types of Data: Beyond basic info (name, email, birthdate), i-Ready collects:
  • Demographic data (race, ethnicity, language spoken at home)
  • Behavioral data (how students interact with the program, mouse movements)
  • Psychometric and outcome data (predicted growth, performance metrics)
• Risks:
  • Profiling: Detailed psychological profiling can be used to cut off resources or push children out of programs.
  • Data Security: Children’s info is valuable for identity theft; prior hacks (e.g., PowerSchool) have exposed kids’ data.
  • Consent Issues: Parents are often unaware or unable to provide real informed consent for this data extraction.

"Computers are essentially a camera, but for everything... every mouse movement, every interaction with these platforms... is used to then infer things about the student's behavior." — Andy Liddell (05:13)

3. Similar Threats from Other Edtech Products (08:54–11:09)

• Other Platforms: i-Ready is not unique; apps like iXL, Prodigy, and Epic pose similar threats.
• Unique i-Ready Issue: Widespread reports suggest some schools mandate a minimum number of weekly i-Ready minutes, with some linking teacher bonuses to student usage.
• Incentive Misalignment: Focus shifts from education to maximizing “engagement minutes,” benefiting the company rather than the student.

"The end goal becomes i-Ready minutes and not teaching kids to read or do math..." — Andy Liddell (10:10)

4. Parallels to Social Media and Addictive Design (11:09–11:40)

• Addiction Concerns: The pressure for more “time on platform” mirrors the addictive tactics of social media companies, recently on trial for similar practices.
• Outcome: Engagement as a metric is misaligned with true educational outcomes.

"Engagement as a metric of success is really, really dangerous and it harms the user." — Andy Liddell (11:23)

5. Parental Rights and Opt-Out Options (11:40–13:17)

• FERPA Protections: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was designed to enshrine privacy, but current edtech practices often sidestep the spirit of these laws.
• Practical Opt-out: Technically possible, but extremely difficult to achieve in reality; schools rarely facilitate true opt-outs for families.

"Parents have rights and kids have privacy rights... The idea that school, a government agency can just decide for you how much your kid will be surveilled... is just contrary to a free society." — Andy Liddell (12:08)

6. Class Action Status & How to Get Involved (13:17–13:46)

• Class Action: The lawsuit is a class action. Parents and teachers are encouraged to join by submitting the contact form at EdTech Law’s website.

"The best way to get in touch with us is to go to our website... fill out the form, and then one of our staff will be in touch with you..." — Andy Liddell (13:32)

7. Advice for Teachers (13:46–15:23)

• Pushback is Key: Teachers are urged to resist becoming mere proctors for edtech. They should leverage unions, raise concerns collectively, and prioritize genuine pedagogy over tech mandates.
• Building Coalitions: Working with parents and unions enhances collective bargaining power to push back against unwanted edtech policies.

"Nobody got into teaching to be a proctor for i-Ready or any other edtech product... Building consensus around this, having these conversations, talking about it, that's a recipe for success." — Andy Liddell (13:59)

8. Addressing Criticism (15:23–16:44)

• Misconceptions About Lawsuits: Listener criticism accusing Petrossi of profiteering is addressed:
  • Class actions aim for accountability, not personal enrichment.
  • Financial motivation is not the driver—systemic change is.

"Class action lawsuits are not ways for people to make a lot of money. It's a way for a lot of people who are being cheated a little bit to come together and hold companies responsible." — Andy Liddell (16:00)

9. The Larger Challenge: Public School and Parental Agency (16:44–End)

• Systemic Dilemma: Petrossi reflects on the inability to homeschool and the necessity of fighting for safer public schooling for all children—not just those whose parents can opt out.
• Call to Action: The need for collective advocacy and legal action to prioritize children’s wellbeing over tech company interests.

"I have to find a solution where I feel like my kids are safe. And unfortunately using platforms like i-Ready, I don't feel is safe for them." — Nicki Petrossi (16:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Consent:

  • "I don't remember giving my school consent for my children to use 50 individual ed tech apps. I don't remember them telling me what data is being extracted and who it's being shared with..."
    — Nicki Petrossi (02:25)

• On Data Risks:

  • "If you have... fresh information about a kid... you think about all of the questions your bank asks you... that information is out there sometimes through these edtech platforms."
    — Andy Liddell (07:32)

• On Teachers’ Role:

  • "No. Nobody got into teaching to be a proctor for i-Ready or any other edtech product... That's a recipe for failure. But building consensus around this... that's a recipe for success."
    — Andy Liddell (13:58)

Important Timestamps

• 00:07 – Lawsuit Announcement & Background
• 03:54 – Lawsuit Allegations Overview
• 04:41 – Data Collection Detailed (name, demographic, psychometric, behavior, etc.)
• 08:35 – Identity Theft Risk & Real-World Impacts
• 09:06 – Similar Concerns with Other Edtech Apps
• 10:10 – Consequences of Engagement-Based Incentives
• 11:49 – Parental Opt-Out Rights & Challenges
• 13:25 – Class Action Details & How to Join
• 13:58 – Pushback Advice for Teachers
• 15:54 – Addressing Criticism About Lawsuit Motive
• 16:44 – The Public School Dilemma and Collective Advocacy

Conclusion

This episode shines a spotlight on the under-acknowledged risks and ethical dilemmas facing parents and teachers in the age of pervasive educational technology. Through expert insight and candid discussion, Petrossi and Liddell encourage families and educators to become informed, push back through collective action, and demand legal and systemic changes that protect children—putting their needs above tech companies’ profits.