Outschool wins the 2026 SmartBrief on EdTech Readers' Choice Award for special education

Outschool has been named a winner of the 2026 SmartBrief on EdTech Readers' Choice Awards in the Special Education category — chosen by the readers and subscribers of SmartBrief on EdTech, one of the most widely read publications in the educational technology space.

The annual awards recognize products and solutions that genuinely impact and transform education through technology. Being selected in the Special Education category reflects what families with kids who learn differently have told us from the start: that flexible, interest-led classes with the right teacher can change everything.

What the Readers' Choice Awards recognize

SmartBrief on EdTech's Readers' Choice Awards are peer-selected — meaning the people closest to EdTech, from practitioners to family advocates, choose the winners. "Our readers and subscribers have selected our winners as the best of the best," said the awards team. "Every winner should be really proud of their accomplishments."

This kind of recognition matters because it comes from the people who evaluate educational technology every day. It reflects a community-wide acknowledgment that Outschool's approach to special education — small class sizes, flexible scheduling, and teacher-designed formats — is making a real difference.

What sets Outschool's special education classes apart

Outschool offers thousands of live online classes designed to meet kids where they are. For kids with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, sensory processing differences, or other learning needs, the format itself removes many of the barriers that traditional classrooms create.

Small class sizes give kids space to participate without overwhelm. Flexible scheduling means families can find classes that fit their child's best time of day. Teachers choose their own class format and approach, which means parents can find exactly the right fit — not a generic "special ed" category, but a teacher who specializes in the precise blend of subjects and support their child needs.

What this recognition means for families

This award belongs to the families who kept advocating for their kids — who researched alternatives, tried something new, and chose to trust a different kind of learning environment. Every parent who said "this might work for my kid" and signed up for a first class: this recognition reflects your decision.

Special education on Outschool was never designed to be a workaround. It was designed to be the thing that actually works — because the teachers using it, and the families shaping it, understand that learning differently is not a deficit.

We're proud to be recognized by the EdTech community for what our teachers and families do every day.

Explore special education classes on Outschool

If you're looking for flexible online classes for a child who learns differently, browse our special education and neurodivergent learning resources — including articles and class options designed specifically for families navigating learning differences at home.