Written: July 2025 Updated: March 2026
It’s no secret that millions of dollars are spent in school districts every year on education technology like asynchronous learning models. These one-size-fits-all online programs aren’t helping teachers, or students for that matter, close the learning gap.
Therefore, it’s understandable that many people remain skeptical of virtual education technology and its abilities to enhance and support academic growth and success. When conversations turn to new platforms and analytics tools, district leaders often ask, “What is LinkIt! and how does it actually improve student progress?”
Too often, when someone references virtual learning or education technology, it conjures up images of pre-recorded videos, disconnected lessons, and students clicking through uninspired content alone or in an overcrowded credit recovery classroom. But what if virtual learning could be something more? Something deeply personal, rigorously academic, and data-driven?
At Proximity Learning, we believe it can and should be better. And we have the numbers to prove it.
Our virtual school teachers aren’t just meeting instructional expectations, they’re exceeding them. With the right combination of certified live instruction, strategic partnerships, and real-time assessment data, virtual education can rival and even surpass the traditional classroom experience.
What Is LinkIt?
LinkIt! is an advanced assessment platform and data analytics solution built specifically for K–12 education. It serves as a comprehensive system for assessment management, allowing districts to create, administer, and analyze benchmarks that help measure student progress in real time. More than just a testing tool, the platform offers assessment management, powerful analysis tools, and secure data warehousing to support ongoing data collection and informed decision-making.
LinkIt! enables educators to gather and interpret curriculum assessment data across multiple subject areas so they have a clear picture of each student’s academic growth. Through structured data analysis, districts can monitor student performance, guide action planning, and implement targeted intervention support when needed. In partnership with Proximity Learning, LinkIt! helps equip teachers with actionable insights that directly support improving educational outcomes.
Benefits of Using LinkIt! for Synchronous Online Learning
Synchronous online learning combines live videoconferencing tools with structured instruction delivered by certified virtual teachers. In this model, students attend class with an in-person facilitator on the school bell schedule while virtual teachers livestream into the class with videoconferencing software to guide lessons, facilitate discussion, and monitor engagement. A Learning Management System (LMS)—a centralized digital hub for assignments, attendance, grading, and communication—supports the process by organizing materials and tracking participation.
When paired with LinkIt!’s assessment management and data analytics, this approach creates a holistic learning environment focused on measurable growth. Using LinkIt! within synchronous virtual learning programs provides several key benefits:
- Real-time progress monitoring: Teachers can measure pre- and post-test performance to track growth throughout the school year.
- Targeted intervention support: Data analysis highlights skill gaps, enabling focused instructional adjustments.
- Informed action planning: Assessment results guide lesson planning and curriculum alignment.
- Improved student performance: Ongoing benchmarking helps drive student performance across core subjects.
- Equitable data access: District leaders gain visibility into student progress across classrooms and schools.
- Support for K–12 education goals: Advanced assessment solutions align with district-wide objectives for improving educational outcomes.
Proximity and LinkIt!: Turning Assessment Into Achievement
At Proximity Learning, our partnership with LinkIt! reflects a shared commitment to empowering school districts with smarter tools and stronger student data. From day one, this collaboration has focused on nurturing student progress through strategic assessment and real-time support.
The results speak for themselves. Below, you’ll see how this partnership moved from pilot implementation to program-wide expansion, and why it matters for districts nationwide.
A Pilot Year That Delivered Measurable Growth
In 2024, we announced an exciting new partnership with LinkIt!, a leader in assessment and analytics for K–12 schools. That partnership, officially launched in September 2024, marked a major step in our mission to empower teachers with smarter tools and stronger student data. Together, we committed to enhancing student achievement through actionable insight and real-time support.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, we piloted the LinkIt! platform with 1,500 students across eight state-tested subjects. Students took a benchmark assessment within the first two weeks of starting their class with a Proximity Learning certified virtual teacher. The results gave our certified Proximity Learning teachers immediate visibility into each learner’s strengths and areas of need.
From there, our virtual school teachers, in collaboration with instructional coaches and Teaching and Learning Specialists (TLS), used the data to drive differentiated lesson planning and tailored support. At the end of the year, students completed a post-assessment, and the growth was undeniable.
We saw double-digit academic gains in core math and science subjects like Algebra II, Chemistry, and Biology. English and history courses also posted significant increases in post test performance.
The pilot proved what we’ve believed all along: when we empower certified virtual teachers with the right tools and support, virtual learning can be not just effective—but exceptional.
From Pilot to Program-Wide Expansion
With such strong results, we’ve expanded this initiative in the 2025–2026 school year with more subjects and more students, and plan to continue to do so. Consistent student benchmarking will enable us and our district partners to measure student progress throughout the school year, not just at the beginning and end.
This isn’t just about numbers or capturing student data, though. It’s about equity and it’s about access. This is about making sure every student, regardless of their zoned school district, has the opportunity to learn from a certified and experienced virtual educator who understands their needs and adapts in real time.
That’s why we’re calling on districts to rethink what virtual learning can be. The time for passive, asynchronous models and generic curriculum has passed. Today’s students deserve more than pre-recorded lessons. They deserve real connection, responsive instruction, and meaningful academic growth. With certified virtual educators leading live, personalized classrooms, we’re not just closing gaps—we’re opening doors.
Why This Matters
The virtual learning landscape is shifting and it’s happening faster than many realize. As districts face ongoing teacher shortages and increasing pressure to meet diverse student needs, virtual education is no longer a stopgap solution. It’s a viable, strategic path forward.
For too long, students in underserved or hard-to-staff schools have been left behind. This is more than innovation. It’s equity in action.
Empower Your Districts Through Data-Driven Growth With Proximity Learning
When technology is paired with certified teachers and thoughtful implementation, it becomes a catalyst for change. Through advanced assessment solutions, powerful data analytics, and a commitment to nurturing student progress, Proximity Learning is proving that virtual education can drive measurable, lasting results.
With over 1,500 students in our initial pilot and expansion underway for the next school year, we are already seeing how data-informed instruction transforms classrooms across the country. Our partnership with LinkIt! strengthens our ability to equip teachers, support districts, and improve educational outcomes at scale.
Ready to see how data-driven virtual instruction can support your district? Connect with Proximity Learning today.
