For nearly 20 years, we’ve been the reliable choice in education technology, trusted by teachers, administrators, and students because our platform works. We help learners build mastery and confidence, whether in math, SAT prep, or art history.

But as dependable as we are, let’s face it: reliability alone doesn’t win hearts. Some kids love us, but others? We’re a bit like eating your vegetables—nutritious, good for you, but not exactly everyone’s favorite.

As Stacie Johnson, a former math teacher who now leads our professional learning, puts it:

“Khan Academy is like Brussels sprouts. Teachers and parents know it’s good for kids. But kids don’t always think so—and we get it. Our job now is to make the Brussels sprouts taste better.”

So that’s exactly what we set out to do.

Today, we’re announcing a reimagined Khan Academy for our district partners—rebuilt to better serve every kind of learner, in every kind of classroom, to ensure every student has the opportunity to master grade-level material.

The first time we’ve wholly transformed our platform

Motivated, independent students have long used Khan Academy on their way to big milestones, like raising their SAT scores, becoming first-generation college students, or even transitioning from prison to Stanford. We’re proud to have been part of those journeys.

But most students learn best with teachers beside them.

That’s why in 2019, we launched our district program to bring Khan Academy directly into district classrooms. In 2023, we introduced Khanmigo, our AI-powered tutor and teaching assistant, and spent the next three years learning from real classrooms. We asked ourselves: How can AI help students persist in the hard work of learning? How might AI support teachers instead of adding more tech for tech’s sake?

Time for an upgrade

Teachers and district leaders are tackling big, complex goals—closing math gaps, improving graduation rates, making learning equitable. 

We already know that Khan Academy works. Recent studies showed that students who used Khan Academy made meaningful academic gains across grades and demographics. Educators trust Khan Academy’s rigor; we’re keeping it.

What’s new is the day-to-day experience. We didn’t trade reliability for flash. Instead, we focused on making the experience smarter, smoother, and (we hope!) a lot more fun.

The reimagined experience focuses on motivating all students and making Khan Academy more intuitive so more students spend more time learning.

Teachers and district leaders are tackling big, complex goals, from closing math gaps to improving graduation rates, and we want to use AI to make their jobs easier.

Listening to students and educators first

We started this rebuild by listening. Students told us that Khan Academy was sometimes a bore and could also be overwhelming. Other times they weren’t sure what to work on next. Teachers told us Khan Academy’s learning science was strong, but the tools needed to fit their classroom’s rhythm. District leaders emphasized connecting daily instruction to district priorities and meeting accessibility expectations so that all students could learn.

This is a conversation. We’re building with educators—not just for them.

From feedback to a reimagined system

Equipped with all that feedback—the good, the bad, and the honest—we pulled together a cross-functional team of former educators, product designers, engineers, and researchers. The mission: make Khan Academy more engaging without compromising what makes it so successful.

The team brainstormed, debated, prototyped, and tested. Then they did it all over again. Our lead engineer, Shawn Jansepar, says of the experience:

“We knew that our platform was effective but had shortcomings: it wasn’t fully accessible, some kids found it boring and a bit confusing, and teachers lacked visibility about district expectations. So we started from scratch to build an accessible, classroom-first experience in which practice feels like play, students feel supported, and alignment with district goals is built in.”

This new experience is being piloted with several school districts now, with a full district rollout coming in the 2026 school year. Over the coming months, we’ll keep listening, refining, debating, and improving—hand in hand with our district partners.

What’s new for back-to-school 2026

• For students: It’s easier for students to understand exactly what work they need to do next. Khanmigo acts as a learning coach and provides one-to-one student support when learners get stuck. Instead of AI being used for cheating or shortcutting learning, Khanmigo helps students persist in their practice. Learning can be hard work, so this new version of Khan Academy makes practice feel like play, with motivations and celebrations along the way.
• For teachers: The work of helping students master grade-level skills gets lighter and more creative. The classroom-centered design means it’s easier to use Khan Academy for daily instruction. Teachers get actionable insights delivered to them. Instead of digging through reports, teachers see what’s working, who needs attention, and what to assign next.
• For school and district leaders: Instruction aligns to pacing and priorities, with safeguards and accessibility built in. The goal is simple: help more students build skills and engage with grade-level material. As a teaching assistant, administrator aide, and learning coach, Khanmigo is now embedded directly into the learning platform—not tacked on. Its AI guidance is grounded in Khan Academy’s trusted content and pedagogy.

Over the coming months, we’ll keep listening, refining, and improving during our pilot—hand in hand with our district partners.

Same nonprofit mission, stronger experience

We’re still the nonprofit that puts learning first. Our content remains rock-solid, backed by multiple high-quality studies showing meaningful gains.

What’s different now is the experience—it’s smoother, more accessible, and more engaging for classrooms. Still rigorous and research-backed. Still trusted by teachers. Now redesigned for motivation, not just mastery.

We’re still the nonprofit that puts learning first. Our content remains rock-solid, backed by multiple high-quality studies showing meaningful gains.

What’s next

District partners will see the reimagined experience through Khan Academy Districts as pilots expand. The reimagined experience will be available to all district partners for back-to-school 2026. 

District leaders who would like a closer look can sign up for a first-look webinar on 11/10, or request a demo.