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Built different on purpose.

Most educational apps are built for consumers and retrofitted for schools. We build for schools from day one — and the difference shows up everywhere.

How we compare to typical educational apps

A straightforward look at the things that matter most when choosing educational software for a school or district.

Student data collection

✓

Us

Zero. No accounts, no tracking, no analytics. All progress stays on-device.

Others

Most require student accounts, collect usage data, and store it in the cloud.

COPPA & FERPA compliance

✓

Us

Compliant by design — there is no data to protect because we never collect it.

Others

Compliance depends on terms of service and data processing agreements that shift over time.

MDM deployment

✓

Us

One config profile via Jamf, Mosyle, or Kandji. Every iPad configured instantly.

Others

Often require per-device login, manual setup, or teacher-managed activation.

Internet requirement

✓

Us

Fully offline. No internet needed for any feature, including premium activation via MDM.

Others

Most require internet for login, content streaming, or license verification.

Accessibility

✓

Us

Section 508 compliant. Full VoiceOver support on every screen and interactive element.

Others

Accessibility support varies widely and is often incomplete or an afterthought.

Shared device support

✓

Us

Multiple student profiles on a single iPad. No login required — students tap their name.

Others

Shared device support is rare. Most apps assume one student per device or require sign-in.

Standards alignment

✓

Us

Directly mapped to Common Core (1.MD.B.3, 2.MD.C.7). Each level targets specific expectations.

Others

Standards claims are common but mapping is often vague or self-reported.

Pricing & procurement

✓

Us

Purchase orders with net-30 terms. No subscriptions, no per-student fees, no credit cards.

Others

Subscriptions, per-seat pricing, annual renewals, and credit card requirements are standard.

Advertising

✓

Us

No ads. Ever. The app is the product — students are not.

Others

Free tiers are often ad-supported. Even paid tiers may include cross-promotional content.

Content approach

✓

Us

Focused curriculum: 16 structured levels with adaptive spaced repetition. Deep learning, not breadth.

Others

Broad content libraries that cover many topics at surface level. Quantity over depth.

Why schools switch to Modern Programming

Privacy that IT teams can actually verify

Most educational apps claim to be privacy-friendly, but compliance depends on reviewing terms of service, signing data processing agreements, and trusting that vendors honor their commitments. Modern Programming takes a different approach: we collect zero student data. No accounts, no analytics, no telemetry, no cloud storage. All progress stays on the device. COPPA and FERPA compliance is not a policy we follow — it is an architectural guarantee. There is no data to breach, no vendor to audit, and no terms of service to review.

Deployment that scales to thousands of iPads

School IT teams manage hundreds or thousands of iPads through mobile device management platforms like Jamf, Mosyle, and Kandji. Modern Programming apps are built for this workflow. Push the app through your MDM, apply a single configuration profile to activate premium features, and every device is ready. No per-device login, no activation codes, no internet required on the iPads. A district with 5,000 iPads deploys exactly the same way as a school with 50.

Offline by default, not as a fallback

Internet connectivity in schools is unpredictable. WiFi goes down, bandwidth gets saturated, and network policies block app traffic. Many educational apps treat offline mode as a degraded experience — features disappear, content won't load, or the app simply refuses to open. Modern Programming apps work fully offline from day one. Every feature, every level, every interaction. Premium activation happens through MDM configuration profiles, not license servers. Network status is irrelevant.

Depth over breadth in curriculum design

Many educational apps offer vast content libraries that cover dozens of subjects at surface level. Modern Programming takes the opposite approach: deep, structured learning on specific skills. I Can Tell Time has 16 carefully sequenced levels, each targeting specific Common Core expectations (1.MD.B.3, 2.MD.C.7). An adaptive spaced repetition algorithm adjusts to each student's pace. Teachers know exactly what standard each level addresses and can connect app usage directly to their curriculum.

Procurement without the headaches

School purchasing is different from consumer purchasing. Budget cycles, purchase orders, approvals, and invoicing are the norm — not credit cards and App Store subscriptions. Modern Programming accepts purchase orders with net-30 payment terms. No subscriptions, no per-student fees, no annual renewals that catch schools off guard. A Data Processing Agreement is available on request. The pricing model is as simple as the deployment.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Modern Programming different from other educational apps?

Modern Programming apps are built specifically for managed school environments. We collect zero student data, work completely offline, deploy via MDM with a single config profile, and are COPPA and FERPA compliant by design — not by policy. Most educational apps are designed for consumers first and retrofitted for schools. We build for schools from day one.

Why does zero data collection matter for schools?

Every piece of student data collected creates a compliance obligation and a security risk. By collecting no data at all — no accounts, no analytics, no tracking — schools eliminate an entire category of privacy risk. There is no data to breach, no terms of service to review, and no vendor to audit. COPPA and FERPA compliance becomes trivial when there is nothing to protect.

How does MDM deployment work with Modern Programming apps?

Our apps are designed for Apple MDM solutions like Jamf, Mosyle, and Kandji. IT administrators push the app to all managed iPads through their existing MDM workflow and apply a single configuration profile to activate premium features. No internet connection is required on the iPads — the config profile handles everything. This means deployment takes minutes, not days.

Can Modern Programming apps work without internet?

Yes, completely. Every feature works offline, including premium activation (handled via MDM config profile), student progress tracking (stored on-device), and all educational content. This is critical for schools where WiFi is unreliable, bandwidth is limited, or network policies restrict app traffic.

How do Modern Programming apps handle shared iPads?

Each app supports multiple student profiles on a single device. Students select their name from a list — no login, no password, no authentication. Each student's progress is tracked independently on the device. This works seamlessly with shared iPad carts that are common in elementary classrooms.

What standards do Modern Programming apps align to?

I Can Tell Time aligns to Common Core State Standards 1.MD.B.3 (tell and write time in hours and half-hours) and 2.MD.C.7 (tell and write time to the nearest five minutes). Each of the app's 16 levels targets specific grade-level expectations, so teachers can connect app usage directly to their curriculum.

How does school pricing work?

We accept purchase orders with net-30 payment terms. There are no subscriptions, no per-student fees, and no credit card requirements. Schools buy a volume license and deploy to all their iPads. A Data Processing Agreement (DPA) is available on request. Contact hello@modernprogramming.com for pricing.

Ready to see the difference?

Whether you're evaluating apps for a single classroom or an entire district, we'd love to show you how Modern Programming works.

School pricingContact us