New tool AI Leveler tool launches in 50 school districts, aiming to improve K-12 student reading comprehension

Gale, part of the Cengage Group, has made its a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool, AI Leveler, available to K-12 educators in more than 50 school districts across 21 U.S. states, helping educators to improve student reading levels.

AI Leveler offers a safe and convenient way for K-12 educators to adapt Gale educational resources to offer personalized learning to students. Gale says this method can help improve reading comprehension.

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress found that one in every three U.S. students fails to demonstrate basic, age-appropriate reading skills.

AI Leveler helps educators deliver individualized scaffolding to students, helping to address gaps in reading comprehension. It says this helps students engage with grade-level concepts while building their skills. 

Unlike some AI-powered tool, AI Leveler does not just generate content, instead it works with trusted content from Gale to personalize how the content is presented to students. Gale says this ensures transparency and keeps high-quality curriculum materials at the center of students’ learning experiences.

“Educators are at the heart of learning, and our focus is on giving them the tools they need to personalize instruction and drive student success,” explains Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group. “With AI Leveler, we’re enabling educators to tailor instruction at scale—especially in critical areas like reading and STEM – while maintaining full control over content quality and the classroom experience. 

“Adjustments to reading levels can be made discreetly, respecting student privacy and allowing learners to engage with material at the level that suits them best. We developed this tool based on direct educator feedback to ensure it supports efficient, safe, and high-quality instruction tailored to individual student needs.”

Gale content can be adjusted to 12 different Lexile reading levels, allowing educators to modify text complexity on demand and create multiple leveled versions of each resource. Educators can also edit and customize content to the exact needs of their students.

Every modified resource includes a citation, noting AI-assisted adjustments for transparency and sourcing. 

“At Cengage Group, we continue to evolve learning and prioritize technologies like GenAI to reimagine what’s possible for both educators and learners,” adds Person. “Improving and enhancing learning outcomes – with the help of personalized learning tools – is our main priority, and GenAIpowered enhancements, like AI Leveler, allow educators to strategically and safely personalize learning to improve reading comprehension.

“We want educators to feel empowered to change the trajectory of learning for each student in a safe, controlled environment, and AI Leveler is just one example of how we’re making that a reality. We look forward to introducing this product to our customers and continuing to complement their teaching efforts with tools that will help them continue making a difference in the classroom.”