Who We Are
We are Fireline Science, and Tuneni (pronounced: toon-nee) is our flagship app designed to support academic recovery efforts by enabling meaningful student-teacher interaction — even when students don’t have home internet access. The idea for Tuneni was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when our CEO’s father — the principal of a remote elementary boarding school on the Navajo Nation in northern New Mexico — saw firsthand how disconnected students were being left behind. While better-connected schools were managing “Zoom fatigue,” his school was still working out how to deliver and collect paper worksheets.
Even now, with students back in classrooms, schools like his are still working to close persistent learning gaps — not only those caused by the pandemic, but those reflected in declining national academic performance. According to the most recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), student scores in reading and math have dropped to their lowest levels in decades. These declines are widespread and affect students across grade levels, particularly in under-connected and rural communities. Unfortunately, the homework gap — the divide between students who can and cannot access digital tools at home — continues to limit educational access and remains a significant barrier to academic recovery and national educational progress.
Fireline Science LLC is committed to strengthening America’s future by developing innovative technologies that expand access to digital learning. Our work directly supports rebuilding the foundations of American education infrastructure, particularly in rural communities, to ensure that all students are equipped for success in today’s technology-driven and manufacturing-oriented economy. By investing in practical, domestically built, and locally deployable solutions, we aim to support a strong workforce, resilient communities, and continued U.S. leadership in science, innovation, and next-generation job readiness. We believe that when American students succeed, America succeeds — and that begins with access to tools that prepare them for modern industries and skilled trades.
With initial funding from the National Science Foundation, we built Tuneni to address these needs. Our platform bridges the homework gap using advanced technologies that support students whether they’re online or offline. Tuneni helps educators keep teaching, tutoring, and guiding students forward — regardless of zip code, infrastructure, or internet access.
“NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering,” said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.”
The Homework Gap Slows Academic Recovery for At-risk Students
Tufts University and the FCC estimate that 12 to 17 million U.S. students lack internet access at home. Meanwhile, 70% of teachers assign homework that assumes students are connected. As schools work to close learning gaps caused by the pandemic, many recovery programs rely on online tutoring and after-school content delivery — programs that simply don’t reach students in homes without connectivity.
A 2021 report by McKinsey & Company found that students in under-connected households participate in academic recovery programs at significantly lower rates. For example, families in under-resourced areas reported 12% less participation in tutoring, homework, and test prep programs, and 15% less involvement in after-school academic support — much of which depends on digital platforms.
While the homework gap is only one part of the broader challenge, it’s critical because so many learning programs now rely on digital access both in and outside the classroom.
The homework gap has been called “the cruelest part of the digital divide” given the at-risk students who could benefit the most from digital solutions for homework and academic recovery are also those who are more likely to live in unconnected households.
Our own research shows over 17,000 U.S. schools are in census tracts where 25% or more of households report no internet access. Although the $65 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal was a step forward, full connectivity would require far greater investment — estimates suggest over $250 billion. Meanwhile, approximately 18 million homes are technically serviceable but cannot afford monthly broadband fees.
The homework gap limits access not just to learning tools but to long-term opportunity. A 2020 study found that students without home internet — or those relying solely on mobile phones — performed significantly worse academically, even when controlling for other variables.
“We were surprised with how powerful the findings were,” said Keith Hampton, associate director for research at the Quello Center and a professor in Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences. “Students without Internet access and those who depend on a cell phone for their only access are half a grade point below those with fast access. This gap has ripple effects that may last an entire life.”
Offline Operating System Enables Our New Learning Application
Our new learning app was made possible by advances in Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), including contributions from Chromium's Project Fugu. To support full offline learning, we built a web-based Offline Operating System (OOS) that manages digital content, student progress, AI modules, identity, and interactions — even with no internet.
The OOS operates across a range of connectivity conditions, from fully offline to degraded or high-bandwidth environments. It uses a hybrid cloud-edge architecture so students can work offline at home while syncing data and feedback when connections become available.
Tuneni is a purpose-built offline operating system and intelligent learning app that allows students to work anywhere while also enabling an authentic feedback and tutoring workflow for teachers or tutors via periodic internet syncs.
Combining Existing Devices and Curricula with Emerging New Digital Technologies
Tuneni works on any modern device — phones, tablets, or Chromebooks — and supports digital formats such as PDFs, videos, and other resources already used by schools. Teachers can build and manage digital assignments with a built-in workflow for reviewing multiple student submissions, guiding learners through each step with tools like video feedback, annotations, and interactive elements.
We’ve also built interactive Python lessons for STEM and CTE education that require no local installation and run entirely in the browser — even offline. These lessons help prepare students for technical careers and skilled trades while supporting schools and programs working to expand access to 21st-century skills.
Artificial Intelligence to Help Students and Teachers
Tuneni includes a new AI engine that provides real-time prompts and recommendations — even without internet. Our first AI model drew on nationally validated research on student motivation. We are now expanding our models to support both students and teachers with intelligent nudges, feedback tools, reviews, grading assistance, and recommendations that improve over time.
These tools are designed to be practical, transparent, and aligned with the needs of educators. They represent our broader goal: to develop American-made education technologies that work in real-world environments and support student growth, teacher effectiveness, and community success.