Text-to-Speech with Mote
Text-to-speech technology gives every student independent access to written content through natural-sounding audio. Mote brings TTS directly into Google Classroom and Google Docs alongside highlighting, translation, and a complete reading support toolkit.
Trusted by over 25,000 schools and more than 2 million users
Last updated on
February 25, 2026
Text-to-Speech Tools Built for K-12 Classrooms
Text-to-speech for students converts written classroom content into natural-sounding spoken audio, giving learners with dyslexia, attention challenges, English language learning needs, and other reading differences an independent way to access grade-level material. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 7.5 million students receive special education services under IDEA, with specific learning disabilities representing the largest category at 32% of that population.
Mote is a Chrome extension and web app that brings text-to-speech directly into Google Workspace for Education. Rather than requiring students to copy text into a separate application, Mote activates Read Aloud with a single click inside Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and any web page. Combined with a highlighter, screen mask, dictionary, translation, text prediction, and voice typing, Mote delivers a complete literacy toolkit aligned with Universal Design for Learning principles.
Mote Offers Complete Text-to-Speech for Classrooms
Natural AI Voices
Mote Read Aloud uses neural text-to-speech synthesis to deliver clear, natural-sounding voices that keep students engaged during extended reading. Students choose from multiple voice options across 60+ languages, adjusting speed and pitch to match their comfort level. Unlike robotic-sounding screen readers, Mote voices maintain natural rhythm and intonation, which research shows improves comprehension and reduces listening fatigue for students who rely on audio support throughout the school day.
Native Google Workspace Integration
Mote works inside the tools students already use every day. Activate Read Aloud with a single click inside Google Docs, Slides, Forms, Classroom, and Gmail without switching applications or copying text. For schools running Google Workspace for Education, this means TTS is available wherever assignments live. Teachers do not need to set up separate accounts or configure new software, and students access the same consistent reading support across every subject and class.
Multilingual Reading Support
With natural voices across 60+ languages, Mote supports the 5.3 million English Language Learners in U.S. schools. Students can hear content read aloud in their home language or in English, building vocabulary and pronunciation skills simultaneously. Paired with Mote's live translation feature, multilingual learners follow along in their preferred language while developing proficiency in the language of instruction. This dual-language approach supports both comprehension and language acquisition.
Reading Comprehension Toolkit
Text-to-speech is most effective when paired with visual reading supports. Mote's highlighter lets students mark important passages while listening, reinforcing comprehension through bimodal input. The screen mask dims surrounding text to reduce visual overload for students with ADHD or sensory processing differences. A built-in dictionary provides instant definitions without leaving the page. Together, these tools create a structured reading environment that helps students maintain focus and build understanding.
Writing Support Alongside TTS
Reading and writing are connected skills, and Mote supports both within a single platform. Text prediction provides grammar-aware spelling suggestions as students type, reducing the frustration that comes with dyslexia and other writing challenges. Voice typing (speech-to-text) lets students dictate their ideas when keyboarding is a barrier. Students can then use Read Aloud to listen back to their own writing, catching errors they might miss visually. This complete read-write cycle helps build literacy confidence.
Compliance-Ready for Schools
Deploying TTS across a school or district requires more than good voices. Mote is FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR compliant with signed Data Processing Agreements available for institutions. Administrators manage deployment through a centralized dashboard with usage analytics that show which students are using which tools and how often. Domain-wide rollout through Google Admin Console means every student gets access without individual setup. This infrastructure makes it practical to fulfil IEP and 504 accommodations for text-to-speech at scale.
Why Text-to-Speech Matters in Education
The Evidence Behind TTS in the Classroom
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities by Wood, Moxley, Tighe, and Wagner examined 22 studies on text-to-speech and reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities. The analysis found a positive weighted effect size of d = 0.35 (95% CI [.14, .56], p < .01), with between-subject studies showing stronger effects at d = 0.61. These findings provide evidence that TTS is a meaningful support for students who struggle with decoding, not merely a convenience.
The International Dyslexia Association states that text-to-speech technology "can be as vital for students with dyslexia as a screen reader is for someone who is visually impaired." IDA recommends a dual approach that combines direct reading instruction with assistive technology access, noting that AT "has the potential to increase learner motivation, prolong focus, and build confidence." This aligns with Mote's approach of providing TTS alongside explicit comprehension tools rather than as a standalone accommodation.
Beyond students with identified disabilities, TTS supports the broader classroom through Universal Design for Learning. CAST's UDL Guidelines identify TTS as a core implementation of the principle of multiple means of representation, describing audio transformation of text as "among the most easily accomplished methods for increasing accessibility." When all students have access to Read Aloud, the tool becomes a normal part of classroom learning rather than something that singles out individual learners.