About Us
Who We Are
Founded in innovation, we are committed to being educators' most trusted partner in creating successful student outcomes everywhere learning occurs.
We like to think that who we are is a lot like who you are—educators committed to the success of every student. It was that commitment that inspired us when we pioneered online education over 50 years ago, and it’s what continues to inspire us to innovate today.
We want to be your most trusted partner by providing you with tools and support to make it easier to individualize learning for every student. But we know that trust is earned over time, not overnight. That’s why we’re committed to building meaningful, effective, and long term partnerships.
We share your passion and your goals. Together, let’s empower futures, one student at a time.
Our History
Online learning was invented in 1960 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations) was an answer to a pressing need for greater access to high-quality education. Initially funded by a number of grants that supported science and engineering education, including a National Science Foundation grant, PLATO became the first computer-assisted learning system. Early on, learners accessed PLATO through stand-alone computer systems. Today, Plato Courseware’s high-quality, rigorous courses can be accessed anytime and from anywhere.
Educational Options was founded with a mission to create outstanding web-based educational products that support students and teachers inside and outside the traditional classroom. Founded by educators, EdOptions set out to provide schools with more solutions to keep students engaged in the learning process.
Since its founding in 1999, EducationCity is dedicated to providing fun and engaging, research-based student activities and teaching resources in language arts, math, science, and ESL.
Study Island was founded in 2000 as a web-based standards mastery and test preparation product. The program first launched in Ohio, and has since spread to serve students, teachers, parents, and administrators in all 50 states, D.C., and Canada.
ESL ReadingSmart and ReadingMate, founded in 2002 by Alloy Multimedia, are web-based reading programs that provide individualized instruction in English language arts and reading.
Northstar Workforce Readiness was founded in 2009 to provide a web-based, affordable solution for post-secondary institutions and career-seeking students.
Study Island and Northstar Learning joined together to form Archipelago Learning in 2009. Archipelago Learning’s suite of products supported educators’ efforts to reach students in dynamic ways and enhance the performance of students via engaging and innovative web-based platforms.
In 2010 Archipelago Learning partnered with Blake Publishing to become the sole distributor of Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress in the United States. Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress’ engaging and interactive web-based literacy solutions make learning to read an enjoyable, rewarding, and exciting experience for pre-k through 6th grade students.
EducationCity joined the Archipelago Learning suite of products in 2010.
PLATO Learning acquired award-winning educational technology firm, Educational Options, expanding and enhancing its comprehensive portfolio of education solutions to include a virtual school solution, EdOptions Academy.
PLATO Learning acquired Archipelago Learning, adding complementary online educational solutions that provide web-based instruction to 14 million students in nearly 40,000 schools in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Together, they join forces to become Edmentum, working together to redefine the 21st century classroom. Edmentum™ combines the same great people and products you know and trust to empower educators to make learning more impactful and to improve student achievement. Designed by educators, for educators, our products ignite a lifelong love of learning for students of all ages and abilities.
Edmentum acquires Calvert Education Services and expands Edmentum’s fully-accredited virtual learning school and standards-aligned digital curriculum across all of K-12
Edmentum acquires Apex Learning, a Seattle-based industry leader in 6–12 digital curriculum. With the addition of Apex Learning, Edmentum becomes the premier provider of high-quality K-12 virtual and blended learning programs, supporting millions of students worldwide.