NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CIP Capital today officially announced that it has completed an investment in Carnegie Learning, a leading provider of innovative, research-proven math products and services, and will be merging it with recently acquired New Mountain Learning (NML), a leading provider of literacy, language and digital competency skills to create a comprehensive, dynamic, and progressive learning technology company. The new company will be called Carnegie Learning, Inc. (CL).
The decision to ally New Mountain’s brands — EMC School, Paradigm Education Solutions, and JIST Career Solutions — with Carnegie Learning’s brands was a natural one. Through its LONG + LIVE + MATH™ Movement, Carnegie Learning is uniquely positioned to help teachers cultivate strong cultures of collaborative learning, not just around math, but across STEM and literacy. Advocating a belief in teaching and an unwavering optimism in smart technology to serve students as learners and thinkers, LONG + LIVE + MATH will drive CL’s expansive, new LONG + LIVE + LEARNING™ Movement.
More specifically, by leveraging the distinct competencies of each organization, the new CL will now serve K-12 customers with both core and supplemental solutions, including: math, English language arts, computer science, and world languages content; master practitioner-led professional learning services, and; innovative digital learning platforms. The merger also brings together innovative brands to serve Higher Ed students through a wealth of flexible, affordable resources, to attain digital and technical competency for career success.
The Why behind the Merger
- To accelerate a shared vision to create a comprehensive, nimble, K-16 blended learning leader, delivering math, science, English language arts, world languages, computer science and coding, and career readiness across the K-16 spectrum
- To transform education through a dynamic digital learning experience for K-12, fusing EMC School’s engaging and innovative platform (Passport) with Carnegie Learning’s AI-based, cognitive tutoring (MATHia)
- To combine two of the market’s most progressive and experienced management teams to challenge the status quo around how a learning company delivers educator success, packaging the right balance of content, intuitive instructional and software design, intelligent technology, and “all in” services
Comprehensive Blended Learning Portfolio
The new CL will offer a comprehensive digital and print product portfolio, spanning math, science, computer science and coding, English language arts, world languages, digital skills and career readiness. This expanded portfolio will deliver high-quality content, professional learning and data analysis services, and smart learning technology to more K-12 districts and Higher Ed institutions. As such, CL will provide even more complete, integrated solutions to districts and institutions across content areas, helping simplify implementations and improve efficiencies.
“Carnegie Learning started 20+ years ago with a singular mission — to merge cognitive and learning research, adaptive technology, and proven master math practice to improve student outcomes,” explained Barry Malkin, newly named CEO and President of CL. “Now, with this merger and CIP Capital’s continued support, we have an even more inclusive opportunity — to re-imagine the role of adaptive learning technology, not just in math, but across STEM, literacy, and beyond.”
Dynamically Re-Defining Digital Learning
Bringing together the technology capabilities of both companies strengthens and accelerates a shared goal to re-define digital learning. EMC School’s Passport is a leading learning technology environment, elegantly designed to serve as a hub for interactive eBooks, collaborative activities, multimedia content, project-based learning, and assessments. Similarly, Carnegie Learning’s MATHia is the market’s first and most powerful AI-powered tutoring technology that delivers skill-based, topic-focused math instruction. When integrated, CL envisions a future where Passport will become the central location for student learning, with students interacting with AI-driven tutors across multiple subject areas.
Eric Cantor, Executive Chairman of CL, stated: “Over the last five years, EMC School, Paradigm Education Solutions (PPI), and JIST Career Solutions (JIST) have established themselves as leading brands in literacy and career readiness, with one of the market’s most innovative digital platforms in Passport. We look forward to leveraging this exceptional platform for growth as we combine Carnegie Learning’s research-proven, cognitive tutoring technology with EMC’s and PPI’s rich content and technology assets to help teachers engage students in deep, conceptual learning — not just assessment and practice — across the K-16 content spectrum. This kind of learning is what’s needed and the new CL is in the perfect position to deliver it.”
Daniel Schwartz, a Principal at CIP Capital and member of the Board, added, “Going forward, CL will aggressively explore additional investments to better serve educators through new products, services, acquisitions, and research. We are excited to support the combined CL platform and management team in their ultimate pursuit of driving better student outcomes through continued innovation and best-in-class professional learning.”
Progressive Leadership and Talent
The combined companies bring together a leadership team with a track record for improving education and accelerating company growth. Both companies have tenacious, mission-comes-first talent with years of experience in technology, instructional design, research, operations, marketing and sales, which will propel CL’s evolution as a single company. As a result, the wider CL team will be supported and empowered to help educators grow and succeed like never before.
The new CL will have offices located in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Paul, MN. Tyton Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Carnegie Learning.
ABOUT CARNEGIE LEARNING
Carnegie Learning is a transformational math education company focused on delivering better math learning to all teachers and students. Through research-proven software, textbooks, and professional learning and data analysis services, Carnegie Learning is helping students to succeed in math as a gateway to graduation, college, and the 21st-century workforce. Carnegie Learning, born at Carnegie Mellon University and now headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is the sole source provider of MATHia® Software for students in grades 6-12, Mika™ Software for college students in need of developmental math support, and Proto™ Software, delivering project-based learning and curriculum for K-12 computer science and coding. For more information please visit: www.carnegielearning.com.
ABOUT EMC SCHOOL
EMC School, a business unit of New Mountain Learning, is a recognized leader in language learning solutions. Founded in 1954, EMC offers core instructional solutions and materials, supplements, and assessments for the K-12 market, delivering blended learning for world languages, literature and language arts, and computer science. Its innovative learning environment, Passport, was launched in 2014 and has achieved significant market adoptions due to its engaging student interface and easy-to-use teacher tools. In 2017, EMC acquired Zulama, which provides Computer Science education solutions that “hook” students by tapping into a topic they love — video games. Zulama’s curriculum for middle and high schoolers was created by faculty who teach these subjects to Master’s students at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center. A comprehensive, turnkey solution, Zulama provides in-depth teacher training to ensure their success teaching game design, programming, 3D art, and digital storytelling. For more information please visit: www.emcp.com.
ABOUT PARADIGM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS AND JIST CAREER SOLUTIONS
Paradigm Education Solutions is one of the nation’s leading postsecondary providers of print and digital learning solutions in computer technology, health careers, accounting and business technology. Paradigm is committed to providing instructors with technology solutions for building and delivering successful courses and preparing students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in educational and workplace settings. For more information please visit: www.paradigmeducation.com. For more than 35 years, JIST Career Solutions has helped millions of people plan their educations and careers, find jobs, and succeed in the world of work. JIST is one of the nation’s leading providers of print and digital career development solutions, including assessments, workbooks, videos and more. These learning solutions are widely used throughout the workforce development, K-12 and post-secondary markets. For more information please visit: www.jist.com.
ABOUT CIP CAPITAL
CIP Capital is a New York-based private equity firm focused on investing in growth-oriented, middle-market companies across the Business Information and Technology-Enabled Services sectors in North America. The fund seeks to invest in proven, profitable businesses that provide their customer bases with critical information, data-driven insights, and value-added outsourced services. CIP Capital targets investments in sectors including business services, marketing services, and knowledge services. CL represents CIP Capital’s third platform in the Knowledge Services market. For more information please visit: www.cip-capital.com.
