Scholastic has acquired Learning Ovations, the creator of A2i (Assessment to Instruction)—a literacy screening, progress monitoring and assessment, and instructional planning system for classrooms and community organizations. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Scholastic said that the A2i system and Learning Ovations team will become part of its education solutions group, and will help to enhance the company’s literacy platform, which integrates literary screening, progress monitoring and assessment, instructional planning, and professional learning with Scholastic's books and e-books, print- and technology–based learning programs, and other products that support children's learning and literacy.
A2i was developed by the late Dr. Carol Connor and collaborators at Florida Center for Reading Research and University of California, Irvine. Learning Ovations, based in Irvine, was founded by Jay Connor, who serves as its CEO. According to Scholastic, the A2i system provides educators with data-driven guidance for instructional planning for both small-group and individualized learning in comprehension and decoding.
"Carol Connor was a teachers' teacher, dedicated both to helping every child learn to read—regardless of background, disadvantage or learning challenge—and to supporting teachers with tools that are both deeply rigorous and easy to use," said Rose Else-Mitchell, executive v-p and president of Scholastic Education Solutions, in a statement. "We are committed to those same values of equity, engagement and effectiveness at Scholastic. We feel privileged to continue Carol's work and welcome the mission-aligned Learning Ovations team of researchers, practitioners and technologists to Scholastic, as we continue to advance our mission to help kids learn to read, read to learn, and discover the joy in reading."
