EdBizWatch

Blackboard Seeks $3 Billion Sale

Owner Providence Equity Partners has hired Deutsche Bank and BoA to run an auction.

Blackboard Seeks $3 Billion Sale, Baker, Roumeliotis & Stone, Reuters

McGraw-Hill Quits Summative Testing

The focus is on personalized, adaptive technology that harness the science of learning. 

McGraw-Hill Quits Summative Testing, edSurge

McGraw-Hill Education Prepares for IPO

Apollo acquired the business from McGraw-Hill Companies in Mar 2013 for $2.4 billion. 

McGraw-Hill Education Prepares for IPO, Baker, Oran, and Roumeliotis, Reuters

The Must-Attend Event for Education Tech Investors

“It’s a place where it’s all senior people,” said Ms. Quazzo, one of the conf organizers.

The Must-Attend Event for Education Tech Investors, Natasha Singer, New York Times

Smarter Balanced Common Core Math Test is Fatally Flawed

If the results are disappointing the culprit will be the tests themselves.

Smarter Balanced Math Test is Fatally Flawed, Steve Rasmussen, edSurge

The Death of Textbooks?

Software is reshaping teaching materials—but will take from the learning experience.

The Death of Textbooks? Terrance F. Ross, The Atlantic

‘Consumer Reports’ for Common Core Finds Materials Lacking

EdReports.org issued its first analysis of Common Core classroom materials.

New ‘Consumer Reports’ for Common Core Finds Materials Lacking, L. Layton, WP

McGraw-Hill and Cerego Announce Partnership

Companies will work on adaptive language learning products for K-12 students.

EdBrief: McGraw-Hill and Cerego Announce Partnership, Kay Alexander, Edukwest

NCLB May End, But the Industry It Spawned Is Here To Stay

Those making money from the system say the good times will continue.

NCLB May End, But the Industry It Spawned Is Staying, M. Hensley-Clancy, BuzzFeed

Open Education Resources: Bursting the $8 Billion Bubble

What K-12 OER Collborative, a new non-profit led by 11 states, plans to do.

OER: Bursting the $8 Billion Bubble, Lindsey Tepe, EdCentral

Fight Is On for Common Core Contracts

Companies fight for share of testing mkt, potentially worth billions in coming years.

Fight Is On for Common Core Contracts, Caroline Porter, Wall Street Journal

Pearson’s Dominance of Textbook Market Under Examination

Renewal of a key contract in Texas will be a stern test for the education giant.

Pearson’s Dominance of Textbook Market is Under Examination, K. Rushton, Telegraph

Surprising Benefit of Common Core: Really Cool Video Games

Can new learning tools get World of Warcraft fans into math? Ed tech companies bank on it.

Surprising Benefit of Common Core: Really Cool Video Games, B. Winterhalter,The Atlantic

College in a Box: Textbook Giants Are Now Teaching Classes

Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Wiley license slickly-produced college intro classes.

College in a Box, Gabriel Kahn, Slate

FreshGrade Raises $4.3M from NSVF, Others

Club Penguin founder's new co connects teachers, admins, students & parents with a social network tool similar to Yammer or Slack.

FreshGrade Raises $4.3M from NSVF, Others, Lora Kolodny, Wall Street Journal

For Public Schools, the Long and Bumpy Road to Going Digital

“The ed tech market is a weird beast with many limbs,” Julia Freeland

For Public Schools, the Long and Bumpy Road to Going Digital, Kathy Baron, Mind/Shift

As Book Prices Drop, Big Publishers Move to Software, Edtech

Traditional publishers are driving tech partnerships, startup exits, and investor returns...

As Book Prices Drop, Big Publishers Push Into Software & Edtech, G.T. Huang, Xconomy

In Praise of 'Small Data'

Big data is confusing the conversation about the use of analytics in education.

In Praise of 'Small Data', Brian Kibby, Huffington Post 

Investments Decline As Education Technology Grows Up

A convergence of common core & technology have come together to create this demand.

Investments Decline As Education Technology Grows Up, Jonathan Shiever, TechCrunch

Data Mining Your Children

Just 7% of contracts between districts & tech companies handling student data barred the companies from selling it for profit.  7%.

Data Mining Your Children, Stephanie Simon, Politico