McGraw-Hill Acquires Redbird Advanced Learning, A Digital Personalized Learning Provider for K

NEW YORK, N.Y. (September 30, 2016) – McGraw-Hill today announced the acquisition of Redbird Advanced Learning, LLC, a leading digital personalized learning company that offers courses in K-12 math, language arts and writing and virtual professional development programs for educators. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Built on 25 years of research at Stanford University, Redbird’s adaptive learning solutions enable students to have a highly personalized educational experience to support each student’s individual pace and skill level. Redbird’s math courses will strengthen McGraw-Hill's current math offerings, which include Building Blocks®, Everyday Math®, Glencoe® Math, McGraw-Hill® My Math, Number Worlds® and ALEKS®, a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system.

“Redbird shares McGraw-Hill's vision of harnessing the power of research, technology and the highest quality content to create personalized courses that can unlock the full potential of each student,” said David Levin, President and CEO of McGraw-Hill. “The Redbird acquisition allows us to expand our portfolio of adaptive learning products as we continue our transformation from a textbook publisher to a learning science company. Redbird’s digital curriculum, grounded in foundational and ongoing research from Stanford University, will make a great addition to our already strong lineup of education programs and enhance our robust K-12 math offerings.”

Matthew Mugo Fields, Founder and CEO of Redbird, added, “Hundreds of thousands of students have benefitted from Redbird’s innovative digital education solutions. Now, by becoming part of McGraw-Hill, we can accelerate the learning process for even more students, helping them excel in the classroom and beyond.”

With Redbird’s adaptive learning solutions, educational content can be personalized for varying levels, ensuring all students remain fully engaged during the learning process. Students who are struggling can receive further instruction that addresses their particular needs, while those who have mastered a specific area can move on quickly to the next concept. Teachers also can review real-time assessments of students’ progress in the classroom and instantly make adjustments to their lessons or provide additional help to individuals or specific groups.

“At McGraw-Hill, we believe personalized learning technology helps students achieve their full potential in the classroom and enables teachers to do what they do best – teach,” said Christine Willig, President of McGraw-Hill's School Group. “With Redbird’s adaptive products, students can continue to improve their comprehension and retention at their own pace, while teachers can spend additional time with students who need more help.”

Since becoming an independent company in 2013, this is the fourth acquisition McGraw-Hill has made, as it focuses on delivering personalized learning experiences and open digital platforms to students, educators and schools.

In 2013, McGraw-Hill acquired the ALEKS Corporation, a developer of adaptive learning technology for K-12 and higher education, with a strong focus on math and chemistry. In 2014, McGraw-Hill purchased Area 9 ApS, an adaptive learning company, which McGraw-Hill partnered with to launch its LearnSmart Advantage™ suite of adaptive learning products. Also in 2014, McGraw-Hill acquired Engrade, an open digital platform for K-12 education that integrates all of the curriculum, data and tools that educators and administrators use everyday to monitor student progress, plan and evaluate curriculum.

East Wind Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to Redbird Advanced Learning in this transaction.

To find out more about Redbird, visit www.RedbirdLearning.com.