The company has grown to serve 300,000 students and 25,000 teachers each year.
March 29, 2016, Camden, New Jersey – Catapult Learning, Inc., the largest provider of K−12 contracted instructional services in the U.S., is celebrating 40 years of improving academic outcomes and life opportunities for students in public, private, and religious schools nationwide.
In 1976, Stephen K. Freeman co-founded the education services business based out of Philadelphia and serving private and religious schools. Originally called READS, the company was acquired by Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. in 1995, and in 2004, the name was changed to Catapult Learning. The Catapult Learning division was sold in 2008 and became a stand-alone company. Mr. Freeman has remained with the company throughout the 40 years, first as Executive Director of READS, later as President and CEO of Catapult Learning—a role he held until 2011—and now as Vice Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors as well as Interim President of its Private and Religious Schools services group.
The evolution of Catapult Learning over four decades reflects more than name and ownership changes. While the company initially provided instructional intervention to struggling students in private and religious schools—and continues to do so—Catapult Learning has expanded its portfolio of offerings to include professional development, assessment, school transformation, alternative education, and special education solutions for public, private, and religious schools. Catapult Learning now serves over 3,000 schools each year, with program implementations in 39 states, including 18 of the 20 largest school districts in the country.
Catapult Learning CEO Jeff Cohen, who previously served as President of Catapult Learning from 2001 to 2006 and rejoined the company in his current role in October 2015, reflected on both the company’s past successes and its future goals: “As we look back on an extraordinary history and celebrate Catapult Learning’s remarkable milestone, we must also look forward and contemplate what we want to accomplish over the next forty years. I am confident that we will be successful if we prioritize student outcomes, focus on service excellence, drive growth across the company, and embrace accountability for our results.”
The company has planned a series of events throughout the next year to commemorate this special occasion, including a kickoff at the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Conference on March 29, 2016, where the company’s 40th anniversary video will be premiered.
About Catapult Learning
Catapult Learning, Inc. has dedicated the past four decades to improving academic performance for at-risk and struggling students, including potential dropouts and those with learning and emotional disabilities. The company’s team of 5,600 educators works to achieve sustained academic gains and build teacher and leadership capacity through research-based programs that include intervention, alternative school education, special education, assessment, school improvement, and professional development solutions. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, Catapult Learning partners with over 500 school districts, including 18 of the 20 largest school districts in the United States.
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