By Allan Maurer
TOWSON, MD—Spectrum K12 School Solutions helps teachers switch from a one-to-many approach to a technology-aided one-to-one method that gives teachers and supervisors a clear view of who needs help and whether or not interventions are working. “Teachers and superintendents love it,” says company CEO and President Jim Marshall.
The 14-year-old company formerly focused on providing software that helped school districts and teachers manage their individualized education plans (IEP) required for every student in special education.
Since Marshall took the helm two years ago, it has developed a platform for managing response-to-intervention (RTI) programs as well, providing teachers and administrators with a desktop dashboard that connects to school system databases and lets them track progress via easy to read graphs.
Spectrum K12 has raised about $54 million in venture backing from investors including Novak Biddle, Updata Partners and Warburg Pincus, Capital Trust Ventures, Comerica Bank and MMV Financial.
Marshall tells TechJournal South the company bought out the Warburg Pincus stake. He says the firm’s $7.4 million round closed late last year may be the last it will raise.
Spectrum K12 student achievement management software has enabled personalized learning for over 5 million children in 29 states in support of its mission to close the achievement gap.
At the time of the company’s funding last year, John Oswald, managing general partner of Capital Trust Ventures said, “Spectrum K12’s technology modernizes and greatly improves the way educators teach. By transitioning from a ‘one-to-many’ approach to the customized ‘one-to-one’ teaching method, students learn in a more effective, supportive environment.
“This company has 10 years of experience in the special education space and they are now able to bring their technology to a broader student base ranging from infants and toddlers to life-long learners.”
Marshall says the company changed its vision somewhat since he came on board. “It was almost a turnaround,” he says. “We have started moving away from just special education to develop a student achievement management platform that addresses all the interventions, not just IEP.”
Marshall brings more than 30 years of enterprise-focused experience leading high technology companies to profitability and market growth. Prior to Spectrum K12, he assumed the responsibilities of CEO at Agentis Software in February 2005 and led funding rounds, a management buyout and several large new sales transactions.
When the company demonstrates its product, he says, “Superintendent’s love it. They can see by student, by teacher, by intervention, what’s working and what’s not. It takes away one of their blind spots.”
The company charges school districts $7.50 a student per year and installing and implementing the software can cost from $50,000 to $75,000.
Six school districts, including two in North Carolina, have either completed or are about to complete paid beta tests of the company’s new RTI suite.
Marshall says the company hired top commercial developers split between Baltimore and Atlanta offices to build its new platform.
He says new Obama administration appears “Much friendlier to what we’re trying to do.”
Spectrum K12 School Solutions is one of more than 40 presenting companies and 50 featured speakers and panelists at TechJournal South’s third annual Southeast Venture Conference March 11-12 at the Intercontinental Buckhead in Atlanta. Fewer than 50 seats remain open for the event, which sold out in previous years. To register or for more information see: www.seventure.org.
Online: www.spectrumK12.com
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