Illuminate Education, the leading K-12 student performance system, has acquired FastBridge Learning, LLC, a research-driven assessment platform that transforms the way teachers measure and monitor student progress.
FastBridge was founded in 2015 by educational psychology professor Theodore Christ and U of M computer science PhD Zoheb Borbora, with scholarly contributions from leading educational researchers from the University and colleges of education around the country.
The organization, serving nearly 2 million educators and students across 45 states, including a statewide implementation in Iowa, is committed to building knowledge and improving educational assessments. Its Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST™) software helps teachers individually screen, measure, and monitor their students’ progress in reading and math. This helps create personalized plans to close educational gaps. FAST was developed over an eight-year period and was implemented in 92 percent of Iowa Schools before the University launched FastBridge to expand its reach to schools across the country.
FastBridge the eighth startup launched by U of M Technology Commercialization’s Venture Center to be acquired or go public since 2017. Overall, the Venture Center has launched 150 companies since 2006.
“Through this collaboration with Illuminate Education, we’re able to extend the reach of our research-driven innovation model, accelerating our mission to transform the way educators assess and address the learning needs of students,” said Terri Soutor, CEO of FastBridge Learning. “Together, we’ll bring broadened capabilities to support a district’s sustainable, successful tiered instructional model, enabling greater educator and student success.”
Illuminate Education provides effective formative assessments and assessment platforms, data that informs instruction, and the ability for educators to build strong systems of support within their districts. It’s acquisition of FastBridge formalizes a long-time partnership between the two companies, aligning the technology, people, and processes required to support the whole child through data and a tiered instructional model.
“FastBridge Learning has a remarkable history of adding research-driven innovation to assessments while consistently providing exceptional attention to districts,” said Christine Willig, CEO of Illuminate Education. “They share our enthusiasm for sustainable MTSS [Multi-Tiered System of Supports], support for educators, open standards, and interoperable solutions. We welcome FastBridge to the Illuminate family.”
Nearly one year ago, Illuminate Education transformed the assessment space and took a giant step toward its vision of supporting educators by providing “a holistic view of the child on a single pane of glass” when it merged five companies serving approximately 15 million K-12 students. The FastBridge Learning acquisition puts the finishing piece in place to realize Illuminate Education’s vision to simplify formative assessments for teachers, saving them time and guiding them through evidence-based student instruction and data-driven intervention. These capabilities empower educators in understanding the unique needs of each student, equipping them with the tools needed to serve the whole child.
To learn more about Illuminate Education, visit illuminateed.com.
