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Newsela expands data offerings with acquisition of Schoolytics; Edustaff scoops up virtual therapy provider. Literacy ed-tech company Newsela acquired data platform Schoolytics, the companies said, as Newsela works to expand its product offerings and provide districts additional insights on student learning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Newsela's differentiated reading platform aims to allow teachers to assign nonfiction and current events-focused content and adapt them to students' reading levels. In recent years, it's expanded in the assessment space as well, including by acquiring assessment platform Formative in June 2023. The acquisition of Schoolytics - which works to help districts aggregate disparate data across their student information systems, learning management systems, and assessment platforms - is another significant step in Newsela's efforts to expand beyond its foundation on literacy and content-focused point solutions. Schoolytics, founded in 2011 in Washington D.C., has raised a total of $2.8 million in venture capital funding, according to Tracxn data. Investors included Haystack, Audacious Ventures, and Accelerated Ventures. Newsela remains a venture-backed company after raising more than $173 million since it was founded in 2013, most recently securing $100 million in series D financing in 2021. Schoolytics' platform is aimed at making it easier for districts to streamline multi-tiered systems of supports and response to interventions. Newsela said it plans to integrate its full portfolio of products with Schoolytics' data platform. Get exclusive intel at the EdWeek Market Brief fall summit. Education company officials navigating a changing K-12 market should join our in-person summit, Nov. 11-13 in Nashville. You'll hear from school district leaders on their biggest needs, and get access to original data, hands-on interactive workshops, and peer-to-peer networking. "When combined with Newsela's instructional platform and Formative's real-time assessment insights, districts can move more seamlessly from insight to action - streamlining MTSS and RTI efforts and supporting timely, data-informed decisions at every level of the district," Newsela CEO Pep Carrera said in a statement. With the deal, Newsela is doubling down on an area of the K-12 market that is often seen as one of the fastest-growing and most reliable product categories - helping districts manage and make sense of the vast amounts of data they deal with daily. "We started Schoolytics after hearing a consistent pain point from school districts: They felt 'data rich and information poor.' Schools are working with mountains of data, but often lack the tools to make it actionable," Schoolytics' co-Founder and CEO Aaron Wertman said in a statement. The company's goal has been to create a "true one-stop shop" for student data, he said, and the acquisition will allow them to "offer a seamless way to understand what students know, what they need next, and how supports are working over time." Edustaff scoops up E-Therapy. Educational staffing company Edustaff announced it bought E-Therapy, a provider of virtual and hybrid therapy services for schools. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition will allow the companies to combine Edustaff's scale and district reach with E-Therapy's digital delivery model to be able to offer district customers the option of on-site or virtual therapy options, they said. E-Therapy, based in Flagtaff, Arizona, was founded in 2009 by speech language pathologist Diana Parafiniuk and works in 31 states. This acquisition represents a meaningful step forward for Edustaff and for the schools we serve," Derek Vogel, CEO of Edustaff, said in a statement. "E-Therapy has built a strong, mission-driven organization with deep expertise in school-based therapy services. Together, we can expand access, improve consistency, and better support districts navigating increasingly complex workforce challenges." Edustaff was founded in Michigan in 2010 and now provides staffing services in 14 states. Districts across the country have struggled with filling open positions focused on serving students with special needs, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and school psychologists. More than a third of public schools ran short-staffed in special education in 2024-25, federal data show, with the problem affecting both wealthy and high-poverty schools. Michelle Caffrey is a staff writer for EdWeek Market Brief, focusing on investment, venture capital, private equity, and company leadership. She spent the first decade of her journalism career as a reporter in the Greater Philadelphia area, covering technology and higher education for the Philadelphia Business Journal and reporting on education, politics, and crime in South Jersey for NJ Advance Media/NJ.com. Related Tags:

Edustaff acquires E-Therapy, expanding access to integrated education and therapy services. By GlobeNewswire February 3, 2026 Acquisition strengthens Edustaff's ability to support schools with comprehensive, technology-enabled staffing and therapy solutions GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Edustaff, a national leader in educational staffing and workforce solutions, currently partnering with districts in 14 states and growing, has announced the acquisition of E-Therapy, a provider of virtual and hybrid therapy services for schools nationwide. A pioneer in the virtual therapy space, E-Therapy has delivered therapy support for more than 17 years and currently serves schools across 31 states. This acquisition expands Edustaff's student support service offerings, strengthening its ability to provide both on-site and virtual therapy solutions. It reinforces Edustaff's commitment to helping schools address growing staffing and student-care needs. E-Therapy brings a well-established digital platform, experienced clinicians, and a strong national footprint serving school districts across the country. By combining E-Therapy's delivery model with Edustaff's staffing scale and district partnerships, the organizations will be better positioned to deliver integrated solutions that support both academic and student wellness outcomes. "This acquisition represents a meaningful step forward for Edustaff and for the schools we serve," said Derek Vogel, CEO of Edustaff. "E-Therapy has built a strong, mission-driven organization with deep expertise in school-based therapy services. Together, we can expand access, improve consistency, and better support districts navigating increasingly complex workforce challenges." Addressing Critical Needs in Schools Schools nationwide continue to face staffing shortages, rising student needs, and increasing expectations around service delivery and outcomes. The combination of Edustaff and E-Therapy is designed to help districts respond more effectively by aligning staffing, therapy services, and technology in a single, coordinated offering. Together, the organizations will provide: * Expanded access to qualified education and therapy professionals * Technology-enabled virtual, on-site, and hybrid service delivery * Integrated staffing and therapy solutions tailored for schools * National scale supported by local expertise "This partnership allows us to extend our impact while staying focused on what matters most: supporting students and the professionals who serve them," said Stephanie McNamara, Vice President of Operations for Edustaff's Special Education Division. "With E-Therapy's high-quality service reputation and technology infrastructure, we can reach more schools and help districts deliver services more reliably." Looking Ahead E-Therapy will continue operating with its existing teams while collaborating closely with Edustaff to align services and expand offerings. The combined organization will focus on thoughtful integration, continued service quality, and long-term innovation to meet the evolving needs of schools. "This is about building sustainable solutions for districts," Vogel added. "By bringing our organizations together, we are strengthening our ability to support schools today and adapt to what they will need tomorrow." About Edustaff Edustaff is a national leader in educational staffing, connecting schools with qualified professionals across teaching, therapy, and support services. Built on a foundation of best-in-class substitute staffing, Edustaff provides school districts with highly vetted, trained, and reliable substitute teachers and support staff to ensure continuity of instruction and operations. Through innovative technology, proactive talent recruitment, and responsive local teams, Edustaff partners with school districts to deliver scalable, flexible, and dependable workforce solutions focused on quality, consistency, and student outcomes. About E-Therapy E-Therapy provides technology-enabled therapy services for schools, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, mental health services, and more through virtual and hybrid delivery models. Media Contact: Public Relations Dept. Edustaff, LLC [email protected] 877-974-6338