Teaching Strategies

What Teaching Strategies does

Teaching Strategies is a privately-held early childhood education company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The company develops research-based curriculum, observation-based assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions serving children from birth through third grade. Its products reach more than 270,000 classrooms in over 80 countries, with a stated reach of approximately 20 million children over the past decade and a professional learning community of more than 100,000 educators.

The product portfolio is anchored by The Creative Curriculum (with age-specific editions for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and grades K-3) and the GOLD observation-based assessment system, supplemented by GOLDFinch/Finch game-based assessment, ReadyRosie family engagement, Tadpoles child care center management software, Al's Pals social-emotional learning, Kickstart Literacy, and the SmartTeach digital platform. These products are being progressively integrated into a connected ecosystem that links curriculum delivery, child-level assessment, professional development, and family communication on a unified platform architecture.

The business model combines enterprise licensing of curriculum and assessment content to U.S. public school districts and Head Start programs, per-child pricing for assessment tools, multi-year district contracts, and individual educator subscriptions, supplemented by professional development and CDA training services. The company has been owned by KKR since 2021 and has executed a programmatic M&A strategy to broaden the platform into adjacent verticals including family engagement, digital literacy, game-based assessment, and professional development services.

Name

Teaching Strategies

Legal name

Teaching Strategies, LLC

Website

https://teachingstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Teaching Strategies is a privately-held early childhood education company that provides research-based curriculum, observation-based assessment, professional development, and family engagement products to public school districts, Head Start programs, and early childhood centers, reaching over 270,000 classrooms across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Software and Curriculum

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Learning Digital Curriculum & School Readiness Content (EDAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital/Interactive Curriculum Content (Apps, Games, Multimedia Lessons) (EDACAJAK), Teacher-Led Classroom Platforms (Lesson Delivery, Centers, Whiteboard) (EDACANAH), Parent-Facing Home Learning & Family Engagement Apps (EDACANAK), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping Resources (State/NAEYC/Head Start) (EDACAJAN)

Keywords

• Early childhood curriculum
• Observation assessment software
• Early learning platform
• Professional development programs
• Family engagement software

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Curriculum Sales: Sale of The Creative Curriculum and related curriculum products for infants, toddlers, twos, preschool, pre-K, kindergarten, and family child care - available in print and digital formats
2. Professional Development: Professional development memberships, coaching services, CDA training, and certification programs for early childhood educators
3. Family Engagement Solutions: ReadyRosie family engagement platform and Tadpoles center management software
4. Quorum eLearning: Online professional development courses including CDA credential training and federal health and safety courses acquired through Quality Assist acquisition

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Teaching Strategies sells a connected early childhood education ecosystem combining The Creative Curriculum (research-based, play-based whole-child curriculum for ages 0-grade 3), the GOLD observation-based formative assessment system, game-based assessment via Finch/Cognitive ToyBox, professional development memberships and coaching, family engagement platforms (ReadyRosie, Tadpoles), and classroom materials (Kodo Kids, Essentials Kit). These components are integrated through The Creative Curriculum Cloud and SmartTeach digital platforms, delivering curriculum planning, assessment, reporting, and family engagement to early childhood programs on a subscription basis.

Product overview

Teaching Strategies offers a connected ecosystem of early childhood education solutions built around The Creative Curriculum family of products, spanning from infants (0-12 months) through third grade. The core portfolio includes age-specific curricula for Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, Family Child Care, and Transitional Kindergarten. The ecosystem integrates assessment tools (GOLD observation-based assessment, GOLDFinch, and Finch game-based assessment from Cognitive ToyBox acquisition), professional development (Teacher Membership with 400+ hours of content, coaching, CDA training), family engagement (ReadyRosie, Tadpoles), and classroom materials (Kodo Kids, Essentials Kit). All components connect through The Creative Curriculum Cloud and SmartTeach digital platforms, enabling curriculum planning, teaching, assessment, reporting, and family engagement in a unified system. The company also offers Kickstart Literacy for science of reading-based instruction and Al's Pals for social-emotional learning. The ecosystem is backed by ESSA Tier 1 evidence from an independent NIEER randomized controlled trial.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Creative Curriculum: Research-based, play-based whole-child early childhood curriculum
• GOLD
• GOLDFinch
• Finch
• Al's Pals
• ReadyRosie
• Tadpoles
• Kodo Kids
• Kickstart Literacy
• SmartTeach

Products and services

• The Creative Curriculum for Infants Research-based curriculum for infants aged 0 to 12 months, featuring digital entry screener, ongoing guided assessment, pre-populated weekly plans, and automatically generated Individualized Child Plans for early childhood educators.
• The Creative Curriculum for Toddlers Curriculum for toddlers aged 12 to 24 months providing automatically generated Individualized Child Plans and seamless assessment-driven personalized learning for early childhood educators.
• The Creative Curriculum for Twos Comprehensive curriculum for children aged 24 to 36 months that builds on daily routines and creates meaningful learning experiences, nurturing unique strengths, interests, and needs.
• The Creative Curriculum for Preschool The #1 research- and evidence-based preschool curriculum for 3- and 4-year-olds featuring play-based studies, daily kindergarten readiness focus, and embedded guidance for teachers.
• The Creative Curriculum for Pre-K Play-based pre-K curriculum for the year before kindergarten with explicit science of reading and math instruction, developed in partnership with educators nationwide. Winner of the 2025 CODiE Award for Best PK/Early Childhood Learning Solution.
• The Creative Curriculum for Kindergarten Curriculum encouraging kindergarteners to think critically, solve problems, and connect ideas through investigation, discovery, and play.
• The Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care Comprehensive childcare curriculum for family child care settings addressing unique needs of various age groups, from infants through school-aged children; top-rated in the Head Start ECLKC Curriculum Consumer Report.
• The Creative Curriculum for Transitional Kindergarten California PTKLF-aligned transitional kindergarten curriculum that is whole-child, research-based, with hands-on individualized learning and equitable experiences for all learners.
• GOLD Observation-based formative assessment system that embeds authentic assessment into each part of the day, driving differentiated instruction without disruption; captures photos, videos, notes, and digital samples of children's work.
• GOLDFinch Comprehensive assessment solution combining GOLD observational assessment with child-facing, game-based assessment to provide a fuller picture of child development.
• Finch Game-based assessment platform for children aged 3 to 5 acquired through the Cognitive ToyBox acquisition; integrated with the GOLD observation system to reduce teacher workload.
• Kickstart Literacy Science of reading-based preschool literacy curriculum for the year before kindergarten that engages children in play-based lessons to build reading foundations.
• Al's Pals Social-emotional learning curriculum boosting resiliency in young children through development of self-control, problem-solving abilities, and healthy decision-making.
• Professional Development Teacher Membership Online professional learning community with over 400 hours of content, science of reading courses, 8-week onboarding, CEU-bearing classes, and CDA training for early childhood educators.
• Professional Development Coaching Coaching support for Head Start and early childhood programs ensuring teachers achieve optimal curriculum and assessment implementation with practice-based coaching resources.
• CDA Training Online training for the Child Development Associate credential and federal health and safety courses, including bilingual options, expanded through the Quality Assist/Quorum acquisition.
• ReadyRosie Research-based family engagement platform with video modeling extending and reinforcing classroom learning, connecting school to home for families and educators.
• Tadpoles Center management solution streamlining child care operations and connecting families to their children's development through daily reports and two-way communication.
• Kodo Kids High-quality classroom material collections supporting hands-on, investigative learning in interest areas and general classroom settings.
• The Essentials Kit Curated kit providing all essential materials teachers need to guide daily learning experiences and spur investigation in early childhood classrooms.
• The Creative Curriculum Cloud Digital platform providing 24/7 access to curriculum resources, smart planning tools, family engagement features, embedded microlearning, and the professional learning community for early childhood educators.
• SmartTeach Connected platform bringing curriculum, assessment, family engagement, and professional learning together in one place for early learning educators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59% increase in teacher retention rate when using Teaching Strategies ecosystem
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cognitive ToyBoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Acquired Cognitive ToyBox game-based assessment platform to integrate direct, play-based assessments with GOLD observational data, reducing teacher workload and providing comprehensive child development data.
• Quality AssistcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2022Acquired Quality Assist including its eLearning program Quorum to expand online professional development offerings, enhance CDA credential training, and provide bilingual courses.
• Rutgers University - National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent research partnership conducting randomized controlled trial (RCT) study on Teaching Strategies ecosystem effectiveness. Study showed 59% increase in teacher retention and significant child growth improvements.
• IB-PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum aligned with IB-PYP framework, making it ideal for international schools using this educational framework.
• Reggio Emilia ApproachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum supports Reggio Emilia Approach, allowing international schools to implement this educational philosophy.
• Atlanta Speech SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for science of reading courses built in collaboration with Atlanta Speech School for professional development offerings.
• Head Start ProgramscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeaching Strategies solutions have been chosen by Head Start programs for over 40 years, serving as a key distribution channel.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Scholastic Education: Scholastic is a broad incumbent education publisher with pre-K and early childhood literacy products (e.g., Scholastic Early Childhood) competing for the same school district and Head Start curriculum dollars while also operating across K-12.
• Pearson: Pearson is a global education incumbent operating across curriculum, assessment, and professional learning; its early childhood and K-12 assessment portfolio overlaps with Teaching Strategies' GOLD assessment family at large district and state procurement levels.
• McGraw-Hill Education: McGraw-Hill is a large incumbent educational publisher with assessment and curriculum offerings spanning pre-K through higher education, competing for school district multi-product contracts where Teaching Strategies' ecosystem is positioned.

Direct peers

• Frog Street: Frog Street is a leading direct competitor selling research-based early childhood curricula (including Frog Street Pre-K) and professional development to Head Start programs, public school districts, and child care centers — closely overlapping Teaching Strategies' preschool and pre-K product positioning.
• Procare Solutions: Procare provides center management software for child care programs with features overlapping Tadpoles' functionality, including parent communication, daily reports, and billing — competing for the same private child care and preschool center buyers Teaching Strategies serves.
• Kaplan Early Learning Company: Kaplan offers early childhood curriculum and classroom materials along with assessment tools for preschool and pre-K programs, including the KAP and OWL products; this overlap makes it a direct competitor to The Creative Curriculum and assessment tools like GOLD.
• Brightwheel: Brightwheel is a leading childcare and preschool management and family-engagement platform directly competing with Tadpoles; both target private child care centers and family child care providers with daily reporting and parent communication tools.
• HighScope: HighScope provides the HighScope Curriculum, a play-based preschool curriculum widely adopted in Head Start programs alongside the Creative Curriculum, making it a near-direct substitute competitor in TS's core preschool and Head Start segments.

Emerging players

• Vroom: Vroom delivers parent-facing early learning tools and tips, conceptually overlapping with ReadyRosie's family engagement model; both aim to extend developmentally appropriate learning from school to home for children ages 0–5.
• Waterford.org (Waterford Upstart): Waterford provides early literacy and school-readiness programs that compete with Teaching Strategies' Kickstart Literacy and pre-K reading instruction offerings, frequently positioning alongside or against TS in state-funded pre-K initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/teachingstrategiesforearlychildhood
• Xx.com/teachstrategies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teaching-strategies-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A6 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Teaching Strategies