IMSE

What IMSE does

IMSE (Institute for Multi-Sensory Education), founded in 1994 and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, is a privately held professional development and curriculum company that trains K-12 educators in Structured Literacy instruction based on the Orton-Gillingham methodology and the Science of Reading. The company serves two primary customer segments: K-12 school districts purchasing enterprise training and curriculum contracts, and individual educators purchasing courses, materials, and certification pathways directly. IMSE has trained more than 330,000 educators across 5,000+ school districts in all 50 US states, reaching an estimated 4.6 million students.

The core product suite consists of two flagship curricula — Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+) for grades K-2 foundational literacy, which holds a 97% EdReports overall score with all-green ratings across all gateways, and Morphology Plus for grades 3-5 word study — delivered via 30-hour training courses in live virtual, in-person, and asynchronous formats. Supporting offerings include Phonological Awareness, Pre-K Literacy Plus, a 120-hour Certification/Practicum program aligned with IDA and CERI standards, post-training support modules (Fidelity, Refresher, Administrator, Educational Assistant, Coaching, Intervention), graduate credit partnerships with Ashland University and Northwest Nazarene University, and an expanding digital platform (IMSE LAB for lesson planning, plus the 2024 AI-Enabled Decodable Story Generator). The company holds IDA-accredited, CERI-accredited, and ESSA-validated credentials (Tier 4 Research-Based Design, Silver Efficacy Badge, Moderate Multiple Studies).

IMSE monetizes through a hybrid of training course fees ($150-$825 per participant with volume discounts), recurring certification and post-training support revenue, consumable curriculum materials ($6.50-$825 per item), and grant-funded state programs (e.g., $1M Michigan state grant in 2023). Go-to-market combines self-serve e-commerce, direct enterprise field sales for district partnerships, and channel partnerships with universities. The company is independently owned with no disclosed external equity investors and operates a related nonprofit arm, the IMSE Foundation, which provides educator training scholarships.

Name

IMSE

Legal name

Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

Website

https://imse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IMSE (Institute for Multi-Sensory Education) trains K-12 educators in Structured Literacy and Orton-Gillingham-based reading instruction, selling curriculum, certification programs, and digital tools to school districts and individual teachers across all 50 US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educator Professional Development and Literacy Curriculum

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy & Reading Intervention Technology (EDAJAMAF)

Keywords

• Structured literacy training
• Orton-Gillingham instruction
• Educator professional development
• Literacy curriculum programs
• Reading intervention training

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Training: 30-hour comprehensive training courses in Orton-Gillingham Plus, Morphology Plus, and Phonological Awareness delivered live virtual, in-person, or asynchronously. Revenue generated from course registration fees with tiered pricing for bulk enrollments.
2. Educational Materials and Curriculum: Sale of teacher guides, student workbooks, decodable readers, spelling books, and classroom manipulatives through e-commerce platform. One-time product purchases with volume discounts available.
3. Certification Programs: IMSE Orton-Gillingham Certification practicum (6-12 months, 120 hours) and Fidelity courses providing ongoing professional development and certification for educators.
4. Post-Training Support: Refresher courses, intervention support courses, educational assistant training, and administrator courses for continued professional learning after initial certification.
5. Graduate College Credits: Partnership with Ashland University and Northwest Nazarene University for graduate credits earned through course completion, with separate fees paid to universities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IMSE (Institute for Multi-Sensory Education) trains K-12 educators to teach reading more effectively using the Orton-Gillingham methodology and Science of Reading research. The company delivers 30-hour comprehensive professional development courses in live virtual, in-person, and asynchronous formats, alongside proprietary structured literacy curricula (OG+ for grades K-2, Morphology Plus for grades 3-5), teacher guides, student workbooks, decodable readers, and supporting manipulatives sold through its e-commerce platform and direct district sales.

Product overview

IMSE (Institute for Multi-Sensory Education) offers a comprehensive Structured Literacy education ecosystem centered on two core curriculum programs: Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+) for K-2 foundational literacy skills and Morphology Plus for grades 3-5 word study and morphology. The portfolio includes multiple training delivery formats (30-hour courses in live virtual, in-person, and asynchronous), professional development modules (Fidelity Course, Refresher, Administrator Course, Educational Assistant Course, Intervention Course, Live Coaching), and extensive curriculum materials (Teacher Guides, Student Workbooks, Decodable Readers, Spelling Books, Morphology resources). Digital offerings include IMSE LAB for online lesson planning, the AI-Enabled Decodable Story Generator, and various slide template bundles. Supporting services include OG Certification/Practicum, Consulting, and Graduate Credit partnerships with Ashland University and Northwest Nazarene University. The company holds IDA and CERI accreditation and has received independent validation through EdReports (97% score), ESSA certification, and LXD Research studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+) Foundational Structured Literacy curriculum for grades K-2 based on the Orton-Gillingham methodology and Science of Reading. Delivered as 30-hour training in live virtual, in-person, and asynchronous formats, paired with comprehensive teacher guides, student workbooks, decodable readers, and manipulatives. Scored 97% from EdReports with all-green rating.
• Morphology Plus
• Phonological Awareness Course 12.5-hour training course exploring English sounds and phonological awareness skills (rhyming, syllables, onset/rime, phoneme blending, segmentation, substitution, deletion). Available in live virtual, in-person, and asynchronous formats with physical materials shipped.
• Pre-K Literacy Plus Professional development program for preschool educators with practical routines supporting listening, speaking, reading, and writing development in early learners.
• IMSE Certification / Practicum 120-hour practicum program for IMSE-trained educators seeking Orton-Gillingham certification. Includes 6-12 months of course and field work with direct supervisor feedback. Graduates are listed on the IMSE website and may apply for CERI Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist certification.
• IMSE Fidelity Course 15-hour asynchronous course for IMSE-trained educators to deepen OG strategy implementation and ensure fidelity. Covers assessment, phonological awareness, teaching new concepts, three-part drill, red words, syllabication, comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and dyslexia.
• Online Refresher Course Over six hours of video content for IMSE-trained educators to review OG skills. Includes supplementary refresher packet, unlimited six-month access, and certificate of completion.
• Administrator Course 3-hour course for administrators to support educators implementing OG+ and Morphology+ with fidelity. Available in asynchronous and live virtual formats; helps leaders monitor instruction fidelity and plan implementation.
• Educational Assistant Course 18-hour course for paraprofessionals working with IMSE-trained instructors. Covers three-part drill, letter formation, word and sentence dictation, red word instruction, and decodable readers.
• Intervention and Support for Struggling Readers Course 9-hour asynchronous course for IMSE-trained educators working with intervention students. Covers MTSS, building fluency, intervention activities, advanced word reading skills, and building intellectual capacity.
• Live Virtual Coaching Personalized coaching sessions with IMSE instructors for previously trained educators needing additional support implementing OG strategies with fidelity. Available virtually and in-person.
• Science of Reading Course 3-hour asynchronous course for leaders and educators to develop deeper understanding of the science of reading. Includes research models, application via student work samples, and 15-question assessment with 45-day access.
• Writing and Grammar Video Course 6-hour asynchronous video course for grades 3-6 and middle/high school intervention. Covers parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, sentence writing, writing process, paragraph writing, and essay writing with 6-month access.
• IMSE LAB Online lesson planning platform where educators can plan lessons, conduct assessments, and customize content as part of the OG+ technology offerings.
• AI-Enabled Decodable Story Generator AI-powered tool that generates custom decodable stories for students. Educators create tailored reading content to support Structured Literacy instruction.
• OG+ Fidelity Companion Guide Teaching support guide built to ensure OG+ implementation fidelity with scaffolds gradually removed for efficient instruction.
• Consulting Services Expert consulting team collaborates with districts to identify areas of improvement and develop implementation strategies aligned with district vision and mission.
• Private District Trainings Dedicated learning experiences for districts providing group training for educators. Includes on-site and virtual options delivered as enterprise engagements.
• Graduate Credit Programs Graduate credit options through Ashland University and Northwest Nazarene University for IMSE training courses. Available for OG+, Morphology Plus, Phonological Awareness, and Fidelity courses with separate fees paid to universities.
• OG+ Student Spelling Books Student practice workbooks with dictation practice across five days of instruction. Available in levels A (Kindergarten), B (1st grade), C (2nd grade), and D (Grade 3+).
• OG+ Student Reading Books Student reading books for fluency practice with word count fluency and words correct per minute practice. Levels A, B, C for different grade levels.
• OG+ Decodable Readers Decodable readers for OG+ curriculum including Fiction Volume 1, Fiction Volume 2, and Nonfiction Volume 1. Available in printed sets (A, B, C) and PDF formats.
• Morphology Plus Teacher Guides Teacher guide bundle including Affixes Book 1, Affixes Book 2, Latin, and Greek guides following the Morphology Plus scope and sequence with instructional notes, drill outlines, and sample weekly lesson plans.
• Morphology+ Educator Curriculum Kit Complete curriculum kit including Morphology Plus Training Manual, three Teacher Guides, Student Passages PDFs, Comprehension Blueprint, Vocabulary Handbook, Morpheme Card Pack, Practice Packet, and Procedural Routine Flip Chart.
• Morphology+ Daily Student Work Collection Digital/printable toolkit with over 700 student practice pages covering 118 morphology concepts. Includes morpheme meaning, word building, word sums, definition and sentence creation, fluency activities, and assessments.
• Customizable Morphology Slide Sets Google Slides lesson templates with 6,039 slides covering intermediate level Orton-Gillingham concepts. Includes Greek Bases, Latin Bases, and Prefix/Suffix bundles. Customizable for teacher-created scope and sequence.
• Morphology Plus Asynchronous Refresher Over five hours of video content for Morphology Plus trained educators. Includes review of morphology outline, Latin and Greek lessons, fluency and comprehension strategies, and assessments with six-month access.
• Phonological Awareness Lesson Bundle Digital slide bundle with 1,400 slides of phonological awareness activities including rhyming words, counting syllables, onset rime, phoneme blending, segmentation, substitution, and deletion. For whole group, small group, or 1:1 instruction.
• Digital Resources Free digital activities and implementation library including freebies, slides, and interactive resources for educators to use in the classroom.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% EdReports overall score for OG+ curriculum, all-green rating across all gateways
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ashland UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate credit partnership allowing IMSE course participants to earn 1-3 graduate credits through Ashland University (HLC regionally accredited). Available for OG+, Morphology Plus, Phonological Awareness courses, Fidelity courses, and practicum programs. Separate fees paid directly to university.
• Northwest Nazarene University (NNU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate credit partnership for IMSE training participants to earn graduate credits through NNU (NWCCU regionally accredited). Available for comprehensive OG+, Morphology Plus training and practicum programs.
• IMSE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit arm of IMSE dedicated to empowering communities through improved literacy and high-quality teacher training. Provides scholarships for educators to take IMSE courses for free, removes barriers to training access, and supports equitable literacy education.
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMSE is an accredited partner of IDA with programs aligned to Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading. CERI (a subsidiary of IDA) provides certification pathways for IMSE-trained educators.
• LXD ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent research organization conducting efficacy studies and ESSA certification reviews for IMSE's OG+ and Morphology+ curricula.
• EdReportsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent nonprofit that reviews curriculum for districts. IMSE's OG+ scored 97% overall, earning all-green rating.
• Learning AllyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduates of IMSE practicum can be listed on Learning Ally website as OG-certified educators or tutors, expanding visibility for certified professionals.
• ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMSE courses eligible for ASHA professional development renewal credits for speech-language pathologists.
• Raising Hands TutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit engaged IMSE to offer free Orton-Gillingham certification to K-3 teachers in exchange for free tutoring services for children needing reading intervention.
• Dyslexic EdgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDyslexic Edge partnered with IMSE to train its tutors in Orton-Gillingham, increasing access to reading intervention for dyslexic students.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Language Training: Wilson Language Training is the most direct peer — both companies deliver multi-sensory, structured literacy professional development programs (Wilson offers Fundations and Wilson Reading System) for K-12 educators, including teacher training, certification, and aligned materials. Both compete for the same district-level Structured Literacy procurement budgets driven by state Science of Reading legislation.
• 95 Percent Group: 95 Percent Group provides structured literacy professional development, screening, and intervention programs (LIPS, Heggerty, Lightning Squad) to K-12 schools and districts. It directly competes with IMSE in the structured literacy PD market with comparable evidence-based claims, ESSA certifications, and district-wide implementation models.
• Reading Horizons: Reading Horizons delivers structured literacy training, curriculum, and technology to schools, with dedicated teacher PD programs and assessment tools. Competes head-to-head with IMSE for K-12 literacy PD dollars targeting districts implementing SoR-aligned instruction.
• Really Great Reading: Really Great Reading provides structured literacy assessment tools (Decodable library, Countdown) and professional development for K-12 educators. It is a comparable direct competitor in the evidence-based literacy PD / curriculum space with similar target buyers (district leaders, reading specialists).

Broad incumbents

• Lexia Learning (a Cambium Learning Group brand): Lexia Learning (part of Cambium) provides literacy instruction, intervention software (Lexia Core5, PowerUp), and teacher PD for K-12. While primarily tech-driven rather than training-anchored like IMSE, it competes for the same district literacy budgets and overlapping science-of-reading positioning.
• Voyager Sopris Learning: Voyager Sopris Learning provides supplemental literacy and reading intervention solutions, including teacher PD, for K-12 districts. Comparable in target buyer and structured literacy offerings with broader portfolio across reading, math, and behavior.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH provides core K-12 ELA curricula accompanied by professional development services marketed to school districts. While a much larger and broader core-curriculum publisher, it overlaps IMSE in the literacy PD + curriculum space and competes in large state adoptions.
• Amplify Education: Amplify offers core ELA curricula (Amplify CKLA, EL Education) and professional development for K-12 districts. Comparable as a broader publisher that bundles SoR-aligned curriculum with teacher PD, competing for state adoption and large district budgets.
• Curriculum Associates (iReady): Curriculum Associates publishes iReady assessment/instruction and the Ready/Teacher Toolbox curricula for K-12 literacy, alongside robust teacher PD. While primarily assessment-driven, it overlaps IMSE in school-literacy purchasing decisions and PD delivery to districts.
• Scholastic Education: Scholastic Education provides literacy programs, intervention solutions, and book-driven curricula to schools. It competes for district literacy dollars and includes teacher PD components that overlap IMSE's structured literacy positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IMSEOG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPJqkhSNKynPzgLj4Xuqp9g?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/Orton-Gillingham-358905134128313
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orton-gillingham
• Instagraminstagram.com/imse_og
• TikToktiktok.com/@imse_og
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ortongillingham

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IMSE