What Teachstone Training, LLC does

Teachstone Training, LLC is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based education services company founded in 2008 that commercializes the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), an observational framework originally developed at the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL). The company's core product is the CLASS observation instrument, now in its 2nd Edition, covering Infant-Toddler and Pre-K through 3rd grade age bands, along with the supplementary CLASS Environment tool. Teachstone monetizes the framework through a layered business model: (i) observer and coach certification with annual recertification, (ii) professional development and training programs, (iii) the myTeachstone data collection and reporting platform (now offered as the CLASS Quality Improvement Subscription), (iv) custom events and observation services, and (v) printed and digital materials.

The company serves early childhood education programs, school districts, Head Start grantees, state education agencies, and individual educators across the United States and internationally, including Spanish- and French-speaking markets. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales-led, with dedicated account representatives pursuing district, Head Start, and state-level contracts; the federal Office of Head Start mandate requiring CLASS for program monitoring provides a structural demand anchor. Supporting infrastructure includes the TORSH video platform, Google Analytics, Stripe payments, and Google Calendar integrations.

Teachstone operates as a Certified B Corporation and maintains a 51–100 employee headcount, with a broader ecosystem comprising Affiliate Trainers, a public certified-observer directory, and the CLASS Learning Community of more than 25,000 educators. The current product cycle — CLASS 2nd Edition rollout (2022), CLASS Environment (2023), Infant-Toddler suite (August 2025), the updated myTeachstone platform with subscription pricing (2025), and the CLASS Calibration Cohort (September 2025) — reflects a strategy of extending the CLASS product surface and converting transactional revenue into recurring subscription revenue.

Name

Teachstone Training, LLC

Legal name

Teachstone, Inc.

Website

https://teachstone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Teachstone Training commercializes the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observation framework, serving early childhood programs, school districts, Head Start grantees, state agencies, and educators in the US and internationally with observer certification, coaching, training, and the myTeachstone subscription data platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Assessment & Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment, Observation & Documentation Training (Portfolios, DRDP/CLASS/ECERS) (EDACAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classroom Assessment & Grading (Formative/Summative) (EDAJAFAC), Child Development, Behavior Guidance & Trauma-Informed Practice Training (EDACAIAG)

Keywords

• Classroom observation tools
• Teacher training programs
• Early childhood assessment
• Educator certification services
• Quality improvement coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification and Training Services: Revenue from CLASS Observer certification training, Affiliate Trainer programs, Measurement Trainer certifications, and annual recertification fees. These are typically multi-day facilitated training programs with associated materials and testing.
2. Subscription Services: CLASS Quality Improvement Subscription (myTeachstone) provides ongoing access to data collection tools, reporting dashboards, learning resources, and professional development content on a recurring subscription basis.
3. Product Sales: Sale of physical and digital materials including CLASS Manuals, Score Sheets, Strategy Cards, Dictionaries, Support Kits, and Cognitive Support Kits for various age groups.
4. Professional Development Programs: Revenue from coaching certification programs (CLASS Group Coaching, 1:1 Video Coaching), CDA with CLASS programs, and Banking Time training. These include facilitated training and ongoing support components.
5. CLASS Observation Services: Fee-based observation services where Teachstone-certified observers conduct classroom observations on behalf of organizations. Includes remote-virtual, video-coded, and in-person live observation options.
6. Custom Events: Facilitated virtual professional learning sessions designed and delivered by Teachstone specialists for organizations, with end-to-end logistical support including planning, promotion, registration, and delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Teachstone delivers the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observation framework and its updated CLASS 2nd Edition for measuring the quality of educator-child interactions from birth through 3rd grade. The company sells training, certification, and recertification programs for observers and trainers, coaching programs (Group Coaching, 1:1 Video Coaching), the myTeachstone subscription platform for data collection and reporting, classroom observation services, custom professional learning events, and physical/digital reference materials (manuals, score sheets, strategy cards, support kits).

Product overview

Teachstone offers a comprehensive product ecosystem centered on the CLASS® (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observation framework. The core offering includes the CLASS 2nd Edition observation tool, which combines Infant-Toddler and Pre-K-3rd age groups into unified frameworks for measuring educator-child interactions. Supporting the core tool are certification and training programs (CLASS Observation Training, Measurement Trainer Program, Train-the-Trainer Affiliate Program, Interaction Essentials Trainer Program), coaching services (CLASS Group Coaching, 1:1 Video Coaching, Custom Events), and the myTeachstone platform for data collection and professional development. The product suite also includes CLASS Environment for measuring learning settings, CLASS Coding Support for ongoing calibration, and supplementary materials (Manuals, Score Sheets, Strategy Cards, Support Kits). Products span observer certification, educator training, coach development, and family engagement workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) Observation tool that measures the quality of educator-child interactions across Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support domains, used by early childhood programs for continuous quality improvement.
• CLASS 2nd Edition Updated version of the CLASS observation framework covering birth through 3rd grade, with streamlined frameworks for Infant-Toddler and Pre-K-3rd settings.
• CLASS Environment Observation tool measuring the specific elements of a learning environment that support effective educator-child interactions, available for Infant-Toddler and Pre-K-K settings.
• CLASS Observation Training Training program to certify observers in reliably measuring the quality of educator-child interactions using the CLASS tool.
• CLASS Group Coaching (MMCI) Year-long coaching and teacher professional development program that helps organizations expand CLASS knowledge through community learning.
• CLASS 1:1 Video Coaching 10-month certification program that builds coaches' abilities in using a practice-based, video-based coaching framework to drive improvements in teacher-child interactions.
• CLASS Quality Improvement Subscription (myTeachstone) Subscription-based virtual platform that consolidates CLASS data collection, reporting, and professional development within a single system.
• CLASS Coding Support Ongoing scoring practice, instant feedback, and coding justification (CLASS Calibration and CLASS Double Coding) to help certified observers maintain reliability and accuracy.
• CLASS Observation Services Fee-based observation services where Teachstone-certified observers conduct classroom observations, including remote-virtual, video-coded, and in-person live observation options.
• Custom Events by Teachstone Facilitated, CLASS-aligned professional learning sessions delivered virtually by Teachstone specialists for educators, coaches, leaders, and families, with end-to-end logistical support.
• CDA with CLASS Child Development Associate credential program integrating CLASS principles, available as on-demand (self-paced) or facilitated (24-week cohort) options with CEU or college credit.
• Banking Time: Investing in Relationships Evidence-based intervention program helping educators form stronger relationships with children through scheduled one-on-one connection opportunities.
• Meaningful Interactions at Home One-hour virtual family workshop teaching families how to support children's development through effective educator-style interactions.
• CLASS 2nd Edition Measurement Trainer Program Three-day facilitated training helping organizations guide and improve CLASS data quality across infant-toddler and pre-K-3rd age groups.
• CLASS Train-the-Trainer Affiliate Program Program designed to support scale of CLASS implementation within organizations by building certified affiliate trainers.
• Interaction Essentials Trainer Program Three-day certification program equipping professionals to facilitate adult learning and deliver CLASS-based training.
• CLASS Overview for Leaders Two-hour online course equipping leaders with understanding of the CLASS tool, research behind interactions, and implementation guidance.
• CLASS Intro to Interactions for Educators Training helping educators apply effective strategies and build shared understanding of CLASS, available in self-paced or facilitated formats.
• CLASS Interaction Essentials for Educators Self-paced online training helping Pre-K educators improve interactions with children by learning to apply CLASS principles.
• Instructional Support Strategies for Coaches One-day training helping coaches build competency and confidence in the Instructional Support domain of CLASS.
• CLASS Supplies (Manuals, Score Sheets, Strategy Cards, Dictionaries, Support Kits) Physical and digital reference materials supporting CLASS implementation, including CLASS Dictionary, Interactions Dimensions Guide, CLASS 2nd Edition Manuals, Observation Score Sheets, Strategy Cards, and Support Kits (Literacy and Cognitive), sold through the Teachstone online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• CLASS Group Coaching improves teacher scores across all three CLASS domains
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office of Head Start (OHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007In 2007, Congress directed the Office of Head Start to use CLASS as a reliable and valid tool for assessing teacher-child interactions as part of its program monitoring process. Teachstone has partnered with OHS to strengthen meaningful interactions between educators and children nationwide. The partnership includes dedicated custom events, transition training, and resources specifically designed for Head Start programs, with OHS publishing official guidance on CLASS usage including crosswalks to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe parent office of OHS consulted with leading early childhood assessment experts and agreed that CLASS was the instrument that best met the statutory requirement for program monitoring, because it has been validated by over 10 years of research in educational settings.
• University of Virginia CASTLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLASS was developed in 2008 by education researchers at the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (CASTL). Teachstone maintains the exclusive relationship as the authors and authoritative source for CLASS implementation.
• Head Start TTA CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational and Regional Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Centers dedicated to supporting Head Start grantees partner with Teachstone by directing grantees to CLASS supports available through Teachstone's resources and training programs.
• Waldorf CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing CDA with CLASS participants to transfer earned college credits into Waldorf's Early Childhood Associate Program for further education advancement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Teaching Strategies: Teaching Strategies provides the GOLD assessment and Creative Curriculum, both widely used in Head Start programs and early childhood classrooms. It is the most direct competitor to Teachstone in the early childhood observation/assessment space, serving the same Head Start, district, and state agency customers with an alternative observation framework.
• HighScope: HighScope offers the Child Observation Record (COR) and a research-based preschool curriculum with its own observation and assessment tools. It directly competes with Teachstone's CLASS in the early childhood observation niche and shares the Head Start and preschool program customer base.
• Frog Street: Frog Street provides early childhood curricula, professional development, and assessment tools for Pre-K programs nationwide. It competes with Teachstone for early childhood educator training dollars and serves overlapping Head Start and district customer segments.

Emerging players

• Hatch by TeachTown: Hatch (by TeachTown) provides tech-enabled early childhood instruction and assessment platforms used in Pre-K and Head Start classrooms. It is an emerging player bringing digital and gamified assessment to the same early childhood market Teachstone serves with CLASS.
• Brightwheel: Brightwheel is a leading early childhood education management platform with attendance, family engagement, and emerging observation/assessment capabilities. While primarily an operational platform, its growing assessment footprint increasingly competes for the same early childhood program budgets.
• ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI): CCEI provides online professional development, training, and certification courses for early childhood educators. It is an emerging player competing with Teachstone's CLASS-based professional development programs for the same early childhood educator audience.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson: Pearson is a global education incumbent offering K-12 and early childhood assessments, professional development, and clinical evaluation tools. While not a direct CLASS competitor, it offers adjacent assessment products that compete for district and state-level education budgets.
• Curriculum Associates (iReady): Curriculum Associates provides iReady diagnostic assessments and instructional tools widely used in K-12 districts. It serves overlapping district customers as Teachstone and competes for district-level professional development and assessment budgets, particularly in Pre-K-3rd grade settings.
• Renaissance Learning: Renaissance Learning provides K-12 assessment, practice, and data analytics tools (including STAR Early Literacy). It competes with Teachstone for district-level assessment and intervention budgets and shares the school district customer base.

Others

• NAEYC: NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) is the leading professional organization setting early childhood standards and accreditation in the U.S. While not a direct commercial competitor, NAEYC's standards and accreditation frameworks shape the demand environment for Teachstone's CLASS-based solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teachstone
• Facebookfacebook.com/teachstone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teachstone

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Teachstone Training, LLC