Stages learning materials
Stages Learning Materials is a woman-owned, bootstrapped education company founded in 1997 that builds the ARIS special education platform and Language Builder curriculum for autistic children, serving U.S. school districts, ABA clinics, and families in all 50 states through annual subscriptions, e-commerce, and webinars.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersVista, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Stages learning materials does
Stages Learning Materials is a privately held, woman-owned education company founded in 1997 by Angela Nelson in Vista, California. The company builds tools and structured curriculum for children with autism and developmental challenges, serving school districts, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics, and families across all 50 U.S. states. Its flagship platform, ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System), integrates assessment, prerequisite-aware lesson sequencing, IEP goal management, behavior support, progress monitoring, team collaboration, and family communication into a single system, and is paired with physical teaching materials including the Language Builder Picture Cards line that originated the company in 1997. Adjacent products include ARIS for Districts, ARIS for Clinics, ARIS Home Learning, the Stages Learning Line interactive tele-learning platform, professional development webinars, and the annual ARIS Thrive Grant program.
The technology stack combines a cloud-based platform (ARIS) with physical manipulatives and picture cards. Notable platform components include a VB-MAPP-aligned goal bank with 202 measurable goals, auto-generated weekly family updates in plain language, a skills-based assessment that maps directly to instruction, and emerging AI-enabled tools for video-based assessment, automatic data capture, and real-time teacher coaching.
Revenue is generated primarily through annual ARIS platform subscriptions sold to districts and clinics at quote-based pricing, with embedded implementation support, physical materials kits, and professional development bundled in. Direct-to-consumer revenue comes from the e-commerce storefront selling Language Builder cards and downloadable resources, while live instructor-led webinars priced at $399 per educator and custom team training add professional services revenue. The go-to-market blends enterprise field sales (districts), sales-led annual licenses (clinics), and self-serve e-commerce (families), supported by content marketing through a blog, the Stages Connect community platform, and email newsletters. The company remains founder-led and bootstrapped after 25 years, with no disclosed institutional investment, acquisitions, or executive transitions.
Stages learning materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stages learning materials
- Legal name
- Stages Learning
- Website
- https://stageslearning.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stages Learning Materials is a woman-owned, bootstrapped education company founded in 1997 that builds the ARIS special education platform and Language Builder curriculum for autistic children, serving U.S. school districts, ABA clinics, and families in all 50 states through annual subscriptions, e-commerce, and webinars.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stages learning materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Software
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Support Instructional Materials (Structured Teaching, Visual Supports) (EDAGAMAK), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Individualized Learning Plans & Differentiated Instruction Materials (IEP/IFSP-Aligned) (EDACAJAE), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Stages learning materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vista
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stages learning materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- ARIS Platform Subscriptions: Annual access subscriptions for ARIS Online platform providing curriculum, assessment, IEP goals, data tracking, and coaching. Sold to districts, clinics, and individual educators.
- Professional Development Webinars: Live instructor-led webinar sessions at $399 per educator per session. ARIS 101, ARIS 102, and ARIS for ESY sessions offered on recurring schedule.
- Physical Curriculum Kits: Language Builder picture cards, 3D-2D matching kits, manipulatives, and physical teaching materials shipped with ARIS deployments. One-time purchase included with platform deployment.
- Custom Team Training: Private team trainings built for specific school and clinic needs with same instructors and customized case studies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | ARIS 101 Webinar - $399 per educator |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | ARIS 102 Webinar - $399 per educator |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | ARIS for ESY Webinar - $399 per educator |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 14-Day Trial |
| Subscription | Annual | Clinic-Wide Annual License |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Stages learning materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stages Learning provides the ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System) platform, a cloud-based special education curriculum and program management system that integrates assessment, IEP goal tracking, prerequisite-aware lesson sequencing, behavior support, data collection, and family communication for children with autism and developmental challenges. The platform is bundled with physical Language Builder picture cards and manipulatives, and is delivered through three tailored paths: ARIS for Districts (K-12 schools), ARIS for Clinics (ABA therapy practices), and ARIS Home Learning (families).
Product overview
Stages Learning offers a unified product portfolio centered on ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System), a comprehensive special education platform that coordinates assessment, IEP goals, individualized lessons, behavior support, progress monitoring, and family communication. The ARIS platform is delivered alongside physical teaching materials including the Language Builder Picture Cards (noun cards, verb cards, and 3D-2D matching kits) that ship with every deployment. The company provides ARIS in multiple configurations: ARIS Online (digital access), ARIS for Clinics (clinic-wide license for ABA therapy practices), ARIS for Districts (consolidated district-wide implementation), and ARIS Home Learning (family access). Additional offerings include the Stages Learning Line for interactive tele-learning, free therapy tools and resources, professional development webinars (ARIS 101, ARIS 102, ARIS for ESY), and the annual ARIS Thrive Grant program. The Stages Connect Community provides ongoing support and resources for the special education community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARIS: Academic Readiness Intervention System - the company's main platform that runs special education programs, including assessment, IEP goals, individualized lessons, behavior support, progress monitoring, team collaboration, and family communication.
- Language Builder
- Stages Connect
- ARIS Thrive Grant
Products and services
- ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System) The main platform that coordinates every part of specialized instruction including assessment, IEP goals, individualized lessons, behavior support, progress monitoring, team collaboration, and family communication. ARIS sequences the full curriculum with prerequisite logic and connects assessment to goals, goals to lessons, and lessons to data.
- ARIS for Districts District-wide implementation version with consolidated curriculum, assessment, data collection, IEP writing, and professional development in a single contract. Includes implementation team support, district dashboards, and program health monitoring.
- ARIS for Clinics Annual clinic-wide license offering VB-MAPP-aligned goal architecture, picture cards and manipulatives, discrete-trial teaching support, supervisor-friendly data dashboards, and RBT onboarding for ABA therapy clinics.
- ARIS Home Learning Family-facing component of the ARIS platform allowing families to access structured early learning curriculum at home for children with autism and developmental challenges.
- Language Builder Picture Cards Physical teaching materials including picture noun cards, verb and action words cards, and 3D-2D matching kits. Originally created in 1997, these cards became the industry standard for early autism instruction and ship with every ARIS deployment.
- ARIS Professional Development Webinars Live instructor-led webinars including ARIS 101 (onboarding), ARIS 102 (implementation deep dive), and ARIS for ESY (extended school year programs). Priced at $399 per educator per session with practical takeaways and recorded replay access.
- Stages Connect Community Online community platform for educators, BCBAs, SLPs, and parents featuring articles, Q&A spaces, teaching strategies, resources, and a Teacher's Lounge. Includes the ARIS Thrive Grant winners showcase.
- ARIS 3.0 Classroom Toolkit Updated classroom toolkit for ARIS 3.0 providing enhanced materials and resources for educators implementing the curriculum with students with autism and developmental challenges.
- Stages Learning Line Interactive tele-learning platform with features designed by therapists and educators for in-person and distance learning, specifically designed for students with special needs and behavior challenges.
Quantifiable outcome
- Out-of-district placements reduced
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Stages learning materials
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stages learning materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Stages learning materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Warren Consolidated SchoolscoreMichigan school district partnership with documented case study showing massive improvement in students, educators, and aides using ARIS curriculum across special education programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Stages learning materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rethink Ed: Rethink Ed provides special education curriculum, professional development, and behavior resources to school districts and educators. Directly comparable to Stages Learning's ARIS offering in serving K-12 special education programs with bundled digital curriculum and PD.
- n2y: n2y's Unique Learning System is a leading standards-aligned special education curriculum for K-12, with news-2-you, Polaris, and SymbolStix product lines. Closest direct competitor to ARIS in delivering structured special education curriculum and assessment to districts and classrooms.
- TeachTown: TeachTown offers evidence-based curriculum and assessment for students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays, including the Envision and Social Skills solutions. Direct peer in autism-focused special education curriculum and progress monitoring for districts.
- CentralReach: CentralReach is a leading practice management and clinical data platform for ABA clinics, with curriculum, scheduling, billing, and BCBA/RBT workflows. Direct competitor to ARIS for Clinics in serving ABA therapy practices with integrated data and clinical tools.
- Motivity: Motivity provides ABA data collection, practice management, and curriculum tools built specifically for BCBAs, RBTs, and ABA clinic owners. Comparable to ARIS for Clinics in serving the same buyer with practice data and goal-tracking capabilities.
- Attainment Company: Attainment Company produces special education curriculum, life skills, and AAC instructional materials for students with intellectual disabilities and autism. Comparable to Stages Learning in providing physical and digital instructional materials bundled with curriculum for special education.
Broad incumbents
- PresenceLearning: PresenceLearning provides teletherapy and related special education services to school districts, including evaluations, IEP-related services, and progress monitoring. Overlaps with Stages Learning's district-facing special education services at the broader service-provider level.
Emerging players
- Rethink Behavioral Health: Rethink Behavioral Health delivers ABA-based clinical tools, training, and resources to educators, clinicians, and parents of children with autism. Related to Stages Learning's parent/family segment through VB-MAPP-aligned resources and clinical training.
- Behavior Imaging Solutions: Behavior Imaging Solutions provides video-based assessment, telehealth, and case collaboration tools for autism and behavioral health providers. Overlaps with Stages Learning's emerging AI-enabled video assessment roadmap for ARIS.
- LessonPix: LessonPix offers customizable visual learning materials, picture cards, and printable resources used widely in special education and autism instruction. Comparable to Stages Learning's Language Builder picture cards in providing visual instructional materials for the same end users.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stages learning materials social profiles
Digital presenceStages learning materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stages learning materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Stages learning materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stages learning materials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stages learning materials
What does Stages learning materials do?
Stages Learning provides the ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System) platform, a cloud-based special education curriculum and program management system that integrates assessment, IEP goal tracking, prerequisite-aware lesson sequencing, behavior support, data collection, and family communication for children with autism and developmental challenges. The platform is bundled with physical Language Builder picture cards and manipulatives, and is delivered through three tailored paths: ARIS for Districts (K-12 schools), ARIS for Clinics (ABA therapy practices), and ARIS Home Learning (families).
Is Stages learning materials a public or private company?
Stages learning materials is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Stages learning materials founded?
Stages learning materials was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stages learning materials based?
Stages learning materials is headquartered in Vista, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stages learning materials make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. ARIS Platform Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are professional Development Webinars, physical Curriculum Kits and custom Team Training.
Who are Stages learning materials's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rethink Ed, n2y, TeachTown, CentralReach, Motivity and Attainment Company. PresenceLearning is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Rethink Behavioral Health, Behavior Imaging Solutions and LessonPix.
Does Stages learning materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stages learning materials.
What industry is Stages learning materials in?
Stages learning materials's product category is Special Education Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAKAM, Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational), with a secondary code of EDAGAMAK, Autism Support Instructional Materials (Structured Teaching, Visual Supports). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.