What Proximity Learning does

Proximity Learning Inc. is a K-12 virtual teacher staffing company that connects U.S. public school districts, charter networks, and private schools with state-certified teachers who deliver live, synchronous instruction into physical and virtual classrooms via Zoom or Google Meet, supported by in-classroom facilitators. Founded in 2009 as MyChinese360 and rebranded in 2014, the company was acquired by ESS in 2019, which contributed a nationwide facilitator network and operational scale. The platform integrates with Canvas and Schoology and offers a catalog of nearly 150 Cognia-accredited courses spanning core subjects, AP, CTE, World Languages, and Special Education.

The product surface includes Strategic Teacher Staffing, Hire Synchronous Teachers, grade-banded remote teacher offerings (K-12), Remote Substitute Teachers, Remote Tutors, Virtual K-12 Instruction, Virtual Summer School, and turnkey Virtual Schools. A dedicated Special Education Solutions line covers case management, virtual occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, diagnosticians, and certified SPED teachers, with FERPA, HIPAA, FAPE, and IDEA compliance. Coursework is accredited by Cognia, approved by the NCAA and College Board, and taught by NVTA-certified teachers.

Proximity Learning generates revenue through managed services and recurring subscriptions: per-semester and per-course pricing for individual staffing, per-student pricing for full-time virtual schools, and add-on SPED services. GTM is enterprise sales-led, targeting superintendents, curriculum directors, and school administrators with the value proposition of filling vacancies in days versus months for traditional hiring. The company reports serving 150+ districts, 5,000+ classrooms, and 500,000+ students, with a 92% teacher retention rate and an Austin, TX remote-first headquarters.

Name

Proximity Learning

Legal name

Proximity Learning Inc.

Website

https://proxlearn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Proximity Learning is a K-12 virtual teacher staffing company that places state-certified, synchronous instructors into U.S. public, charter, and private schools via Zoom or Google Meet, with an extensive Cognia-accredited course catalog and a dedicated Special Education line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Virtual Teacher Staffing Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

District-Run Virtual Academies & Online Programs (EDAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual School Course Providers (Single-Course/Part-Time Enrollment) (EDAJADAE), Full-Time Virtual K–12 Schools (Statewide/Cyber Charters & District Programs) (EDAJADAA)

Keywords

• Virtual teacher staffing
• K-12 online instruction
• Synchronous virtual learning
• Special education teleservices
• Remote certified teachers

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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

Revenue model

1. Virtual Teacher Staffing Services: Proximity Learning provides K-12 school districts with certified virtual teachers through contract-based staffing arrangements. Districts pay for virtual teacher placement and ongoing instruction services. The company matches certified teachers to vacant positions and provides continuous support throughout the school year.
2. Virtual School Building: Districts can build full-time virtual schools co-designed with Proximity Learning, with per-student pricing for full-time virtual school students.
3. Per-Semester and Per-Course Pricing: Part-time, per-semester rates available for individual courses or credit recovery, allowing districts to pay for specific staffing needs without long-term contracts.
4. Virtual Summer School Programs: Live online summer school courses across core subjects, credit recovery, and career-focused electives provided during summer sessions.
5. Special Education Services: Specialized staffing for SPED case managers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, and diagnosticians with add-on pricing options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Proximity Learning provides state-certified virtual teachers to K-12 school districts, charter schools, and private schools on a contract basis, delivering live synchronous instruction via Zoom or Google Meet. Districts purchase per-semester, per-course, or per-student staffing arrangements that fill teacher vacancies within days, covering core subjects, world languages, AP/CTE electives, and a full suite of virtual Special Education services (OT, SLP, school psychologists, diagnosticians, SPED teachers, and case managers).

Product overview

Proximity Learning is an educational technology platform offering virtual teacher staffing solutions for K-12 school districts. The platform operates as a unified service model combining a core staffing platform with multiple specialized service modules. The main offerings include: Strategic Teacher Staffing and Hire Synchronous Teachers as the primary staffing solutions, complemented by grade-specific products (Remote Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School Teachers) and specialty products (Certified Remote Teachers, Remote Substitute Teachers, Remote Tutors). Special Education Solutions form a dedicated product line including Virtual Occupational Therapists, Virtual Speech Language Pathologists, Virtual School Psychologists, Virtual Diagnosticians Evaluations, and Certified Virtual Special Education Teachers. Additional services include Virtual K-12 Instruction, Virtual Summer School, Virtual Schools (turnkey programs), and nearly 150 K-12 Virtual Courses & AP Classes. All instruction is delivered live and synchronously through certified educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Teacher Staffing A comprehensive staffing model that identifies, onboards, and places certified virtual teachers tailored to a district's specific subjects, grade levels, and scheduling needs.
• Hire Synchronous Teachers Access to a national network of certified teachers trained in live, online instruction, ready to step into vacant K-12 classrooms within days.
• Remote Tutors Certified remote tutors delivering live, synchronous tutoring sessions in math, writing, and other subjects to help K-12 students stay on track.
• Virtual K-12 Instruction Live virtual K-12 instruction across every grade and subject, delivered by certified teachers following the district's bell schedule and curriculum.
• Virtual Summer School Live, certified online summer school courses including credit recovery, core subjects, and career-focused electives for K-12 districts.
• Virtual Schools Turnkey virtual school co-designed with districts, including curriculum, certified teachers, and dedicated partnership support for full-time or hybrid programs.
• Special Education Case Management Services State-licensed virtual IEP case managers overseeing IEP development, ongoing consultation, and related services coordination to maintain district compliance.
• Virtual Occupational Therapists State-licensed virtual Occupational Therapists delivering early intervention and ongoing support for children with motor, sensory, and daily living skill needs.
• Virtual Speech Language Pathologists State-licensed virtual Speech Language Pathologists providing live, certified support for children with communication and language development needs.
• Virtual School Psychologists State-licensed virtual school psychologists conducting initial evaluations, mandated reevaluations, and assessments for IEP compliance.
• Virtual Diagnosticians Evaluations State-licensed virtual diagnosticians providing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations across eligibility categories including learning disability and ADHD evaluations.
• Certified Virtual Special Education Teachers State-certified virtual Special Education teachers delivering live, IEP-aligned instruction to K-12 students with disabilities.
• Remote Kindergarten Teachers State-certified early childhood educators delivering synchronous, engaging instruction specifically designed for kindergarten students.
• Remote Elementary School Teachers Certified virtual elementary teachers delivering live, synchronous instruction across grades 1 through 5.
• Remote Middle School Teachers Certified virtual middle school teachers for grades 6-8 across every subject and grade level.
• Remote High School Teachers Certified virtual high school teachers for grades 9-12 covering core subjects, AP courses, and CTE electives.
• Certified Remote Teachers State-certified virtual teachers trained in live synchronous instruction, ready to livestream into vacant K-12 classrooms within days.
• Remote Substitute Teachers Certified remote substitute teachers delivering live, synchronous instruction across every subject and grade level for extended absences.
• K-12 Virtual Courses & AP Classes Comprehensive catalog of nearly 150 K-12 courses including core academics, Advanced Placement, CTE, and World Languages, all delivered synchronously.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students taught by Proximity Learning teachers outperformed peers in every tested subject - 11+ points higher on standardized tests
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Elevate K-12: Direct competitor providing live, certified virtual teachers to K-12 school districts facing teacher shortages. Operates a near-identical synchronous virtual staffing model targeting the same district procurement budgets and pain points.
• Fullmind: Virtual teacher staffing provider connecting certified K-12 educators with school districts via synchronous online instruction. Directly comparable business model, customer base, and competitive positioning to Proximity Learning.
• Swing Education: K-12 substitute and full-time teacher staffing platform, including virtual substitute teacher services. Targets the same district staffing pain points as Proximity Learning and competes for substitute and remote teaching contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Stride (formerly K12 Inc.): Large established provider of online K-12 education, including tuition-free online schools, curriculum, and instructional programs. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader product portfolio but overlapping virtual K-12 instruction capabilities.
• Connections Academy: Established virtual K-12 school operator serving students across multiple states through tuition-free online public schools. Competes with Proximity Learning's Virtual Schools offering but with a different operational model (school operator vs. teacher staffing).
• Imagine Learning: Major K-12 digital curriculum and instructional services provider serving school districts with online learning tools, supplemental instruction, and intervention programs. Adjacent but broader in scope than Proximity Learning's live teacher staffing focus.
• Edmentum: Established K-12 online learning provider offering curriculum, assessments, and virtual instruction tools to districts. Adjacent competitor with primarily asynchronous/self-paced model versus Proximity Learning's synchronous staffing approach.
• Kelly Education: Education staffing arm of Kelly Services providing substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and full-time educators to K-12 districts nationwide. Sister company under ESS parent; directly comparable in K-12 staffing model but focused on in-person placement.

Emerging players

• Varsity Tutors: Online tutoring and live instruction platform serving K-12 students with synchronous sessions. Overlaps with Proximity Learning's Remote Tutors product and competes for district supplemental instruction contracts.
• Tutor.com: On-demand online tutoring and instruction provider serving K-12 students through synchronous sessions, often contracted through school districts. Comparable in live synchronous delivery model and district channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnVtmNtkGGcIz5uyEEaanAw
• Facebookfacebook.com/proxlearn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/proximity-learning
• Instagraminstagram.com/proximitylearning
• Xx.com/ProxLearning

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Proximity Learning