Kaplan Early Learning Group
Kaplan Early Learning Company is a Lewisville, NC-based privately held distributor and manufacturer (founded 1951) supplying 10,000+ products, proprietary interactive classroom technology, curriculum, and assessments to US early childhood education centers, K-12 schools, and government-funded programs through e-commerce, field sales, and GSA contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersLewisville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kaplan Early Learning Group does
Kaplan Early Learning Company, Inc. is a Lewisville, North Carolina-based privately held corporation founded in 1951 that manufactures, distributes, and supplies a comprehensive portfolio of products for early childhood education (ages 0-8) in the United States. The company operates a multi-brand platform including wholly-owned subsidiaries Gryphon House (curriculum publishing), Connect4Learning (pre-K curriculum), and ExtendED Notes (educator documentation SaaS). Its catalog spans 10,000+ SKUs across classroom furniture, playground equipment, art and learning supplies, curriculum, assessment tools (ASQ, CLASS, DECA), and proprietary interactive technology including Inspire Interactive Panels (43" and 65" multi-touch Windows 11 Pro displays), Illumination Station AR Sand Table, Obie Interactive Floor Projector, and Beam Mobile Interactive Projector, all bundled with Kaplan-exclusive software content.
The business generates revenue through multiple channels: direct e-commerce via kaplanco.com, a national field sales force of territory managers covering all US states and territories, catalog sales, a physical outlet store at headquarters, toll-free phone sales, and GSA-approved government purchasing for Head Start, Title I, and other federally funded programs. Pricing models range from one-time hardware sales ($4,995-$11,995 for technology, custom-quoted playground equipment) to subscription/warranty bundling (12-60 month EyeWiz terms on Beam Mobile) and SaaS (ExtendED Notes). Customer segments are diversified across early childhood education centers, K-12 schools and districts, family childcare homes, and government-funded programs, with products aligned to Head Start and Common Core standards and playground equipment certified to ASTM/ADA/IPEMA requirements.
Kaplan's go-to-market combines bottom-of-funnel digital commerce and inside sales with mid-funnel content marketing (edWebinars partnership, blog, free professional development with CE certificates) and top-of-funnel direct marketing (catalogs, email, social media including Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok). The company also pursues strategic partnerships for technology integration (Prowise embedded in Inspire Panels, Roylco for joint content development, Alive Studios for AR learning tools, Picoo for screen-free gaming distribution) and a patent-pending playground border design. Founded in 1951, the company has accumulated 73 years of operating history with 501-1,000 employees and serves as a one-stop-shop for early learning procurement under the myKaplan account platform.
Kaplan Early Learning Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kaplan Early Learning Group
- Legal name
- Kaplan Early Learning Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://kaplanco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Kaplan Early Learning Company is a Lewisville, NC-based privately held distributor and manufacturer (founded 1951) supplying 10,000+ products, proprietary interactive classroom technology, curriculum, and assessments to US early childhood education centers, K-12 schools, and government-funded programs through e-commerce, field sales, and GSA contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kaplan Early Learning Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education Supplies
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instructional Equipment & Classroom Tools (Whiteboards, Lab Kits, Manipulatives) (EDAEAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Teacher-Led Classroom Platforms (Lesson Delivery, Centers, Whiteboard) (EDACANAH), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping Resources (State/NAEYC/Head Start) (EDACAJAN), Early Literacy & Pre-Reading Learning Tools (EDAFAOAO), Educational Supplies & Learning Toys Retail (CRALAIAL)
Keywords
Where Kaplan Early Learning Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lewisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kaplan Early Learning Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Classroom Supplies: One-time product sales of teaching supplies, furniture, manipulatives, books, and educational materials through e-commerce and catalog. Products include cots, mats, cribs, shelving, storage, art supplies, puzzles, games, and classroom essentials.
- Technology Products: One-time hardware sales of interactive technology products including Inspire Interactive Panels ($6,795-$7,295), Illumination Station ($7,499), Obie Floor Projection ($4,995), Beam Mobile ($8,995-$11,995), and accessories. Products ship from manufacturer with 2-3 year warranties.
- Playground Equipment: Custom-built playground equipment including climbers, bouncers, swings, slides, surfacing, shades. Products ship via truck freight with 4-8 week lead times. Made-to-order per customer specifications.
- Curriculum and Assessment: Sales of educational curricula including Beyond Series, Connect4Learning, Learn Every Day, Nemours BrightStart, and assessment tools like ASQ, CLASS, DECA, LAP.
- Professional Development: Professional learning services including free webinars, virtual training, and event registrations for early childhood educators.
- Software/Subscriptions: Digital software products including Pre-Writing Software ($22.95-$33.95), Letter Recognition Software ($22.95-$33.95), and other educational apps. Some products include EyeWiz subscription options for Beam Mobile with 12, 36, or 60 month terms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Inspire Interactive Panels - Premium classroom technology |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Obie Interactive Floor Projector - Standalone unit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Illumination Station AR Sand Table - Complete system |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Beam Mobile Interactive Projector - Multiple warranty tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Playground Surfacing - Rubber mulch products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Playground Borders and Curbs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Technology Resource Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Replacement Parts and Accessories |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Learning Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kaplan Early Learning Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kaplan Early Learning Company manufactures and distributes teaching supplies, classroom furniture, curriculum, assessment tools, and interactive educational technology (including AR sand tables, interactive panels, and floor projectors) for early childhood education programs serving children from birth through age 8. The company also designs and supplies playground equipment and offers professional development resources, selling primarily to schools, childcare centers, and government-funded programs across the United States.
Product overview
Kaplan Early Learning Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of early childhood education products spanning technology, curriculum, assessments, furniture, and playground equipment. The core technology offerings include Inspire Interactive Panels (43" and 65" touchscreen displays with Kaplan-exclusive Explorations software including Shine2 circle time activities and 10 educational games), Illumination Station AR Sand Table (augmented reality sand play system), Obie Interactive Floor Projector (portable projection system with 78 games), Beam Mobile Interactive Projector (mobile unit with EyeWiz template system), Picoo (screen-free gaming console), and Alive Studios AR Learning Tools. The company also provides curriculum programs (Beyond Series, Connect4Learning, Learn Every Day, Nemours BrightStart), assessment tools (ASQ, CLASS, DECA, LAP, Rating Scales), professional resource books, playground surfacing (rubber mulch, curbs, borders), and accessories (replacement remotes, installation plates, exploration kits). Products are distributed through direct sales with representative support across U.S. states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gryphon House: Publisher of early childhood curriculum and professional development resources for teachers and child care providers.
- Connect4Learning
- ExtendED Notes
Products and services
- Inspire Interactive Panels
- Illumination Station AR Sand Table Augmented reality sand table using a depth-sensing camera and projector to display realistic colors and images onto sand, converting geography, topography, and sand play into interactive learning experiences. Includes 10 sand activities and 50 floor activities, for early childhood classrooms and sensory learning.
- Obie Interactive Floor Projector Interactive floor, wall, and table projection system with a 3,000 lumen projector and 50 floor/table activities plus 28 wall activities covering literacy, gross motor skills, math, science, and music. Designed to transform any surface into an interactive play space.
- Beam Mobile Interactive Projector Portable interactive projector with a 3D sensing camera that captures children's movement for fully interactive gameplay, adjustable from 24" x 36" table to 6' x 10" floor space. Bulb-free laser projection with EyeWiz software containing hundreds of pre-designed templates.
- Picoo Interactive Gaming Console Screen-free gaming device that engages children in active gameplay to foster collaboration, physical well-being, and cognitive growth in early childhood settings.
- Alive Studios AR Learning Tools Suite of products combining augmented reality and zoo animals to teach math and literacy basics to children ages 3-4+, including Back to School Readiness Zoo Crew Pack and Kindergarten Readiness Zoo Crew Pack.
- Early Childhood Curriculum Programs Curriculum product lines including Beyond Series, Connect4Learning, Learn Every Day, and Nemours BrightStart, providing comprehensive educational instruction for pre-K and kindergarten programs.
- Early Childhood Assessment Tools Assessment and screening tools including Ages & Stages (ASQ), CLASS, Devereux Assessments (DECA), Executive Function (EFGO), Learning Accomplishment Profile (LAP), and Environmental Rating Scales for evaluating child development and program quality.
- Playground Equipment and Surfacing Custom-built playground equipment including climbers, bouncers, swings, slides, surfacing (rubber mulch and curbs), borders, and shades. Products are made-to-order per customer specifications, meeting ASTM and ADA requirements with IPEMA certification.
- Classroom Furniture and Furnishings Classroom furniture including cots, mats, cribs, shelving, storage, book storage, lockers, cubbies, chairs, flexible seating, tables, carpets, rockers, gliders, and changing stations for early childhood classrooms.
- Professional Resource Books Published by subsidiary Gryphon House, professional resource books for early childhood educators covering activities, administration, classroom design, child development, literacy, math, science, music, and special needs inclusion.
Quantifiable outcome
- Interactive technology products aligned with Head Start Objectives and Kindergarten Common Core standards
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kaplan Early Learning Group
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kaplan Early Learning Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Kaplan Early Learning Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ProwisecoreProwise Presenter software integrated with Inspire Interactive Panels. This software allows teachers to create lesson plans and additional classroom activities, includes digital whiteboard tools, lesson plans from the Prowise community, and educational videos to supplement classroom discussions. Provides free subscription with Inspire Panel purchase.
- Alive StudioscorePartnership for AR Learning Tools featuring zoo animals. Products include Back to School Readiness Zoo Crew Pack ($64.95) and Kindergarten Readiness Zoo Crew Pack ($64.95) combining augmented reality with zoo animals to teach math and literacy basics to children ages 3-4+.
- RoylcocoreJoint development partnership for What's Inside Animals and What's Inside Insects exploration activities on Inspire Interactive Panels. Roylco collaborated with Kaplan to create scientific exploration activities where children can discover animal and insect anatomy by painting over X-rays to reveal inner/outer anatomy.
- edWebinarscorePartnership with edWebinars to deliver free professional development webinars to educators. Kaplan's Practical Strategies for Early Learning community provides CE certificates for webinar attendees with expert insights and easy-to-implement practices.
- Connect4LearningcoreDistribution partnership for Connect4Learning curriculum. Featured curriculum option on Kaplan website with dedicated landing page and curriculum comparison resources.
- Gryphon HousecoreRelated brand under Kaplan Early Learning Company umbrella. Gryphon House publishes professional resource books for early childhood educators. Cross-linked on Kaplan website navigation.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kaplan Early Learning Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lakeshore Learning Materials: Lakeshore is the closest direct competitor, also a manufacturer and retailer of early childhood classroom supplies, furniture, curriculum, and proprietary interactive learning technology with national distribution to schools and childcare centers.
- Discount School Supply: Discount School Supply is a direct ECE supplies retailer offering classroom essentials, art supplies, furniture, playground equipment, and teacher resources with overlapping customer base of preschools and childcare centers.
- School Specialty: School Specialty is a leading K-12 educational supplies distributor and curriculum provider that competes for the same school and district procurement budgets as Kaplan, with overlapping categories in classroom supplies, furniture, and instructional materials.
- Really Good Stuff: Really Good Stuff sells teacher and classroom supplies, storage, organization, and educational resources targeted at the same pre-K through elementary educator customer, with direct catalog and e-commerce overlap.
- Frog Street Press: Frog Street is a direct competitor in early childhood curriculum and supplemental classroom materials, serving the same Head Start, pre-K, and childcare center segments with programs and teacher resources.
- HighScope: HighScope is a direct peer in early childhood curriculum, teacher training, and assessment, serving overlapping Head Start and preschool customers with comparable research-based instructional programs.
Broad incumbents
- Scholastic: Scholastic is a broad incumbent in K-12 educational publishing, classroom book clubs, and literacy resources, with overlapping customer relationships in elementary schools that Kaplan also serves.
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH is a broad incumbent in K-12 curriculum, assessments, and EdTech serving the same school district procurement channels as Kaplan, with overlapping standards-aligned instructional offerings.
- The ODP Corporation (Office Depot): ODP is a broad incumbent office products and educational supplies distributor that competes with Kaplan on commodity classroom supplies, furniture, and bulk school procurement contracts through its national distribution.
- Edmentum: Edmentum is a broad incumbent in K-12 digital curriculum, assessment, and online learning, representing the software-centric EdTech competition that increasingly intersects Kaplan's interactive technology portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kaplan Early Learning Group social profiles
Digital presenceKaplan Early Learning Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kaplan Early Learning Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kaplan Early Learning Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Kaplan Early Learning Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kaplan Early Learning Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kaplan Early Learning Group
What does Kaplan Early Learning Group do?
Kaplan Early Learning Company manufactures and distributes teaching supplies, classroom furniture, curriculum, assessment tools, and interactive educational technology (including AR sand tables, interactive panels, and floor projectors) for early childhood education programs serving children from birth through age 8. The company also designs and supplies playground equipment and offers professional development resources, selling primarily to schools, childcare centers, and government-funded programs across the United States.
Is Kaplan Early Learning Group a public or private company?
Kaplan Early Learning Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Kaplan Early Learning Group founded?
Kaplan Early Learning Group was founded in 1951. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Kaplan Early Learning Group based?
Kaplan Early Learning Group is headquartered in Lewisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kaplan Early Learning Group make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Classroom Supplies are the primary driver. The others are technology Products, playground Equipment, curriculum and Assessment, professional Development and software/Subscriptions.
Who are Kaplan Early Learning Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lakeshore Learning Materials, Discount School Supply, School Specialty, Really Good Stuff, Frog Street Press and HighScope. Broad incumbents are Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, The ODP Corporation (Office Depot) and Edmentum.
Does Kaplan Early Learning Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kaplan Early Learning Group.
What industry is Kaplan Early Learning Group in?
Kaplan Early Learning Group's product category is Early Childhood Education Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAB, Instructional Equipment & Classroom Tools (Whiteboards, Lab Kits, Manipulatives), with a secondary code of EDACANAH, Teacher-Led Classroom Platforms (Lesson Delivery, Centers, Whiteboard). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.