Isteep

What Isteep does

iSTEEP (Integrated System to Enhance Educational Performance) is a privately held, Houston-based educational technology company founded in 2004 that provides a cloud-based Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) data management platform for K-12 schools. The platform integrates universal screening, diagnostics, interventions, and progress monitoring for reading and math into a single system, using Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) as its underlying assessment methodology. The company's product suite spans screening assessments (early literacy, reading, early numeracy, math across K-12), the iSkill diagnostic family, the Reading Center and iSTEEP Math Lessons intervention programs, CBM-based progress monitoring, IDA-aligned dyslexia screening, IEP goal-writing tools for special education, and the Can't Do/Won't Do (CDWD) motivational assessment.

The business operates a direct sales-led go-to-market targeting U.S. K-12 school districts and state education departments, with annual subscription-based SaaS contracts negotiated at the district level based on student population and customization needs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires sales engagement; the company provides phone-based sales support and designs customized implementation plans including screening selection, scheduling, and decision rules configuration. The company has collaborated with multiple state education departments to implement MTSS at a statewide scale, securing approved vendor status for dyslexia and early literacy screening, and distributes its product through the iSTEEPDATA.com web platform.

The company differentiates through research-validated content (noted by NCII as the only publisher among 20 reviewed with assessments covering all five Science of Reading pillars), peer-reviewed outcome research including a Congressional Record citation for large-scale RTI efficacy, and an integrated single-platform architecture. Senior Scientist Dr. Joseph C. Witt, PhD anchors the research credibility with over 95 publications and the in-house Research Matters content series. No disclosed funding rounds, headcount, revenue, or institutional investors appear in the available data.

Name

Isteep

Legal name

iSTEEP

Website

https://isteep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

iSTEEP is a privately held, Houston-based ed-tech company that provides a cloud-based K-12 MTSS platform integrating screening, diagnostics, interventions, and progress monitoring for reading and math, sold via annual district subscriptions to U.S. school districts and state education departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Educational Assessment Software

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

RTI/MTSS Framework Implementation & Tiered Supports (EDAJAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assessment, Testing & Analytics Platforms (Formative/Summative) (EDAJAMAC), Student Information Systems (SIS) & School Administration Platforms (EDAJAMAB), Special Education (IEP/504) & Student Support Case Management (EDAFAEAI), K–12 SIS & District Administration Platforms (EDAFAEAA)

Keywords

• K-12 MTSS platform
• Curriculum-based measurement
• Science of Reading assessments
• Reading intervention programs
• Student progress monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MTSS Platform Subscription: iSTEEP provides a comprehensive suite of products for assessing, diagnosing, analyzing, progress monitoring, and data management for grades K-12 reading and math. The platform operates as a subscription-based SaaS model with district-level licensing, where districts subscribe to access screening assessments, diagnostics, interventions, and progress monitoring tools. Contact-based pricing is implied with phone and email support provided.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

iSTEEP provides a cloud-based Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) data management platform for K-12 school districts, integrating Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) universal screening, diagnostic assessments, evidence-based reading and math interventions, and ongoing progress monitoring into a single subscription-based SaaS solution. The platform covers grades K-12 across reading and math, with additional capabilities for dyslexia screening, IEP goal writing, and alignment with the Science of Reading framework.

Product overview

iSTEEP (Integrated System to Enhance Educational Performance) is a unified MTSS platform offering a comprehensive suite of K-12 reading and math assessment and intervention products. The portfolio includes: the core iSTEEP MTSS Platform for integrated data management; MTSS Screening Assessments for universal screening; iSkill Diagnostic Assessments (Early Literacy, Reading Fluency with Testing Back method, and Math) for pinpointing skill gaps; the Reading Center intervention program with Listening Passage Preview and Repeated Readings methodology; iSTEEP Math Lessons for fluency building across K-12; Progress Monitoring Assessments using CBM methodology; Dyslexia Screening aligned with IDA standards; Special Education IEP Tools for goal-setting and tracking; the Science of Reading Framework covering the Big Five pillars; CDWD Assessment for motivational analysis; and Research Matters content from Dr. Joseph C. Witt. All components integrate into a single platform connecting screening, diagnostics, interventions, and progress monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iSkill: iSkill assessments are diagnostic evaluations designed to measure specific academic skills in reading and math for MTSS implementation.
• The Reading Center
• iSTEEP Math Lessons

Products and services

• iSTEEP MTSS Platform Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) platform for K-12 education that combines screening, diagnostics, interventions, and progress monitoring for reading and math into a single cohesive solution for school districts.
• MTSS Screening Assessments Computer-based reading and math screening assessments for Grades K-12 that identify students needing additional instructional support, with most assessments taking only 1-4 minutes.
• iSkill Diagnostic Assessments Suite of diagnostic evaluations including iSkill Early Literacy Diagnostic (Basic and Advanced forms), iSkill Reading Fluency Assessment with Testing Back method, and iSkill Math Assessment that pinpoint specific skill gaps to guide targeted interventions.
• Reading Center Research-based reading fluency intervention program for Grades 1-5 featuring Listening Passage Preview, Repeated Readings, Novel/Tricky Word Practice, and Reading Comprehension Test components, structured into 12 lessons per grade level.
• iSTEEP Math Lessons K-12 math fluency intervention program covering foundational skills through advanced concepts (fractions, decimals, integers), using evidence-based behavioral momentum strategies with 10-15 minute practice sessions.
• Progress Monitoring Assessments Ongoing curriculum-based measurement (CBM) assessments that track student progress over time with multiple equivalent forms, intuitive analysis, and actionable recommendations on an easy-to-use dashboard.
• Dyslexia Screening Approved dyslexia screener aligned with International Dyslexia Association (IDA) standards, providing assessments for phonological awareness, rapid automatic naming, phonics, decoding, oral reading fluency, and spelling across multiple states.
• Special Education IEP Tools Data-driven process for writing and tracking Individualized Education Plan (IEP) objectives, including PLOP identification, SMART goal writing, progress monitoring, and parent reporting aligned with diagnostic assessments.
• CDWD Assessment (Can't Do/Won't Do) Motivational assessment tool that distinguishes between skill deficits and performance deficits by testing whether student performance improves with incentives, helping determine appropriate intervention strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Citation in Congressional Record for demonstrating large-scale efficacy for the RTI process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State Education DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartneriSTEEP has collaborated with various state education departments to implement MTSS on a statewide scale. These partnerships involve integrating iSTEEP's platform with state educational frameworks and obtaining approved vendor status for required screening assessments including dyslexia screening.
• National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII)minorOthersWhile not formally a partnership, iSTEEP was highlighted in a national review by NCII as the only publisher with assessments targeting all Science of Reading required skills. This recognition validates iSTEEP's assessment coverage against 20 other publishers.
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)minorOthersiSTEEP's dyslexia screening tools are aligned with IDA's Universal Screening standards. The company's assessments are engineered to meet and exceed IDA standards for the five pillars of early identification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Edmentum: Broad K-12 EdTech provider offering Exact Path diagnostic and intervention tools alongside credit recovery and courseware. Overlaps with iSTEEP on MTSS diagnostics and reading/math intervention at scale.
• Renaissance Learning: Major K-12 EdTech incumbent offering Star Assessments for universal screening and progress monitoring alongside Freckle, myON, and Accelerated Reader. Competes with iSTEEP in MTSS screening and reading assessment but at significantly greater scale and with a bundled platform play.
• Curriculum Associates (iReady): Maker of iReady Diagnostic and iReady Instruction, an adaptive assessment and personalized instruction platform widely used in K-12 MTSS pipelines. Competes with iSTEEP across screening, diagnostics, and intervention with significant scale and marketing reach.

Direct peers

• Voyager Sopris Learning: Provider of reading and math interventions (Voyager Passport, VMath) plus screening tools, competing directly with iSTEEP's Reading Center and Math Lessons intervention products in K-12 MTSS implementations.
• Benchmark Education: Publisher of Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante, with complementary assessment and intervention tools for K-12 literacy. Comparable to iSTEEP in the reading intervention and assessment tier of MTSS.
• NWEA: Provider of MAP Growth and MAP Reading Fluency universal screening and progress monitoring assessments used by K-12 districts for MTSS/RTI decision-making. Direct competitor to iSTEEP's CBM-based screening suite, with a much larger installed base and broader product portfolio.
• Acadience Learning: Publisher of Acadience Reading (formerly DIBELS Next) and Acadience Math — research-backed CBM screeners and progress monitoring tools that directly overlap with iSTEEP's early literacy and math screening products in MTSS workflows.
• Illuminate Education: Owner of FastBridge Learning (formerly part of Illuminate), a direct competitor to iSTEEP in CBM-based universal screening and progress monitoring for reading and math MTSS implementation.
• Amplify (mCLASS): Provider of mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition for early literacy universal screening and dyslexia identification — directly comparable to iSTEEP's early literacy and dyslexia screening products, with strong state-level adoption.

Emerging players

• Center on Teaching and Learning (University of Oregon): Academic originator of DIBELS / easyCBM assessment tools used in MTSS screening and progress monitoring. Comparable to iSTEEP's CBM methodology and frequently co-evaluated in the same MTSS procurement decisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Isteep