KU Center for Research on Learning

What KU Center for Research on Learning does

The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning (KUCRL) is a non-profit, university-affiliated research center founded in 1978 and housed within the KU Life Span Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Operating with a core staff of approximately seven and an extended network of roughly 3,800 affiliated experts, KUCRL develops evidence-based instructional programs, interventions, and professional development services for K-12 students with learning disabilities, struggling adolescent readers, English learners, and students from low-income households. Its flagship offering is the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM), a framework encompassing over 50 validated learning strategies and content enhancement routines, alongside productized reading and writing interventions including Fusion Reading (grades 6-12), WRITE PM, AI-SCORE, Project iSTAR, and the VOISS virtual-reality social skills platform.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: competitive federal and state grants (notably a five-year, $1.875 million OSEP award in February 2025 for Project AI-SCORE and the 2024 Kansas Blueprint for Literacy contract), technical-assistance and professional-development services delivered to state and local education agencies, and one-time sales of educational materials through the KUCRL Store and a distribution partnership with McGraw Hill. The center operates under co-directorship of Suzanne Myers and Jocelyn Washburn following Michael Hock's tenure (2015-2025), and its reach extends internationally via an SIM Professional Developer network that claims engagement with 850,000 teachers worldwide.

Name

KU Center for Research on Learning

Legal name

The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning

Website

https://kucrl.ku.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KU Center for Research on Learning is a University of Kansas non-profit research center developing evidence-based literacy and learning-strategy interventions for K-12 students with learning disabilities, funded primarily through federal/state grants, professional development services, and educational materials sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Research & Literacy Intervention Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Special Education & Related Services (IEP Delivery Online) (EDAJADAG), IEP/IFSP-Aligned Curriculum & Lesson Materials (EDAGAMAA), Literacy Foundations (Phonics, Reading Fluency, Comprehension) Platforms (EDAFAOAD), Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD), K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons (EDAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Educational research services
• Literacy intervention programs
• Professional development training
• Instructional strategy tools
• Special education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Materials Sales: Sale of instructional materials, program resources, and educational tools through the KUCRL Store and partnerships with publishers like McGraw Hill for programs such as Fusion Reading.
2. Federal and State Grant Funding: Research grants from U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and state agencies including a $1.875 million DOE OSEP grant for AI-SCORE and Kansas Blueprint for Literacy funding.
3. Professional Development Services: Technical assistance, professional development workshops, and instructional coaching services provided to State and Local Education Agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KUCRL develops and disseminates research-based educational programs, interventions, and instructional tools focused on adolescent literacy, learning strategies, and support for students with learning disabilities. Its offerings include the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) framework, Fusion Reading intervention for grades 6-12, AI-powered writing tools (AI-SCORE and WRITE PM), VOISS virtual reality social skills platform, and professional development services delivered to schools, districts, and state education agencies.

Product overview

KU Center for Research on Learning (KUCRL) offers a comprehensive suite of educational products and interventions centered around the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM), a research-based instructional framework. The core portfolio includes Fusion Reading, a reading intervention program for grades 6-12, paired with AI-enhanced writing tools including WRITE PM progress monitoring and AI-SCORE for qualitative writing feedback. VOISS provides virtual reality social skills training. The SIM framework encompasses over 50 Learning Strategies, Content Enhancement Routines, and social-emotional learning programs (Possible Selves, SLANT, Self-Advocacy, Community Building, Cooperative Thinking Strategies). Professional development is delivered through the Adaptive Professional Learning Model (APLM) and SMARTER360 planning framework. KUCRL also supports statewide initiatives like the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strategic Instruction Model (SIM): Evidence-based instructional tools and programs that equip teachers to teach effectively, including learning strategies, content enhancement routines, and reading programs.
• VOISS
• Fusion Reading
• Project AI-SCORE
• Project iSTAR
• WRITE PM

Products and services

• Fusion Reading Comprehensive, research-based reading intervention program for students in grades 6-12 that provides skills and strategies to become fluent, competent, and confident readers through explicit instruction using age-appropriate leveled text. Supports 1.5 to 2 years of reading growth in one year of instruction. Developed through an IES grant.
• Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Comprehensive, evidence-based instructional framework encompassing over 50 learning strategies and Content Enhancement Routines designed to equip teachers to teach effectively, including Learning Strategies, Content Enhancement Routines, and Reading Programs for improving outcomes for all learners including those with learning differences.
• VOISS (Virtual Opportunities for Social Skills) Groundbreaking extended reality (VR) platform designed to support middle school students in developing essential social skills through immersive virtual reality technology. Combines virtual reality with AI to create interactive social skills learning environments.
• Project iSTAR AI-boosted program that brings artificial intelligence into an existing SIM writing program for adolescents with disabilities, delivering web-based, evidence-based writing support that adapts to each learner and provides quick, ongoing feedback to improve student writing performance and stronger family-school engagement.
• Project AI-SCORE (Artificial Intelligence Scored Composition to Improve Outcomes for Written Expression) AI-powered writing evaluation system that provides qualitative writing feedback including ideas, organization and style. Helps teachers quickly score students' writing samples and provide immediate feedback for students with disabilities. Builds on the WRITE PM model to leverage AI for scoring qualitative elements of student writing.
• WRITE PM (Writing stRategies for Instructional Technology in Education - Progress Monitoring) Web-based progress monitoring tool that provides automatic scoring for quantitative elements of writing such as number of words, word sequence, spelling and number of letters. Used by teachers working with students with learning disabilities.
• APLM Online (Adaptive Professional Learning Model) Online dashboard designed to support in-service professional developers as they virtually coach teachers on implementation of WRITE with students with learning disabilities. Features an online professional developer dashboard system using the Adaptive Professional Learning Model.
• Possible Selves Student motivation program that helps learners explore their hoped-for, expected, and feared future selves, set meaningful goals, and create action plans. Research shows students demonstrate stronger goal identification, higher GPAs, and improved graduation rates.
• Content Enhancement Routines (CERs) Dynamic instructional tools that use powerful teaching devices and procedures to plan for and teach critical content in an understandable manner. Promotes direct, explicit instruction and includes routines for planning and leading, higher order thinking, teaching concepts, explaining text, and increasing performance. Sold as part of the SIM professional learning program.
• Kansas Blueprint for Literacy program Statewide literacy initiative approved by Kansas Legislature in 2024 to improve literacy rates among Kansas students. Includes needs assessment, professional development, and goal of having 90% of third through eighth grade students reading at or above grade level. KUCRL conducts statewide assessments and provides on-site professional development as part of this program.
• KUCRL Educational Materials Store Direct online sales channel for educational materials, program resources, and instructional tools developed by KUCRL. Operates as an e-commerce storefront at shop-kucrl.ku.edu.
• SIM Professional Development and Certification Professional development, training, and micro-credentialing pathways for educators through the SIM Professional Developer network. Includes on-site training, virtual coaching, conferences (e.g., International SIM Conference), and credentialing in implementing evidence-based instructional strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students achieve 1.5 to 2 years of reading growth in one year through Fusion Reading program
• +2 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

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Kansas Board of RegentsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership on the Blueprint for Literacy initiative, approved by the Kansas Legislature and signed by Gov. Laura Kelly in 2024, with the goal of having 90% of third through eighth grade students reading at or above grade level.
• McGraw HillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMcGraw Hill serves as the primary publisher and distributor for Fusion Reading program materials, making the comprehensive reading intervention program available to schools and districts through their established educational publishing channels.
• KU Innovation ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOISS (VR social skills platform) was spotlighted in KU Innovation Park's TURNING IDEAS INTO COMPANIES series as a Lab2Market spinout, highlighting the transition from research discovery to real-world impact.
• University of Central Arkansas - Mashburn Center for LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on adolescent literacy research and professional development within the SIM Network of Professional Developers.
• Virginia Department of Education - Training & Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership providing training and technical assistance on SIM interventions and evidence-based practices for Virginia schools.
• Kansas State Department of EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Striving Readers grant and Blueprint for Literacy initiative, providing literacy intervention support and program evaluation for Kansas schools.
• Project AI-SCORE Research Team (Bruce Frey, Samantha Goldman)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Bruce Frey (professor of educational psychology) and Samantha Goldman (doctoral candidate) on developing AI-SCORE, with broader team including national writing experts and school districts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CAST: Nonprofit research and development organization focused on Universal Design for Learning and inclusive education technology for learners with disabilities, directly comparable to KUCRL's SIM special education work.
• Voyager Sopris Learning: Provider of evidence-based reading and math interventions for K-12, including Voyager Passport and LANGUAGE! programs, serving a similar special education and adolescent literacy market as KUCRL's Fusion Reading.
• WestEd: Nonprofit education research organization providing research, evaluation, and technical assistance to schools and states, comparable to KUCRL in mission around evidence-based K-12 interventions and federal grant delivery.
• Wilson Language Training: Provider of structured literacy programs (e.g., Wilson Reading System) for students with dyslexia and reading difficulties, directly competing for special education and Title I literacy spend with KUCRL's SIM-aligned interventions.
• American Institutes for Research (AIR): Major nonprofit behavioral and social science research firm with a large education division conducting federal grant-funded work on literacy, special education, and educator professional development, closely mirroring KUCRL's research-to-practice model.

Broad incumbents

• Imagine Learning: Large EdTech company offering literacy and supplemental intervention products for K-12, competing for the same district literacy budgets and expanding into AI-assisted tutoring tools.
• Lexia Learning: Commercial K-12 literacy intervention provider with an evidence-based reading program serving the same adolescent literacy RFP market as Fusion Reading, with much larger sales reach.
• RAND Corporation Education Division: Large, established research institution with significant education policy and assessment work; broader portfolio but overlapping client base in state education agencies and federal funders.

Regional players

• Altium (Center for Applied Research): Education research and consulting firm providing literacy and special education technical assistance to states and districts, with overlapping service offerings in evidence-based intervention deployment.

Others

• McGraw Hill (Literacy Division): Partner publisher distributing KUCRL's Fusion Reading program and broader K-12 literacy publisher with overlapping customer base of districts and state agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KUCRL
• Facebookfacebook.com/kucrl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kucrl
• Instagraminstagram.com/kucrl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 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 KU Center for Research on Learning