A redesigned website for Arlington Heights School District 25 is scheduled for release on May 4, 2012. The website will be hosted by Edline — defined as a third-party Learning Management System (LMS) provider.
Edline provides website services that area integrated at the district, school and classroom level. Services include online learning and mass notification. So far the details of the of online learning services that will be integrated with District 25 have not been clarified.
Last October Edline merged with Blackboard Inc. — a leading provider of online learning. Blackboard Inc. provides enterprise software and mobile applications, communications and commerce services, primarily to the education industry. Blackboard is best known as a developer of learning software for higher education, K-12, and professional education institutions.
Blackboard, Inc. has several online platforms that include Blackboard learn, Blackboard collaborate, Blackboard connect, Blackboard transact, Blackboard analytics and Blackboard mobile. Some of the services include the creation of virtual classrooms, integration with social media, and access to services on a mobile device.
Edline and Blackboard are both owned by Providence Equity Partners. According to Providence Equity Partners portfolio page, Edline is absorbed into Blackboard.
Providence Equity Partners is a global private equity investment firm that focuses on media, entertainment, communications and information investments. Providence Equity Partners is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island with five additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and New Delhi.
Providence buyouts and portfolio transactions include Altegrity, Ascend Learning, AutoTrader, Baidu’s online video division, CDW, DigiTurk, Kerasotes Theatres, Kroll, Nextag, Study Group, Virtual Radiologic (vRad), White Pages and others.
This past week The Los Angeles Times reported that Providence Equity Partners is selling its stake in online video service Hulu for about $200 million, giving News Corp. and Walt Disney Co. a greater ownership stake in Hulu — the online video and movie service. Providence Equity contributed $100 million in 2007 — their share (a 10% stake) with founding companies NBCUniversal and News Corp., which launched Hulu.
See also …
edline.com
blackboard.com
provequity.com