Sylvan Learning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sylvan Learning | |
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| Type | Public (NASDAQ: EEEE) |
| Founded | 1979 (as Sylvan Learning Corporation) |
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Industry | Education, Tutoring |
| Website | www.sylvanlearning.com |
Sylvan Learning (formerly Sylvan Learning Center) is a chain of franchised and corporate tutoring centers which provide personalized tutoring in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test preparation for college entrance and state exams. Since June of 2007, Sylvan has been owned by Edge Acquisition, LLC,[1] which operates a variety of for-profit educational businesses. Sylvan Learning is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sylvan Learning began in Portland, Oregon in the early 1980s and was founded by former school teacher W. Berry Fowler. By late 1983, Sylvan was successfully managing multiple franchises in the western USA and moved to suburban Seattle, Washington. The company added more reading programs and math, college prep plus pre-K programs. Besides profitable center development, they also offered tuition financing and actual guarantees of student growth. ("In 36 hours of instruction your child can gain a full grade level..."). Good marketing tools, plus endorsements from former Reagan cabinet member/Education Secretary William Bennett, fueled the growth of company in the mid 1980s.
By 1987 Sylvan had slightly over 500 franchises nationwide and went public on the NASDAQ exchange. By the summer of 1987 most of the stock was acquired by KinderCare, Inc. (Montgomery, Alabama). The company moved its headquarters from suburban Seattle to Alabama at that time. KinderCare executives by late 1988 had replaced the original Sylvan founding staff.
[edit] Services
Sylvan Learning offers instruction in the form of remedial help or enrichment for high-achieving students. For students who are experiencing difficulty in school, Sylvan's programs include Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Academic Writing, Math Essentials, Advanced Math, Study Skills, and Homework Support. Students may also enroll in Sylvan's SAT and ACT prep courses, as well as Advanced Reading, which is a form of speed reading. Starting in 2008, Sylvan Learning Center now offers a College Writing Prep class, matching that with rival Huntington Learning Center.
