95 Percent Group Announces Acquisition of Tools 4 Reading
Tools 4 Reading’s science of reading-aligned professional learning and classroom resources will support 95 Percent Group’s mission to unlock the power of literacy for all students
Lincolnshire, IL & Oklahoma City – Feb. 22, 2023 – 95 Percent Group LLC, the trusted source for comprehensive, proven literacy solutions, today announced the acquisition of Tools 4 Reading, a company founded nearly 15 years ago by literacy education leader Mary E. Dahlgren, Ed.D., to provide educators with the knowledge, skills and resources to ground literacy instruction in the science of reading.
This latest 95 Percent Group acquisition comes close on the heels of the company’s recent acquisition of Hill Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP) from Hill Learning Center in Durham, North Carolina, demonstrating the company’s growth strategy made possible by investment from Leeds Equity Partners.
The addition of Tools 4 Reading’s product suite to the 95 Percent Group phonics ecosystem will significantly grow our science of reading-aligned professional learning and classroom resource offerings, expanding our capacity to deliver on our mission to unlock the power of literacy for all students,” said Brad Lindaas, CEO. “Schools transitioning to the science of reading must equip their educators with the knowledge and practice and the evidence-based tools for implementing a structured literacy program. 95 Percent Group is now a complete source for literacy success in schools.
Brad Lindaas, CEO
All of Tools 4 Reading’s widely recognized suite of resources and professional learning — including The Reading Teacher’s Top 10 Tools, Kid Lips, Kid Lips Instructional Guide, Sound Wall Solutions and Phoneme/Grapheme Cards, as well as programs and publications from highly-respected authors, such as Louisa Moats, Ed.D., (Spellography) and Judi Dodson (50 Nifty Activities) — will now be part of 95 Percent Group offerings.
Since founding Tools 4 Reading in 2010, my team and I have taken seriously our commitment to work directly with teachers to embrace the science behind reading, and to give them the tools to do so,” Dr. Dahlgren said. “Our passion has only intensified over the years as we have watched these educators feel empowered as they implement effective reading instruction in their classrooms. In 95 Percent Group, I am confident we have found the perfect partner who shares our beliefs and goals and will carry our mission into the future.
Mary E. Dahlgren, Ed.D.
Mastering effective literacy instruction requires robust professional learning. The Reading Teacher’s Top 10 Tools will grow 95 Percent Group’s offerings to include a comprehensive science of reading course designed to help teachers, administrators, and school support staff build a firm foundation in science of reading conceptual knowledge, including the fundamentals of phonics-based instruction.
Originally developed by literacy expert Deb Glaser, Ed.D., Top 10 Tools includes 10 self-paced easy-to-use tools: knowledge, oral language, phonemes, phonics and spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, writing, read-alouds and collaboration. This course builds upon the company’s existing professional learning services designed for educators deploying its phonics ecosystem of products.
“The acquisition of Tools 4 Reading expands the depth and breadth of 95 Percent Group’s content and product suite and uniquely positions the Company to teach students the specific skills they need to read successfully. We look forward to working with Mary and the team and to the continued success of Tools 4 Reading as part of 95 Percent Group,” said Eric Geveda, managing director at Leeds Equity Partners.
95 Percent Group’s acquisition of Tools 4 Reading officially closed in February 2023. The acquisition includes the addition of all current Tools 4 Reading team members to the 95 Percent Group team, among them Chief Academic Advisor Antonio A. Fierro, Ed.D., a former Texas State Teacher of the Year and a member of the LETRS cohort of literacy consultants. Dr. Dahlgren will continue to work directly with 95 Percent Group in a consulting capacity.
About 95 Percent Group
Founded in 2005, 95 Percent Group is an education company whose mission is to help educators identify and address the needs of all readers. Using an approach that is aligned with structured literacy, the company focuses on providing educators with whole-class and small-group literacy solutions as well as developing foundational knowledge about The Science of reading to deliver evidence and research-based instructional strategies. The company’s professional development, diagnostic assessments, skill continua, and explicit instructional materials strengthen MTSS/RTI frameworks and ensure that students receive targeted intervention instruction to close skill gaps. In 2021, 95 Percent Group secured a significant investment from Leeds Equity Partners to further develop its literacy curriculum and invest in new digital solutions. For more information, visit https://www.95percentgroup.com/.
About Tools 4 Reading
Since its founding in 2010, Tools 4 Reading has empowered educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to ground literacy instruction in the science of reading. Its resources and professional learning experiences are easy to implement and designed to improve literacy instruction. Tools 4 Reading products and training include Kid Lips, Kid Lips Instructional Guide, Sound Wall Solutions, and Phoneme/Grapheme Cards, and The Reading Teacher’s Top 10 Tools.
About Leeds Equity Partners
Leeds Equity is a New York-based private equity firm dedicated exclusively to partnering with management teams in the education, training, and information services industries (the “Knowledge Industries”). The firm was founded in 1993 and currently manages over $4 billion of capital across a broad spectrum of companies within the Knowledge Industries. Leeds Equity seeks to leverage its sector-focused expertise and market insights to create long-term value for its partner companies and investors. For additional information on Leeds Equity Partners, see http://www.leedsequity.com/.
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