Story of Newsela: Provides Modern Educational Content for ELA, Social Studies & Science
Story of Newsela:
In 2013, Matthew Gross and Dan Cogan-Drew saw a major
problem in classrooms: outdated textbooks and uninspiring materials that left
students disengaged. They believed that content had the power to spark
curiosity, build connections, and inspire a love for learning. This vision
became the foundation of Newsela.
From Struggle to Solution
Gross’s mission was deeply personal. One of his own children
struggled with reading, and during meetings with educators, he felt the system
had given up on students like his son. That moment pushed him to launch
Newsela a tool that could make learning meaningful and accessible for every
student.
A Platform With Purpose
Newsela started with a bold promise: provide teachers with
real-world news articles aligned to state standards, written at five
different reading levels. This meant teachers no longer had to choose
between engaging content and instructional requirements—both could exist in one
platform.
Content That Connects
The heart of Newsela’s approach was relevance. By delivering
fresh, real-world topics that students could connect to, the platform
encouraged deeper engagement. Suddenly, history lessons felt tied to current
events, and reading exercises connected to real-world stories.
Building a Family of Products
Over time, Newsela expanded beyond news. The company added
quizzes, writing prompts, and vocabulary tools like “Power Words.” It also
introduced subject-specific resources for English Language Arts, science, and
social studies—making it a more comprehensive classroom companion.
Expanding Through Partnerships
Strategic partnerships played a big role in Newsela’s
growth. Collaborations with BrainPop, NWEA, and educational consortia like
VaSCL allowed the platform to integrate with schools at scale. During COVID-19,
the NWEA partnership helped teachers instantly match Newsela’s content to
student reading levels.
Fighting Misinformation
In 2016, Newsela teamed up with the American Press Institute
to tackle the spread of fake news in classrooms. By providing reliable, curated
resources, they empowered teachers to guide students in evaluating sources
critically and responsibly.
Story of Newsela: Provides Modern Educational Content for ELA, Social Studies & Science#startup#entrepreneur#networth#investor#Newsela AI STory#
Products for Every Level
Recognizing the need for younger learners, Newsela launched Newsela
Elementary, which provided age-appropriate content for kids. For teachers, Newsela
PRO introduced advanced tools and features through a paid subscription
model, giving schools even more flexibility.
Acquiring Formative
In recent years, Newsela acquired Formative, a
platform that delivers real-time assessments and feedback. This integration
gave schools powerful tools for data-driven instruction, helping teachers
measure progress and adapt lessons on the fly.
The Generation Genius Deal
In 2023, Newsela made another big move by acquiring Generation
Genius, a fast-growing platform for science and math videos founded by
scientist and TV personality Dr. Jeff Vinokur. Known for its Emmy-nominated
content, Generation Genius had already reached 30% of U.S. elementary schools.
A $100 Million Investment in Growth
The Generation Genius acquisition was valued at $100
million, signaling Newsela’s commitment to expanding into STEM education.
This addition allowed the company to offer not just reading and social studies
but also cutting-edge science and math content.
Fueling With Funding
Newsela’s growth has been supported by strong investors,
raising $188 million in Series D funding from firms like Franklin
Venture Partners, Human Capital Development, and Kleiner Perkins. This
financial backing has helped scale the platform to millions of teachers and
students worldwide.
Educators at the Center
What makes Newsela stand out is its dedication to teachers
and students. Its team includes former educators and learning experts who
constantly refine products based on classroom needs, ensuring tools feel
practical, accessible, and impactful.
Looking Toward the Future
Today, Newsela reaches classrooms in all 50 states and over
150 countries. With its growing product suite—including news, ELA, science,
social studies, math, and AI-powered writing solutions—the company continues to
pursue its mission: meaningful classroom learning for every student.
Timeline of Newsela
- 2013
– Newsela founded by Matthew Gross and Dan Cogan-Drew, launches
with news content at multiple reading levels.
- 2016
– Partners with American Press Institute to combat misinformation
in schools.
- 2017
– Partners with BrainPop, integrating Newsela resources into
classrooms nationwide.
- 2020
– Partners with NWEA to link student reading levels with Newsela
content.
- 2021
– Acquires Formative, expanding into real-time instruction and
assessment.
- 2022
– Launches new AI-powered tools, continues expanding into ELA, science,
and social studies.
- 2023
– Acquires Generation Genius for $100M, adding science and
math video lessons.
- 2025
(Now) – Serves millions of teachers and students globally, backed by $188M
Series D funding, and continues to grow as a leading EdTech provider.
