Industry News

Blackboard Acquires Site Hosting and Management Company Schoolwires

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/04/15

Blackboard will acquire Schoolwires, a company that provides Web sites, hosting and management for K-12 schools and districts.

"Following the acquisition of ParentLink last year, today's announcement represents the next step in Blackboard's plan to provide a comprehensive set of solutions that address the needs of all K-12 stakeholders including students, teachers, parents and administrators," according to a news release. "It also will help Blackboard deliver on its strategy to offer technology innovations that help prepare students with the necessary experience and skills for higher education and job success."

Schoolwires provides technology and services, which include an integrated Web site and content management solution, an enterprise technology platform, a social learning and networking system and a collection of mobile applications, for more than 1,700 districts and educational agencies, representing more than 11 million users, in the United States and China.

"Now, more than ever before, we are aggressively driving toward our mission of advancing students' education journey and positioning them for success across their lifelong learning experience, which begins at the K-12 level," said Jay Bhatt, CEO of Blackboard, in a prepared statement. "An informed and engaged K-12 community is the foundation for improved teaching and learning, and school Web sites and apps are the natural way that process begins each day. With Schoolwires, we will help schools meet the evolving needs of their community and improve outcomes for their students."