EdisonLearning
 | |
| Predecessor | Edison Project |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Chris Whittle |
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Thom Jackson, CEO |
| Website | www |
EdisonLearning Inc., previously known as Edison Schools Inc., operates as a for-profit education management firm supporting public schools across the United States and the United Kingdom. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the company focuses on charter school administration alongside services such as assessment, summer programs, and tutoring. In 2015, EdisonLearning oversaw schools educating 10,417 students.
Some client school districts have expressed dissatisfaction with the company due to costs exceeding initial estimates and educational results that fell short of expectations.
History
Established in 1992 under the name Edison Project by Chris Whittle, the venture was backed by notable individuals including Tom Ingram, Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., John Chubb, and Chester E. Finn, Jr.. Its early mission centered on leveraging school voucher initiatives.
EdisonLearning entered the UK market in 2002 through collaboration with Essex Local Education Authority, setting up a subsidiary in 2003. The British operations played a key role in developing the company's intellectual assets and served as a hub for projects in China and the UAE until operations ceased there in 2020.
Approach to education
The organization asserted its ability to run public schools more economically than traditional districts while enhancing student achievement and generating profits for its shareholders. This approach attracted supporters of privatization and voucher systems, including endorsements from The Wall Street Journal and the Hoover Institution.
In 2008, Edison acquired Provost Systems, an education technology company based in Santa Clara, which was rebranded as EdisonLearning to broaden its digital education portfolio.
By 2013, EdisonLearningUK collaborated with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which represents over 28,500 educators, to launch the Aspire Pilot Programme aimed at schools rated Satisfactory or Requires Improvement by Ofsted.
By 2014, EdisonLearning had expanded beyond charter school management into virtual and blended learning environments as well as dropout recovery programs. The company had provided educational services through 474 school partnerships across 32 states, reflecting its extensive market presence and adaptive business strategy.
Expansion and contraction
Edison’s shares were publicly traded on the NASDAQ for four years but recorded only a single profitable quarter during that period. After reaching nearly $40 per share in early 2001, stock prices fell drastically to just 14 cents. In 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Edison of failing to disclose that up to 41% of its reported revenue—$154 million—was never collected. By 2002, the company sought financial support from Roger Milliken. In 2003, it was privatized via a buyout led by Liberty Partners on behalf of the Florida Retirement System, valuing Edison at $180 million or $1.76 per share.
Following major contract terminations, Edison transitioned from full public school management toward providing supplementary educational services such as testing, summer schooling, and tutoring. This strategic shift prioritized service delivery over comprehensive school operation.
In 2008, the School District of Philadelphia, which was Edison’s largest client with oversight of 20 schools, announced it would not renew management contracts and allowed private providers to reapply. By June of that year, six schools previously managed by external companies—including four operated by Edison—were returned to district control due to inadequate progress.
In 2011, retired Los Angeles Lakers star Earvin "Magic" Johnson joined forces with EdisonLearning to create dropout prevention and recovery centers named "Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academies," targeting high school students at risk of dropping out or those who had already left school. This collaboration concluded in 2016.
In 2014, Thom Jackson purchased EdisonLearning and currently holds the positions of CEO and President. Prior to this, Jackson served as Chief Operating Officer and Legal Officer within the company.
Criticism
Edison's financial and educational outcomes have attracted scrutiny. Several client school districts indicated that the expenses associated with Edison-operated schools exceeded initial projections, challenging the company's assertions. Additionally, the academic progress within these institutions occasionally failed to meet the expectations set forth.
An analysis conducted in 2002 by The New York Times, utilizing Edison's own criteria for success, revealed that Cleveland, Ohio's public school system achieved better results than those managed by Edison. In 2019, Chicago Public Schools decided to shut down all four schools under Edison's management, citing insufficient educational standards as explained by superintendent Janice Jackson.
Supporters of privatization expressed disapproval of Whittle's approach of collaborating with public school districts instead of creating entirely private schools. In contrast, Edison's ventures in the United Kingdom experienced greater success, sustaining a reputable position in advancing school performance for close to twenty years.