Blackboard acquires ParentLink, broadening company's reach

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Mona Shield Payne

"We are committed to the K-12 community and supporting schools in getting parents more involved in the learning experience, which is critical to student success," Blackboard CEO Jay Bhatt said in a statement. "… With ParentLink, we will bring an unmatched expertise and passion to our industry with a razor-sharp focus on making a meaningful difference in the lives of the students, parents and schools we serve through highly innovative technology."

Drew Hansen

Digital Producer- Washington Business Journal

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D.C.-based Blackboard Inc. announced the acquisition of ParentLink on Thursday, a move uniting two providers of K-12 education communications systems and broadening Blackboard's reach to more than half the school districts in the U.S.

Mobile app provider ParentLink, based in Provo, Utah, currently supports more than 8,000 schools with information-delivery systems designed to increase parent and community engagement. The company has worked in the K-12 market for more than 20 years

"We are committed to the K-12 community and supporting schools in getting parents more involved in the learning experience, which is critical to student success," Blackboard CEO Jay Bhatt said in a statement. "… With ParentLink, we will bring an unmatched expertise and passion to our industry with a razor-sharp focus on making a meaningful difference in the lives of the students, parents and schools we serve through highly innovative technology.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Earlier this month, Blackboard announced a new partnership with Chegg Inc., which creates software that helps college students better understand their homework.

Drew Hansen edits and produces content for our digital operation.