Dive Brief:
- Blackboard is said to be considering the acquisition of Pearson's PowerSchool student information system.
- The ed tech giant, best known for its learning management system, has made several big purchases since the 2012 arrival of CEO Jay Bhatt, who has pushed for a rethinking of the company's product, brand, and strategy.
- Should the PowerSchool deal occur, it could be Blackboard's biggest K-12 acquisition and a sign of its commitment to that space.
Dive Insight:
Blackboard is on a kick right now. Just last week, it announced the acquisition of SchoolWires, a company that builds and hosts K-12 websites and apps. With that acquisition, Blackboard aimed to improve its solutions and services in that space, particularly as it pertains to communication and engagement.
Last year, Blackboard also acquired ParentLink, another key component of its push to address the needs of all K-12 stakeholders. Still, Blackboard is said to lack a clear method for tracking and documenting student data — in other words, it needs a K-12 SIS — and PowerSchool would certainly fulfill that need.
