Edtech company CourseArc inked a deal with Baltimore schools

More than 100,000 students attend public schools in Baltimore and the district has been looking for a way to continue the learning online and expand resources. They’ve found a local partner in CourseArc, an e-learning content creation platform.
“We had a variety of requirements beyond simply looking for a course creation resource that could be easily implemented,” said Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas, interim chief academic officer of Baltimore County Public Schools. “We were thrilled that the best fit for our needs also happened to be a local company. CourseArc has exceeded our expectations and has made the onboarding process completely seamless.”
CourseArc cofounder Bethany Meyer has described the software as “a CMS that’s customized to the needs of people creating courses” and doesn’t require users to have technical expertise.
Removing the tech barrier has proved handy for the more than 500 district curriculum writers who are spending the summer learning CourseArc’s software. Cofounder and CEO Katie Egan says a fast onboarding process means the curriculum writers, teachers and other district employees can quickly master Course Arc and then focus on helping students learn.

Baltimore County Public Schools choose CourseArc as their digital course solution. We can't wait to help them excel! https://t.co/zLhpH4Dqc7

— CourseArc (@coursearc) July 20, 2017

Once the curriculum writers have filled CourseArc with materials the more than 8,000 teachers in the district can use the software during the upcoming school year. Then the program can grow in the classroom.
“A great example would be if a curriculum is being developed to teach fractions and a teacher sees that the students need more support in that subject, then they can go to CourseArc and create more resources,” said Egan, a former high school educator.
Egan said the school district’s focus on accessibility for all students made the partnership a no-brainer.
“One of the things that differentiates us is that our content is accessible to all learners,” she said. “If a student has a disability and has screen assistance, it works with our program. Baltimore County Public Schools is really passionate about accessibility.”
Baltimore County Public School District is the third largest in Maryland and working together is a no small feat for the CourseArc team.
“We are a small company and this is a big deal for us. The district has thousands of teachers, and the potential is massive,” Egan said. “Baltimore County Public School district is nationally known for being really innovative and it gives us a lot of credibility.
CourseArc has a one year contract with the district and hope to continue working with them in the future.
“This is a huge time investment for the district,” Egan said. “And we hope this relationship lasts a long time.”