How Tech is Changing the Game for Special Education

Special education is in a tough spot. There aren't enough teachers or resources to go around. Many states are struggling to fill these roles, and the pandemic made things even worse. But there's a new player in town: Parallel Learning. This virtual platform is making waves by helping students meet their goals and attracting big investors. Parallel Learning is a virtual special education platform that's catching the attention of investors. They just raised $20 million in their Series B round, led by Valspring Capital. This shows that people are starting to see the value of using technology to help students with special needs. The company recently shared some impressive results. According to their report, 98% of their students met or even exceeded their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. That's a big deal! They also found that students receiving behavioral and mental health services did even better, with nearly 95% making faster progress than expected. But what makes Parallel Learning stand out? They use a unique model that pairs licensed professionals with a technology platform. This platform helps manage caseloads, set goals, track data, and make decisions. It's like a co-pilot for the providers, giving them the tools they need to do their jobs more effectively. Plus, the students seem to love it. After each session, they rate their connection to their provider, their sense of progress, and their overall well-being. The average scores were unusually high, ranging from 8. 6 to 8. 9 out of 10. Investors are taking notice of these results. Jenny Abramson, founder and managing partner at Rethink Impact, was one of Parallel's earliest investors. She says that the company stood out because of its accessibility, experience, and outcomes. Plus, the founder, Diana Heldfond, has personal experience with ADHD and dyslexia, which gives her a unique perspective on the issue. Parallel Learning plans to use the $20 million round to deepen its clinical technology, integrate more AI-driven personalization, and expand into all 50 states within two years. They're also looking to strengthen provider training and district partnerships. This is a big step forward for special education, and it's exciting to see how this model can scale and rewrite expectations for what progress in special education should look like.