Amplify
American education technology company providing K–12 curriculum, assessment, and digital learning tools.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Amplify is an American education technology company that develops curriculum, assessment products, and digital instructional tools for schools, districts, teachers, and students. The business began in 2000 as Wireless Generation, founded by Larry Berger and Greg Gunn. Its early work focused on software and services for public education programs, including early-reading initiatives supported by government funding. The company also worked on large-scale education data and instructional systems, including New York City's ARIS student-data warehouse and the algorithm behind School of One, a New York City mathematics support program. Wireless Generation grew by selling products and services to school districts and state education systems in the United States. In 2010, News Corporation acquired a 90 percent stake for $360 million. At the time, the company reportedly served approximately three million students and 200,000 educators. Joel Klein, the former chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and a News Corporation executive, became chief executive. News Corporation subsequently invested heavily in the business, directing approximately $540 million toward the expansion of digital and tablet-based curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards. News Corporation renamed the subsidiary Amplify in 2012. Under the new identity, the company positioned itself as a broader K–12 education platform rather than solely a data and assessment provider. Its portfolio expanded across English language arts, mathematics, science, formative assessment, intervention, and teacher-facing instructional support. Amplify also entered assessment partnerships with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, helping create reporting tools and a digital library of formative assessment items. The company experimented with dedicated hardware as part of its digital-learning strategy. In 2013 it introduced the Amplify Tablet, an Asus Android device customized with subscription software for classroom use. A later version was designed with Intel in 2014, but Amplify stopped marketing the tablet to new customers in 2015. The company subsequently concentrated more heavily on curriculum and software delivered through existing school technology environments. In October 2015, News Corporation sold Amplify to a management team backed by private investors, including Emerson Collective. The transaction's financial terms were not publicly disclosed, and Larry Berger returned as chief executive. Amplify later broadened its curriculum portfolio through products such as Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts, Amplify Science, mathematics programs, supplemental literacy resources, and mCLASS assessment tools. Its partnerships have included the Core Knowledge Foundation, the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Oregon. Amplify raised $215 million in growth funding in 2021 and acquired the Desmos curriculum business and teacher.desmos.com in 2022. Desmos Studio, which focuses on free mathematics tools such as an online graphing calculator, was separated as an independent public benefit corporation, while Amplify incorporated the classroom curriculum and related instructional platform. In 2023, the company announced additional funding from Cox Enterprises and other investors. Amplify stated that its products had reached more than 10 million students across all 50 U.S. states. In 2025, Desmos Classroom was renamed Amplify Classroom, with the platform expanding beyond mathematics through additional science and literacy lessons. Amplify's present business is centered on K–12 curriculum, assessment, intervention, and data-informed instructional support for the U.S. education market.
History
Amplify traces its origins to Wireless Generation, founded in 2000 by Larry Berger and Greg Gunn. The original company supplied education software and services to U.S. districts and state agencies, particularly for publicly funded early-reading and intervention programs. Its work extended beyond packaged software: Wireless Generation helped develop and maintain New York City's ARIS student-data warehouse and created the algorithm used by School of One, a New York City mathematics-support initiative. These projects established the company's early identity as a provider of data-driven instructional infrastructure as well as assessment services. In 2010, News Corporation purchased a 90 percent interest in Wireless Generation for $360 million. The acquisition brought the company into a broader corporate strategy centered on digital education. Joel Klein, a former New York City schools chancellor and News Corporation executive, became chief executive. News Corporation subsequently invested approximately $540 million in the business to develop digital and tablet-based curriculum, particularly material aligned with the Common Core State Standards. The company was renamed Amplify in 2012, signaling a move toward a wider education platform encompassing curriculum, digital content, assessment, and teacher tools. Amplify developed partnerships intended to strengthen its assessment and curriculum capabilities. Its work with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium included reporting tools for teachers and, later, a digital library of formative assessment items and related assessment resources. The company also collaborated with established education organizations. Core Knowledge materials became the basis for Amplify's Core Knowledge Language Arts program and its Spanish-language counterpart, Caminos. Amplify Science was developed with the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Its mCLASS assessment platform was developed in partnership with the University of Oregon and supports administration of DIBELS assessments, data review, and targeted instructional recommendations. The company's most visible hardware initiative was the Amplify Tablet, launched in 2013 as a customized Asus Android device with subscription software for K–12 teaching. A subsequent model designed with Intel appeared in 2014. The tablet strategy did not become the center of the business, and Amplify stopped marketing the device to new customers in 2015. That same year News Corporation sold Amplify to a management team backed by private investors, including Emerson Collective. The transaction terms were not disclosed, and co-founder Larry Berger became chief executive. During the late 2010s, Amplify concentrated on curriculum and software rather than proprietary hardware. Its offerings expanded across literacy, mathematics, science, assessment, intervention, and supplemental instruction. Products introduced or emphasized during this period included Amplify Close Reading and Amplify Fractions. A 2018 report cited revenue of $125 million and service to almost four million students, although such figures represent a historical snapshot rather than current company performance. Amplify raised $215 million in growth funding in 2021. In 2022 it acquired the Desmos curriculum business and teacher.desmos.com. Desmos Studio was separated into an independent public benefit corporation focused on free mathematics tools, while Amplify retained and developed the classroom curriculum business. In 2023, Cox Enterprises and other investors provided further funding. Amplify said its products had reached more than ten million students in all 50 states. In 2025, Desmos Classroom was renamed Amplify Classroom and began extending its lesson library into science and literacy. The company now operates primarily as a U.S. K–12 curriculum, assessment, and instructional-technology provider, combining print and digital materials with teacher-facing data and intervention tools.
- 2025
Desmos Classroom is renamed Amplify Classroom
[1]The mathematics classroom platform adopts the Amplify Classroom name and expands into science and literacy lessons.
- 2022
Desmos curriculum acquisition
[1]Amplify acquires the Desmos curriculum business and teacher.desmos.com.
- 2021
Growth financing
[1]Amplify raises $215 million in growth funding.
- 2015
Amplify changes ownership
[1]News Corporation sells Amplify to an investor-backed management team, with Larry Berger returning as CEO.
- 2013
Amplify Tablet launches
[1]Amplify introduces a customized Android tablet and subscription software for classroom use.
- 2012
The company adopts the Amplify name
[1]Wireless Generation is renamed Amplify as its curriculum and digital-learning business expands.
- 2010
News Corporation acquires a majority stake
[1]News Corporation buys 90 percent of Wireless Generation for $360 million.
- 2000
Wireless Generation is founded
[1]Larry Berger and Greg Gunn establish Wireless Generation as an education software and services company.
Products and positioning
A U.S.-focused K–12 curriculum and assessment provider that combines standards-aligned instructional materials with digital platforms, formative assessment, intervention resources, and teacher-facing data tools.
English language arts curriculum
Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts
A preschool-through-Grade-5 literacy curriculum published and distributed through Amplify's relationship with the Core Knowledge Foundation. The program integrates reading, writing, listening, and speaking and uses literature, history, and science content to build background knowledge. Its instructional approach is associated with the science of reading and is intended for core classroom use rather than as a stand-alone digital supplement.
Spanish-language literacy curriculum
Caminos
A Spanish-language counterpart to Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts. It provides structured literacy instruction and content-based learning materials for younger students, extending Amplify's early-literacy portfolio to Spanish-language classrooms and dual-language settings.
Science curriculum
Amplify Science
A science curriculum developed with the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. It is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and combines classroom investigations, digital resources, reading, writing, and scientific reasoning. The program is designed to connect disciplinary content with evidence-based student inquiry.
Assessment and instructional support
mCLASS
A teacher-facing assessment platform developed in partnership with the University of Oregon. mCLASS supports administration of DIBELS assessments, provides near-real-time student data, and connects results with targeted instructional resources. It is intended to help educators identify reading needs and organize follow-up intervention.
Literacy supplemental program · 2018
Amplify Close Reading
A digital supplemental literacy program introduced as part of Amplify's broader English language arts portfolio. It focuses on close analysis of texts and gives teachers structured resources for supporting reading comprehension and evidence-based discussion.
Mathematics supplemental program · 2018
Amplify Fractions
A digital supplemental mathematics program focused on fraction concepts. It was introduced alongside Amplify Close Reading as part of the company's effort to provide targeted, standards-oriented resources that complement core instruction.
Digital classroom and mathematics platform · 2025
Amplify Classroom
The renamed successor to Desmos Classroom following Amplify's acquisition of the Desmos curriculum business. The platform provides interactive lessons and classroom activities, originally centered on mathematics and later expanded with science and literacy content. It is distinct from Desmos Studio, which became a separate public benefit corporation focused on free mathematics tools.
Education hardware and software bundle · 2013
Amplify Tablet
A customized Android tablet introduced for K–12 classroom use with a suite of subscription-based instructional software. The first version was based on Asus hardware and a later version was designed with Intel. Amplify discontinued marketing the tablet to new customers in 2015 as the company shifted attention toward platform-independent curriculum and software.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquisition of Desmos curriculumM&ABackground
Amplify sought to expand its mathematics and digital classroom offerings through an established interactive curriculum platform.
Action taken
Amplify acquired the Desmos curriculum business and teacher.desmos.com, while Desmos Studio was separated into an independent public benefit corporation.
Aftermath
Amplify continued developing classroom curriculum under the Desmos Classroom identity, which was later renamed Amplify Classroom and expanded into additional subjects.
2015
End of new-customer tablet marketingStrategyBackground
Amplify had released a customized classroom tablet in 2013 and an Intel-designed version in 2014, but its broader education business continued to depend on curriculum and software.
Action taken
The company stopped marketing the tablet to new customers and placed greater emphasis on digital curriculum and instructional products.
Aftermath
Amplify's later portfolio centered on curriculum, assessment, intervention, and classroom software rather than proprietary hardware.
2015
Sale by News CorporationM&ABackground
News Corporation had acquired a majority stake in Wireless Generation in 2010 and funded an ambitious digital-education expansion.
Action taken
News Corporation sold Amplify to a management team supported by private investors, including Emerson Collective.
Aftermath
Larry Berger became CEO, and Amplify continued as an independently backed education technology company.
Transaction value. (2015)
2012
Rebrand from Wireless Generation to AmplifyStrategyBackground
Under News Corporation ownership, the business was expanding from education data and assessment services into a broader digital curriculum and learning platform.
Action taken
The subsidiary adopted the Amplify name and broadened its public positioning around curriculum, assessment, and digital instruction.
Aftermath
The rebrand became the identity under which the company launched tablet hardware, expanded curriculum partnerships, and developed a wider K–12 product portfolio.
Recent events
Reported
Samsung launches Undscvrd artist search and TikTok series[3]
Samsung Electronics Australia launched Undscvrd, a nationwide search for emerging Australian recording artists that will also be presented as a documentary-style reality series on TikTok. The initiative was developed in partnership with Amplify.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
TrillerNet launches NFT marketplace[4]
TrillerNet launched an NFT marketplace developed in partnership with Amplify. The marketplace is intended to enable creators to create and market tokens, with broader user token creation and trading described as a future plan.
Reported
Amplify releases Text Reading Online[5]
Amplify announced the release of Text Reading Online, a voice-enabled reading assessment programme developed in collaboration with SoapBox Labs. It enables remote evaluation of students' reading fluency, accuracy and comprehension, and was initially to be available to 150,000 children in the US.
- Unconfirmed
Michael Cassel Group announces strategic investment from Amplify[6]
Michael Cassel Group announced that it had accepted a strategic investment from Amplify. The transaction was subject to regulatory approval, and the announcement said Michael Cassel would retain significant ongoing equity ownership and continue to run the group as an independent entity.
Sources6 sources
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