MOVE IT, MOVE IT: Move This World has closed a $1.1 million series A round to support its efforts to add more content to its preK-12 social emotional learning programming and grow its footprint. In the announcement, the startup claims its offerings are used by about 500,000 students across 27 states and Washington, D.C.
The company claims its programs, which aim to help students and educators identify, express and manage emotions, can reduce behavioral incidents at schools, absenteeism and teacher attrition. School district partners include Compton Unified School District in California and Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Lead investors for the round include Schwartzberg Cos., a private investment firm focused on health care, and New Media Investment Group, a Fortress Investment Group Fund. New Media owns newspapers in 37 states including Ohio’s Columbus Dispatch, North Carolina’s Fayetteville Observer and Missouri’s Columbia Daily Tribune.
Last year, Move This World raised $1 million in a seed round that New Media also participated in. The startup was also part of the AT&T Aspire Accelerator. New Media isn’t the first media company to invest in edtech this year. Advance Publications, a media conglomerate that owns Condé Nast, bought Turnitin for about $1.75 billion.
