Sylvan Learning
American supplemental education program
title: "Sylvan Learning" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["companies-based-in-baltimore", "education-companies-established-in-1979", "education-companies-of-the-united-states", "learning-programs", "test-preparation-companies", "1979-establishments-in-oregon"] description: "American supplemental education program" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvan_Learning" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American supplemental education program ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Sylvan Learning, Inc. |
| logo | US 2016 SYLVAN LOGO.jpg |
| type | Subsidiary |
| foundation | (as Sylvan Learning Corporation) |
| Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| location | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| industry | Education, Tutoring |
| parent | Unleashed Brands |
| homepage | |
| :: |
| name = Sylvan Learning, Inc. | logo = US 2016 SYLVAN LOGO.jpg | type = Subsidiary | foundation = (as Sylvan Learning Corporation) Portland, Oregon, U.S. | location = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | industry = Education, Tutoring | caption = | products = | parent = Unleashed Brands | homepage =
Sylvan Learning, Inc. (formerly Sylvan Learning Corporation) consists of franchised and corporate supplemental learning centers which provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills, homework support, and test preparation for college entrance and state exams. Some centers also offer STEM courses in robotics and coding. Sylvan provides personalized learning programs and primarily serves students in primary and secondary education.
History
Sylvan Learning began in Portland, Oregon in 1979 at the Sylvan Hill Medical Center Building. It was founded by former school teacher W. Berry Fowler, who had also worked with the educational company The Reading Game. By 1983, Sylvan had dozens of franchises and moved its headquarters to Bellevue, WA. In 1986, having over 500 franchises, Sylvan went public on the NASDAQ exchange and used funds to develop corporate learning centers in key cities. By July 1987, KinderCare, then based in Montgomery, AL, owned the majority of stock and moved the company to Alabama. Most of the staff did not relocate.
In 1991 the company was taken over by R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric and Douglas L. Becker. In 1997 the company had an annual revenues of $246 million, and in addition to tutoring centers, Sylvan had expanded to offer teacher training, computerized testing, distance learning, and other services.
In 2003, Sylvan Learning was purchased by Apollo Management from Sylvan Learning Systems Inc., its parent company. In 2016, John McAuliffe was named as Chief Executive Officer.
Over 28 franchised centers located in multiple states closed between 2008 and 2012, some very suddenly. Most Sylvan locations utilize a digital learning system called SylvanSync, which provides lessons on tablets with instructors teaching lessons, which become more independent if the student progresses. Sylvan employs standardized assessments to place and monitor students and to evaluate instructors.
References
Bibliography
References
- Cavanaugh, Joanne P.. (September 1998). "Sylvan's Fast Learners".
- Walsh, Mark. (19 March 2003). "Sylvan Learning, Changing Focus, Sells K-12 Sector". Education Week.
- (18 May 2004). "Sylvan Learning Renamed". New York Times.
- Learning, Sylvan. "Sylvan Learning Franchise Opportunities {{!}} Meet Our Leadership Team".
- Brennan, George. (10 May 2008). "Sylvan tutoring centers close". Local Media Group, Inc..
- (11 May 2010). "Sylvan Learning centers suddenly close". madison.com.
- Hilton, John. (16 January 2009). "Dickinson Sylvan Learning Center Closes". The Sentinel.
- Cassidy, CJ. (20 May 2009). "Sylvan Learning Center closes in Cape Girardeau". WorldNow.
- Braden, Jonathon. (23 January 2013). "Sylvan shuts down tutoring centers". Columbia Daily Tribune.
- Nienaber, Dan. (25 August 2009). "Sylvan closing was surprise to some". Mankato Free Press.
- (29 January 2010). "Sylvan closing its doors". WorldNow.
- (11 May 2011). "Sylvan Closing Outrages Parents, Teachers". Scripps TV Station Group.
- Flack, Eric. (28 December 2011). "Customers of shuttered Sylvan Learning Center will get satisfaction". WorldNow.
- (8 January 2011). "Learning Center Closes Leaving Some Without Refunds". CBS Local Media.
- Dickinson, Christina. (11 May 2011). "Sylvan Learning Center closes abruptly". Multimedia Holdings Corporation.
- (29 April 2010). "Sylvan to close". Fremont Tribune.
- ""Sylvan Learning looks to expand franchise base through new technology"".
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