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A Focus on Impact

Our Portfolio Companies Make a Difference

Our portfolio companies spend every day removing obstacles and working to overcome challenges students and workers have to get a good education and a good job.

Recent Posts

Apr 25, 2025

2

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Acceleration Academies

Kelli Campbell Wins Silver Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Business Services Industries

Acceleration Academies is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer Kelli Campbell has been named a 2025 American Business Awards...

Apr 25, 2025

4

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News & Updates

Edtech and Workforce Tech News Roundup - 4/25

The recent wave of educational technology advancements highlights a transformative shift in how educators, institutions, and employers approach learning and workforce development. From vibrant online professional learning communities supporting teachers in integrating digital tools, to cutting-edge virtual reality applications that redefine experiential learning, the articles in this week's News Roundup reveal a shared focus on innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

Apr 23, 2025

3

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K2 Integrity

K2 Integrity and Sonata One Partner to Accelerate Capital Raising, Reduce Risk, and Deliver Scalable Advisory Services for Private Fund Managers

NEW YORK/LONDON – April 23, 2025 – K2 Integrity , the leading global risk and financial crimes advisory firm and Sonata One , the...

Apr 18, 2025

5

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News & Updates

Edtech and Workforce Tech News Roundup - 4/18

Our latest News Roundup highlights key insights from industry reports, the opinions of industry leaders, and the perspectives of learners and employers alike.

Apr 18, 2025

1

min read

Acceleration Academies

Kelli Campbell Discusses Transforming Education for At-Risk Students on THRIVEinEDU Podcast

In a recent episode of the THRIVEinEDU podcast , hosted by Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, Kelli Campbell, Acceleration Academies chief executive...

Apr 17, 2025

2

min read

Acceleration Academies

Priscilla Alonzo Named Winner of EdTech Chronicle’s Best in Education Awards

Las Vegas, NV — EdTech Chronicle has named Priscilla Alonzo, Director of Clark County Acceleration Academies East , as a 2024 Best in...

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Venture-funded company makes it a mission to reduce skyrocketing student absenteeism

  • Writer: Cat Burchmore
    Cat Burchmore
  • Jan 9, 2024
  • 2 min read

Updated: Nov 20, 2024

Concentric Educational Solutions collaborates with Detroit-area schools to address the rising issue of absenteeism.

In Ecorse, Michigan, Shepria Johnson, part of the “Student Wholeness Team,” is on a mission to combat truancy, starting with a visit to Kuanticka Prude’s home, reads a story published by ProPublica. Prude, a mother of eight working as a security guard, struggles with ensuring her children’s school attendance.

Prude’s two kids, Jisaiah and King, had been missing school, assuming their mother would be at work. Johnson’s role involves understanding why children are missing school and helping them get back on track. She is employed by Concentric Educational Solutions, which collaborates with several Detroit-area schools to address the rising issue of absenteeism, exacerbated by the pandemic.

Concentric received a grant from NewSchools Venture Fund in 2010. Employees including Johnson have made 400,000 home visits since then.

Detroit’s industrial suburbs feature a widespread problem of chronic absenteeism, particularly post-Covid. Johnson’s home visits are part of a broader, supportive strategy to engage families and understand the underlying reasons for absenteeism, ranging from mental health issues to practical challenges like transportation or clothing. The approach contrasts with traditional punitive measures and emphasizes collaboration and support.

Despite federal pandemic-recovery funds, little has been allocated to combat absenteeism, an issue linked to declining academic achievement and increased youth violence. Concentric’s founder, David Heiber, advocates for direct intervention, drawing from his personal experiences of overcoming adversity.


The historical evolution of mandatory schooling in the U.S. has shifted from legal enforcement to more empathetic, supportive methods. That’s as some families face unstable housing, health issues, and economic hardships, underscoring the need for a societal approach to reinforce the importance of education.

Read original story here.


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