MarcoPolo Learning Partners with Lightbridge Academy® to Enhance and Enrich the Early Years Curriculum with Digital Solution

MarcoPolo for Educators will now provide Lightbridge families with a revolutionary approach to early years teaching through the largest online library of educator designed content and it’s unique school-to-home connection.

MarcoPolo Learning, global developer of award-winning educational content and digital platforms for schools and families, has announced a partnership with Lightbridge Academy®, a leading early education and child care franchise with more than 120 locations open or in development in the U.S., to deliver an innovative digital solution for educators. The exclusive partnership will implement MarcoPolo for Educators digital solution across Lightbridge Academy’s 65-plus open locations and deliver award-winning, educational video content to over 3000 preschoolers at home and in school.

MarcoPolo for Educators is an online platform that brings the early years curriculum to life through high-quality, real-world video footage combined with MarcoPolo’s custom 2D & 3D animation. The engaging, standards-aligned content can be used in the classroom to introduce a lesson, encourage conversations or spark curiosity. At Lightbridge Academy, the implementation of MarcoPolo for Educators will help its team members work toward its goal to realize every child’s potential, including academic success. Now, teaching staff will have access to a vast range of resources and educator guides, all designed to reinforce the current curriculum while supporting the development of teaching best practices.

Designed by leading early childhood educators, MarcoPolo for Educators provides access to an award-winning video library with more than 1,500 high-quality video lessons across all subject areas and available as English, Spanish and ELL (Modified) versions. A safer, ad free alternative to YouTube and other prohibited sources of content, MarcoPolo for Educators’ standards aligned video library can be trusted in the early years classroom. Educators can curate video experiences into custom learning playlists that can be used with the whole class, in small groups or for independent learning. They can even connect to children at home through personalized recorded video messages to accompany the learning playlists. This allows educators to uniquely individualize instruction.

“We first trialed the consumer MarcoPolo World School app in the summer of 2020 at the height of the pandemic,” said Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “The engaging content strengthened the home-school connection and parent feedback was extremely positive. MarcoPolo for Educators builds on that foundation and will be incredible support to our teaching staff. They have access to high-quality teaching resources and digital experiences, all in one place.”

MarcoPolo for Educators was designed to nurture the potential of every child. The platform was developed around an educational philosophy rooted in research related to how young children learn best, how to engage families in their child’s learning, and how to design digital tools for early childhood. For educators, the easy integration into the classroom helps them make the most of digital learning. Educator guides and printables in multiple languages are available to support corresponding video lessons and each lesson shows alignment to early learning standards and outcomes.

“We’re delighted to welcome Lightbridge Academy as a valued partner amidst the changing landscape of the pandemic,” said Justin Hsu, CEO and founder of MarcoPolo Learning. “Together, we can support the educators, children and families at Lightbridge Academy with innovative content that will inspire the most curious of minds and create a strong foundation for lifelong learning.”

Gigi Schweikert added, “At Lightbridge Academy, we are proud to create a trusted Circle of Care®. This child is at the heart of everything we do, and educators have an integral role in their overall success. MarcoPolo for Educators provides the enriching, relevant content. Above all, the engaging videos spark excitement in our young learners and help nurture their curiosity.”

MarcoPolo Learning is an award-winning developer of educational content and technology for early learners with a mission to inspire curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. In 2021, MarcoPolo Learning launched an online learning resource for schools, MarcoPolo for Educators, that aims to bring the current early learning curriculum to life by combining powerful educator tools with child-led explorations of videos and interactive activities for the classroom and home.

In addition, MarcoPolo Learning offers an award-winning home learning solution, MarcoPolo World School, available through app stores. MarcoPolo Learning is also the creator of the STEM-focused TV series, The Polos, which reaches over 500 million households across the world.

Established in 1997, the company was founded as a family business based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners and the community. Lightbridge Academy provides quality early education and child care programs to children aged six weeks through kindergarten. The company currently has over 120 child care centers either open or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. In response to COVID-19, Lightbridge Academy launched The Lightbridge Promise as the Gold Standard for health & safety in the child care industry. In 2022, Lightbridge Academy was featured on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 following ranking the previous year. In 2020, the company was featured on the Inc. 5000 ranking, Franchise Times Top 200+ awards, and on Newsweek’s 2021 list of America’s Best Customer Service.