In recent dealmaking news Macmillan Publishers gets a new president; Coursera promotes new public health education courses; and Rosetta Stone unveils improved iPhone app.
College learning materials publisher FlatWorld releases a customizable textbook; supplemental education company Infobase acquires Credo Reference; OER courseware provider Lumen raises funds.
What K-12 HR Directors Are Demanding From Vendors
Big Tech Shifts Create Need for Screening, Retention, Social Media-Oriented Tools

School systems need tech-based HR systems capable of sharing data and analyzing information, says Dale R. Fisher, a board member of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators.
Social reading site Glose raises funds to expand into the education market; Accelerate Learning gains significant new investors,; and Grand Canyon Education seeks to acquire Orbis Education Services.
The New Skills Education Companies Want in Top Executives
The Ability to Analyze Data and Set Sales and Marketing Strategy in the Digital Age Are in Demand

The ability to analyze data and set sales and marketing strategies in the digital age are in high demand as the pace of change in the K-12 market quickens.
Key Contacts for K-12 Companies: District Professional Development Directors
Administrators With Experience Leading Training Talk About What They Want From Vendors

District staff from the Denver and Hillsborough County, Fla., schools want specific information about how PD products pitched to them will improve the work of teachers.
Lessons for How Companies Can Help Teachers Use Assessments More Effectively
Educators Need a Higher Level of 'Usable Output' From Tests, District Leader Says

Effective PD can boost teachers’ understanding of links between assessment and effective instruction, a recent pilot study suggests.
An Inside Look at the Federal Title I Program, and How School Districts Spend Money
Ed. Providers Should Study K-12 Systems' Plans, and Understand the Flexibility the Law Allows

K-12 systems have more flexibility to spend federal Title I dollars than they might think, and vendors should understand what’s possible.
The Art of the Follow-Up: Closing the Deal After a Conference
How to Avoid Common Mistakes That Turn Into Missed Opportunities

More than 80 percent of sales leads generated at trade shows are not effectively followed up, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
Districts Form ‘Clusters’ to Pump Up Purchasing Power in K-12 Marketplace
Networks Aim for Faster Buying Decisions and More Feedback for Education Companies

Small school districts are banding together into “clusters” to pump up their purchasing power, establish faster buying decisions, and provide useful feedback to education companies.