ELL & World Studies Platform · Grades K–5

Cengage / Our World

English language learning and world studies curriculum — Our World series for elementary students

Owned by: Cengage Group — Post-bankruptcy; backed by former creditors including KKR and Apax Partners

K–5
Grade range at LMSD
Our World series
NatGeo Learning division
Post-bankruptcy
Former creditors as current owners
ELL focus
English language learner support

Cengage is a major educational publisher whose National Geographic Learning division produces the Our World series — a world studies and ELL (English Language Learner) curriculum used in LMSD elementary grades. Cengage went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013, and its current ownership structure reflects its former creditors, including firms KKR and Apax Partners. Cengage also operates the MindTap and WebAssign digital platforms. For elementary students, the Our World series combines world cultures content with ELL supports — a genuinely curriculum-valuable combination.

The Full Picture

The Good

  • National Geographic Learning content (Our World series) is high quality — NatGeo photography and world cultures content is genuinely engaging for elementary students
  • Strong ELL support features make this valuable for English language learners in the district
  • World studies focus builds geography, cultures, and global awareness in developmentally appropriate ways
  • Physical print materials are available alongside digital — not screen-only
  • Content quality from the National Geographic Learning brand is among the highest in the elementary curriculum market

The Bad

  • Cengage's post-bankruptcy ownership is opaque — firm creditors (KKR, Apax) have financial interests in the company's data assets
  • Digital platforms collect student engagement data even for elementary students as young as kindergarten
  • License-based model means annual subscription costs for content that was previously purchased as physical books
  • Complex ownership structure makes it harder for parents and districts to understand who ultimately controls student data

The Worse

  • Cengage's 2019 merger attempt with McGraw-Hill was blocked by the DOJ — monopoly concerns in educational publishing are real and ongoing
  • Firm-adjacent ownership means data governance decisions are made with financial returns in mind, not student welfare
  • Elementary students' data — even reading engagement data — is sensitive; the youngest students at LMSD deserve the strongest protections
  • Cengage has significant higher-education digital products (MindTap, WebAssign); the K–12 student data pipeline could potentially inform higher-ed product targeting

Privacy Deep-Dive

Ownership

Post-bankruptcy; former creditors including KKR (PE) and Apax Partners (PE) hold significant stakes

Division

Our World is published by National Geographic Learning, a Cengage division

Data Collected

Student login, curriculum interactions, reading progress, assessment scores — per elementary student

FERPA

Cengage acts as school official for district-licensed digital products; DPA required

Print Option

Our World is available in physical print — districts can choose physical-first with digital supplement

Data Sharing

Data shared with sub-processors; not sold per current policy; firm owner financial interest is indirect

Ownership complexity: Cengage emerged from bankruptcy with firm creditors as major stakeholders. While not a traditional firm acquisition, financial investors with typical firm return expectations hold significant ownership. Ask LMSD for the current DPA and confirm whether digital or physical materials are the primary delivery method for elementary students.

What It Replaces in the Classroom

Digital Our World lesson on Chromebook
↓ on a screen
Physical Our World textbook with teacher-led discussion and real NatGeo maps and photographs
Digital ELL activity
↓ on a screen
Small-group instruction with physical materials and teacher interaction
Online world studies content
↓ on a screen
Library books about world cultures, physical globes, and classroom discussion
Digital reading exercises
↓ on a screen
Physical leveled readers with pencil annotation and read-alouds

Questions for the District

Does LMSD primarily use Cengage Our World in print or digital format for elementary students?
Who are Cengage's current major shareholders, and does LMSD's DPA address data governance under firm-adjacent ownership?
What specific data does Cengage collect on elementary students using digital Our World platforms?
Has LMSD reviewed the implications of Cengage's ownership structure for student data security?

Sources

  • Cengage Privacy Policy — cengage.com/privacy
  • National Geographic Learning — ngl.cengage.com
  • DOJ blocks Cengage/McGraw-Hill merger (2020) — U.S. Department of Justice.
  • LMSD COPPA Vendor List — lmsd.org

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