Sylvan Learning is offering its franchisees relief options, including fee deferral, amid the pandemic. The supplemental education franchise is also offering online learning resources for families amid coronavirus restrictions.
Sylvan announced a $2.5 million royalty and fee deferral program for pandemic affected franchisees. Amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Sylvan franchisees pivoted their business delivery to be exclusively online. The company is offering the deferral to ensure franchisees focus on providing families educational support.
“It’s been a difficult time for families, in particular those with school-age children, and small business entrepreneurs. The families who rely on Sylvan for their children’s supplemental education have had their educational lives turned upside down with the closure of many schools,” said John McAuliffe , CEO of Sylvan Learning. “These families are looking for solutions that allow them to continue to learn at home and to also continue to receive the supplemental education they were receiving from Sylvan. Our franchise owners have risen to the occasion by quickly pivoting to online delivery and providing support to families and their fellow franchisees during this uncertain time.”
Technology Shifts
Sylvan has been focusing attention to technology-based learning for some time. In June 2018 , the brand launched Sylvan Nation, a free online education portal. The resource offers educational support tips, worksheets, a teacher resource section and educational videos. Students can also access workbooks online through Random House.
When many centers had to close, the vast majority of Sylvan franchisees pivoted to live, teacher-led online instruction. Sylvan offers the classes through its proprietary technology platform SylvanSync. The company has also repurposed its remaining paper-based content to be delivered online. Centers are able to offer teacher led, online small group instruction based on grade and subject to further address needs.
The pandemic also fast-tracked Sylvan’s proprietary tutoring marketplace. The program allows parents to easily schedule both in-home and online tutoring. The marketplace was piloted in Baltimore and D.C. area and will now be expanded to other parts of North America .
“The Sylvan Learning system is stronger, more nimble and more united than ever. We have ramped up our already strong training in online education, local marketing and technology for our franchise owners and expanded our reach for families and students,” said McAuliffe. “We are confident we will exit this situation as a company that has transformed itself to better serve every family’s educational needs in the most convenient way, whether they prefer in-center, in-home or online delivery.”
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