In 1986, the Stratford Foundation Inc. was formed with the goal of becoming a valuable educational resource for the community. This ambition was realized in 1988 when Stratford opened the Commonwealth Learning Center, in Needham MA, and began providing 1-to-1 academic support to individuals of all ages. 

In 1992, Stratford established the Professional Training Institute, which offers research-based, in-person professional development programs designed to help teachers and specialists meet the needs of students who require systematic and multisensory learning approaches.

But as we entered the 21^st century, our world became interconnected like never before. Stratford realized the importance of moving beyond their backyard to reach educators across the country that struggle to engage in rigorous professional development under demanding schedules. And thus, in 2010, CLOI, the Commonwealth Learning Online Institute, was formed.

The industry learning curve was steep. Presentation of online content required tools and knowledge unlike teaching in a brick and mortar style. CLOI’s course development began by teaming with an educational organization already vetted in the industry. This organization partnered with us to create our first six core reading facilitated courses.

Once these initial courses were developed, the search began for university partners to offer graduate credit for our clients. Gordon College came on board, and in 2012 our first six courses went public.

As this first year passed, we found it essential to host our own course platform to enhance the learning experience for our educators. After much dedicated research, we acquired our Moodle LMS Platform. Since these early days we have increased our offerings and university partners to meet the needs of educators nationwide. Today our program includes both self-paced and facilitated courses, and our credit offering institutions have expanded to include Gordon College, Westfield State University, and MidAmerica Nazarene University.

After nearly a decade, our commitment to being a valuable professional development resource for the community is stronger than ever, and we work towards this everyday by providing exceptional learning for educators across the country. Read some testimonials.