Skip to content The Best Investment You'll Make All Year
Affordable Pricing. Lasting Results.
All-in-One Learning for K–6 — Reading, Math, ELL, Science & More
💡 Why pay more for programs that do less? Essential Skills gives you full access to proven curriculum — for a fraction of the price.
CLASSROOM LICENSE
Ideal for classrooms, intervention & specialists$299/year – All Subjects
- Up to 35 students
- Full access to Reading, Math, Science, Geography & ELL
- Assessments adapt instruction to each student’s needs
- Easy logins from home or school
- Teacher dashboard with real-time data
- Includes full access to all Essential Skills programs — View full program list
SCHOOL LICENSE
A complete solution for your entire school$599/year – All Subjects
- Unlimited students and teachers
- Covers all classrooms and support staff
- Full access to all content and reporting
- Assessments adapt instruction to each student’s needs
- Easy onboarding – most schools set up in under an hour
- Includes full access to all Essential Skills programs — View full program list
DISTRICT LICENSE
Flexible pricing for districts of any sizeStarting at $1,198/year – All Subjects
- Unlimited access for every licensed school
- District-level admin dashboard and reporting
- Scalable pricing based on number of sites
- Assessments adapt instruction to each student’s needs
- Simple, district-wide onboarding with Clever or custom rostering
- Includes full access to all Essential Skills programs — View full program list
Already have approval? Ready to purchase online?
Complete your purchase today and get immediate access to all programs.
Have a question? Check out our helpful FAQ section, or contact us — we’ll get back to you ASAP!
See measurable student gains — or your money back.
We stand behind our programs. If your students don’t show measurable progress in 6 months, we’ll refund your subscription — no questions asked.
Just use the program 2–3 times per week for 20–30 minutes per session, and track progress using our built-in reports.
We believe in results, and we’re putting that belief in writing.
All-in-One Learning for K–6 — Reading, Math, ELL, Science & More
Try it free for 14 days — no credit card, no pressure. Just results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve got answers.
Use the tabs below to browse FAQs by topic — from what’s included to how to get started.
Still have questions? Contact us or give us a call at 1-800-753-3727 — we’re always happy to help!
Everything included with your subscription — plus why it’s such a smart investment for your school.
What subjects and programs are included?
Every subscription includes full access to our complete library of research-based programs — covering K–6 Reading and Math, K–3 Science, Grades 3–6 Geography, and English Language Learning.
You’ll get everything listed on our Products page, including over 70 comprehensive titles. Click any title to explore the content and view Scope & Sequence documents for a full breakdown of skills taught.
Will this work for my students?
Yes. Essential Skills has been trusted in over 6,000 schools and is proven to improve outcomes for all learners — especially Special Ed, remedial, and ELL students.
Do I need to buy separate licenses for each subject?
No. Every plan includes access to all Essential Skills subjects: reading, math, ELL, science, and geography. You don’t pay more to unlock content — it’s all included from day one.
Are there any hidden fees?
No hidden fees, no upsells, and no ads — just full access to every Essential Skills program, all for one low price.
Full Clever integration is available for free through the Clever Library. This option does require users to enter a one-time license code — but did we mention it’s FREE?
For schools that prefer automated rostering with no license code entry, we offer Clever Secure Sync for $240 per school. This cost simply covers the third-party fees we’re charged by Clever.
Is there advertising in the programs?
Nope — there are no ads, upsells, or distractions of any kind in Essential Skills. Just focused, research-based instruction.
Why is this such a good deal?
We know budgets are tight and funding can be unpredictable — so we’ve simplified our pricing to make high-quality, research-based tools accessible to every school. Every subscription includes full access to all programs for one affordable price. There are no hidden fees for content or features — everything you see is included.
Optional services like Clever Secure Sync are available for schools that need them, with pricing disclosed upfront.
Do you offer volume discounts for districts?
Not typically. Given the already low pricing of our subscriptions, we don’t usually offer volume discounts — especially for orders under 10 schools. That said, we’re always happy to review larger requests on a case-by-case basis.
We do offer multi-year discounts on school and district licenses:
10% off for a 2-year commitment
15% off for a 3-year commitment
Please note: Multi-year discounts are not available for classroom licenses.
How to set up, log in, and start using Essential Skills with your students
How easy is it to get started?
Super easy. Most schools are up and running in under an hour — no IT required.
Is there a usage limit?
None. Students can log in from anywhere, anytime — including home.
Can students access the programs from home?
Yes! Students can log in from any device, anywhere — perfect for at-home reinforcement or homework support.
Can I preview the program before purchasing?
Yes! You can try Essential Skills free for 14 days — no credit card required. Use this time to explore all features and see how our programs support your students. Start your free trial today.
Can I purchase online or do I need a quote first?
You can do either! Youcan purchase online using a credit card, or request a quote if you need purchase approval. During checkout, you can also choose the invoice option instead of paying upfront.
Do you accept purchase orders (POs)?
Yes! We accept school purchase orders — but they’re not required. You can also complete your order online with a credit card or choose the invoice option at checkout to pay later.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept a variety of payment methods to make the process easy for schools and districts:
Purchase Orders (POs): Subscriptions can be invoiced upon receipt of a valid PO.
Checks: Payable to Essential Skills Software Inc.
Credit Cards: We accept all major credit cards.
ACH/EFT Payments: Secure electronic payment details are available upon request.
If you have specific billing requirements or need a W-9 form, just let us know — we’re happy to help.
Can schools sign up using Clever?
Absolutely. We offer two integration options for Clever users:
Clever Library (Free): Teachers can connect their classes to Essential Skills through our Clever page, then enter an activation code we provide to unlock their subscription. Rostering is set up per class by the teacher. For classroom licenses and even most single schools, this option is simple, quick, and free.
Clever Secure Sync Rostering ($199 per school): For larger schools or districts with many teachers and classes, we offer Clever Secure Sync. This option automatically creates and updates classes, teachers, and students directly from your SIS — no license codes required. Clever charges publishers $240 per school for this service, and we pass along a reduced rate of $199 per school.
In short, Library is the best fit for most schools, while Secure Sync is designed for districts and bigger implementations where automation makes the most sense.
Need help choosing the right option? Contact us and we’ll walk you through the setup.
What’s the difference between Clever Library and Secure Sync?
Both options allow Clever users to access Essential Skills — the main difference is in how the subscription is activated:
Clever Library (Free): Teachers add the Essential Skills app from the Clever Library and enter a one-time activation code we provide. It’s quick and easy, especially for individual classrooms or small schools. For larger schools or districts, each teacher will need to enter the code — still simple, but a small extra step.
Secure Sync ($240 per school): With Secure Sync, there’s no need for activation codes. Clever handles rostering and access automatically. This option is ideal for districts with multiple schools who prefer a fully hands-off setup.
Most schools choose Clever Library to avoid extra cost, but larger schools and districts may prefer Secure Sync for convenience.
How our programs support evidence-based instruction, individualized learning, and measurable progress.
Are your programs aligned with the Science of Reading?
Yes. Essential Skills reading programs are built on the foundational principles of the Science of Reading. Our instruction is explicit, systematic, and phonics-based — with a strong focus on phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.
We’ve been supporting research-backed reading instruction for over 20 years — long before it became a buzzword — and our programs are designed to help all students master the essential building blocks of literacy.
How are the programs individualized for each student?
Most Essential Skills programs include a built-in pretest that automatically creates an individualized learning path. The pretest evaluates each skill in the program and assigns only the areas where students need support — targeting instruction efficiently.
Do the programs include assessment?
Yes — most Essential Skills programs include built-in assessments to support individualized instruction and measure student progress.
Do the programs support different learning styles?
Yes. Every Essential Skills program includes a blend of auditory, visual, and tactile (typing-based) activities to support a wide range of learning styles. This multisensory approach helps ensure students stay engaged and are more likely to retain what they learn — whether they’re strong listeners, visual learners, or benefit from hands-on interaction.
Does Essential Skills provide reporting tools to track student progress?
Yes — Essential Skills offers a full suite of detailed reports designed to help you monitor student performance and guide instruction.
From your Teacher Dashboard, you’ll have access to:
- Skill Reports: Track student performance by individual skill.
- Activity Reports: See results for every activity a student completes.
- Unit Reports: Get a summary of performance by unit.
- Pre- and Post-Test Reports: Measure student growth over time.
- Mastery Reports: See which activities have been mastered based on customizable criteria (default: 80%).
- Hot Spot Reports: Identify areas where students are struggling. These reports flag activities attempted three times without mastery, showing average score, time spent, and progress.
These reports are included in the paid version of Essential Skills. The Free Phonics Program includes only a basic progress report.
Can I track student progress over time?
Yes. In addition to the pretest, most programs include a cumulative posttest to demonstrate progress. Teachers can track both pre- and posttest results to monitor student growth and guide instruction.
What’s the catch with your guarantee?
No catch — just consistent use. If your students use the program 2–3 times per week for at least 20–30 minutes per session and don’t show measurable gains in 6 months, we’ll refund your subscription.
To track progress, run students through the built-in pretest at the start, and follow up with one or more posttests over the 6-month period. These results demonstrate growth and ensure instruction is personalized.
Built-in tools that make planning, practice, and student motivation easier
What is the Spelling List Editor?
The Spelling List Editor (also called the Spelling List Builder) is included with every subscription. Choose from hundreds of premade lists or create your own — the app auto-generates 10 interactive spelling activities using text-to-speech support. It’s a fast and effective way to personalize spelling instruction.
What programs include auditory support in other languages?
All six titles in our Complete ELL bundle include optional auditory support in 12 languages — including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and more. These tools are ideal for multilingual learners.
Do you have programs for older remedial students?
Yes. Our High-Low Reader series was designed for struggling readers in grades 4–10. These programs feature high-interest stories written at accessible reading levels (2.0–5.0) and include vocabulary and comprehension support.
What is Mad Minute Math?
Mad Minute Math is a timed, adaptive math facts program that builds fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As students progress, the difficulty adjusts automatically, providing individualized skill mastery in just minutes a day.
What are Magies?
Magies are fun, interactive characters students hatch and evolve as they complete activities. Each Magie has four evolution stages and serves as a motivational reward system to keep students engaged and excited about learning.