Popular kids brand files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Educators have long argued about the place of video in education.

Some students, most would agree, learn visually and retain more information when they see something on a screen than through reading or a teacher's lecture.

Educators agree that video and other forms of teaching have their place in schools.

There's one skill, however, that Culatta believes lies at the core of all learning.

“It would be hard to find any skill, other than reading, that would be more important to make sure that our students have when they graduate than a grounded understanding of how to thrive in a digital world,” Richard Culatta, the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or ISTE+ASCD told Education Week.

Video content, and digital media overall, can be both powerful educational tools and sources of misinformation, so students must learn how to be savvy consumers of all digital media, a new report from the American Psychological Association shared.

Conscious Content Media, which operates under the Begin Learning name, was trying to help kids learn in hands-on alternative ways from traditional classroom teaching. The company may still be able to do that, but it recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Conscious Content/Begin Learning files for bankruptcy

The company, Conscious Content Media, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. 17. It reported between $100 and $500 million in both assets and liabilities, Bloomberg Law reported.

"The filing seeks to implement a pre-negotiated restructuring pursuant to a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) that will eliminate approximately $106.5 million in funded debt and provide at least $20 million in new capital," Bondoro reported.

Under the agreement, Begin Learning's brands will continue to operate.

"The company, which owns brands including HOMER, codeSpark, and Little Passports, faced liquidity constraints after failing to secure Series E financing due to the inability to obtain unanimous consent from unsecured noteholders for an out-of-court restructuring. To fund the cases, the debtors have secured a commitment for a $10 million DIP facility led by [212]Media, LLC," according to Bondoro.

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The company shared how its products are supposed to help kids learn.

"Begin's play-based learning programs are designed to support and celebrate personal growth in a whole new way. Learn about our modern take on developmental milestones and why they matter to every child's well-being," the company shared on its website.

Begin uses non-linear learning

"Most learning programs focus heavily on traditional academic skills, like reading or math. Many also treat learning as a linear, sequential, one-size-fits-all experience," the company explained. "At Begin, we challenge the culture of comparison and achievement, because we know kids are multidimensional.

• The company designs all-encompassing learning programs that focus on both traditional skills and those that can predict future success, like creativity and curiosity.
• Its milestones give families permission to prioritize progress over perfection and celebrate every moment in a child’s unique learning journey.

Conscious Content Media/Begin Learning Chapter 11 bankruptcy: Key points

• Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on December 17, 2025, under case number 25-12231, according to the Bankruptcy Observer.
• The filing appears to be a voluntary Chapter 11 filing, meaning the company initiated the process itself rather than being forced into bankruptcy by creditors, added Bankruptcy Observer.
• Estimated assets and liabilities were both in the $100 million to $500 million range, according to Bloomberg Law’s reporting on the case, according to Bloomberg Law.
• The bankruptcy documentation confirms the official court filing, but details about the company’s operations, debt structure, and plan of reorganization have not yet been publicly disclosed, according to PacerMonitor.
• Conscious Content Media Inc. is being monitored in federal bankruptcy records, but no public announcement of layoffs, closures, or creditor outcomes has yet been reported.
• The Chapter 11 filing suggests the company is seeking restructuring rather than immediate liquidation, a common move to reorganize debts and potentially continue operations under bankruptcy protection, reported Bankruptcy Observer.
• No funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors after administrative expenses are paid, according to Bondoro.

"Chapter 11 is a great tool for reorganizing a business, but it can become very costly in situations when disputes and litigation are allowed to bog down a case," Joe Luzinski, a restructuring advisor at Development Specialists Inc. told Reuters. "It takes a lot of money to go broke."

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