Quill.org
American educational website
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Quill.org is an American nonprofit educational technology organization.
History
The organization was cofounded by Peter Gault in 2012.[1] Its approach was inspired by "The Writing Revolution", published in The Atlantic by Peg Tyre, which outlined a writing methodology based on sentence-level writing.[2] It first received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013.[3] Under the name Empirical Resolution Inc., Quill.org received tax-exempt status in 2014.[4] It was part of the 2015 cohort of tech nonprofits in Fast Forward,[1] and also participated in accelerator programs with LearnLaunch and the Edwin Gould Foundation.[5]
In 2018, Quill.org developed writing and assessment tools using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the Google AI For Social Good Impact Challenge.[1] It initially used predictive artificial intelligence, but later switched to generative artificial intelligence.[6] In 2023, Quill.org and CommonLit launched AIWritingCheck.org, a tool for detecting AI-generated text in student essays.[7][8]
Products
Quill.org's aim is to support reading, writing, and critical thinking development in grades 3–12.[6] Quill.org has a library of free online activities. Teachers, schools, or school districts must pay for advanced features like detailed student diagnostic reports.[9][10] Its activities are aligned with the Common Core English standards[11] and intended to supplement regular classroom instruction.[6] Its learning tools incorporate AI-based coaching for students.[12][13]
Operations
Quill.org is designated a 501(c)(3).[4] As of 2024[update], it had received grants of $2.2 million from the Overdeck Family Foundation, nearly $2 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, $1.3 million from Google.org, and $750,000 from the Patrick McGovern Foundation.[1] Quill.org reported revenues of $6.96 million and expenses of $5.2 million in 2024.[4]
The executive director is co-founder Peter Gault.[4] It is headquartered in New York City.[4] Quill.org's Generative AI Playbook outlines its use of AI. Components include a Teacher Advisory Council, which reviews writing prompts, and a group of curriculum developers who evaluate student responses.[6][14]
Usage
Quill.org saw a significant surge in usage with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns in the United States, with over a million signups in six weeks.[15] As of 2023, it was "one of the top four nonprofit literacy tools in the U.S", having served over 8 million students.[16] A 2025 report by Project Evident stated that Quill serves 10% of schools in the US, including around 3 million students per year, and "providing 40 million hours of free tutoring to date."[6]
Research
In 2023, a randomized controlled trial conducted by the College Board concluded that secondary students using Quill Connect had improved scores on sentence combination compared to a control group.[17] A 2025 study by Leanlab Education of more than 100,000 students found "meaningful improvements in sentence-level writing skills."[18]
Awards
- World's Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company, 2018[19]
- Project Innovation winner, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, 2019[20]