Sylvan's Acquisition of Firm Bolsters Place in Market

Sylvan Learning Systems Inc. last week acquired the National Education Corp., bolstering Sylvan's leading position in the fast-growing market for supplemental education services such as distance learning and tutoring.

Sylvan, based in Baltimore, is best known for its hundreds of supplemental-learning centers in shopping malls and public schools, as well as a growing business in job-related certification tests.

National Education, based in Irvine, Calif., has two divisions that focus on postsecondary distance learning and educational products. It also holds a majority stake in a publisher...