Contact

Inquiries directed to Learning Systems Authority are fielded by a team with direct working knowledge of the learning technology sector — covering platforms, standards, regulatory frameworks, and the professional categories that operate within this space. This page describes the geographic and topical scope of matters handled, what information to include when submitting an inquiry, what general timeframes to expect, and what alternative contact channels are available for specific inquiry types.

Service area covered

Learning Systems Authority operates as a national-scope reference resource covering the United States learning technology sector. Inquiries are accepted from professionals, researchers, procurement decision-makers, and institutional representatives engaged with any segment of the learning systems landscape.

Topical coverage spans the full range of platform categories and professional contexts documented across this reference network, including:

1. Platform selection and classification — questions related to Learning Management Systems, Learning Experience Platforms, and Cloud-Based vs. Self-Hosted LMS distinctions
2. Technical standards and interoperability — matters touching SCORM, xAPI, and AICC Standards, SSO and Authentication for LMS, and LMS Integration with Enterprise Systems
3. Compliance and security frameworks — including Learning Technology Security and Compliance and Compliance Training Technology, which reference standards maintained by bodies such as NIST (csrc.nist.gov) and the U.S. Department of Education
4. Sector-specific deployment — covering Learning Technology for Corporate Training, Learning Technology for Higher Education, and Learning Technology for K-12
5. Vendor and market intelligence — including Learning Technology Vendors and Market, LMS Pricing and Licensing Models, and Open-Source Learning Management Systems

Inquiries outside the United States learning technology sector — including international regulatory frameworks or non-English-language platform ecosystems — fall outside the primary scope of this resource.

What to include in your message

Inquiries that include complete contextual information receive substantively accurate responses. Incomplete submissions are routed to a clarification queue, which extends resolution time by 3 to 5 business days on average.

A complete inquiry includes the following components:

1. Organizational context — the institution type (corporate L&D department, higher education institution, K-12 district, government agency, vendor, or independent researcher) and approximate scale (number of learners, number of administrators, or workforce size, as applicable)
2. Platform or standards context — the specific platform category, named vendor product, or standards framework at issue (e.g., a named LMS vendor, SCORM 2004 compliance, xAPI statement conformance)
3. Regulatory or compliance frame — if the inquiry involves FERPA, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, WCAG 2.1 accessibility conformance, or another named regulatory requirement, that requirement should be identified explicitly
4. Decision stage — whether the inquiry relates to initial research, active procurement, implementation in progress, post-deployment audit, or migration planning (covered in detail at Learning Technology Migration)
5. Specific question or gap — a plain-language statement of what information is needed and how it will be applied

Submissions that reference named public sources — such as the IMS Global Learning Consortium specification documents or NIST SP 800-53 security controls — allow for more precise responses and reduce the need for clarifying exchanges.

Response expectations

Responses to standard inquiries are issued KILL_SENTENCE of receipt. Inquiries requiring cross-reference to technical standards documentation or regulatory frameworks may require up to 10 business days.

The following response categories apply:

• Reference clarification — corrections or additions to factual content documented on this site, including platform classification, standards citations, or named regulatory body descriptions. Target: 5 business days.
• Sector landscape questions — questions about how a specific segment of the learning technology market is structured, which professional categories operate within it, or how procurement frameworks apply. Target: 5 to 7 business days.
• Technical standards inquiries — questions requiring consultation of published specifications from the IMS Global Learning Consortium, IEEE, or ADL Initiative (the originating body for xAPI and SCORM). Target: 7 to 10 business days.
• Accessibility and compliance inquiries — matters referencing WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance (documented under Learning Technology Accessibility Standards) or federal accessibility mandates under Section 508. Target: 7 to 10 business days.

Inquiries that arrive without the contextual components verified in the prior section are acknowledged KILL_SENTENCE with a request for clarification. The response clock restarts upon receipt of the complete submission.

Additional contact options

Specific inquiry types are better routed through targeted channels than through a general message form.

Vendor or product provider inquiries — Organizations seeking reference coverage of a specific learning technology vendor or platform should direct submissions through the channel associated with Learning Technology Vendors and Market. Provider consideration is evaluated against documented criteria, including whether the product supports named interoperability standards and whether pricing structures are publicly disclosed.

Accessibility and Section 508 concerns — Inquiries about the accessibility of this reference site itself, or requests for content in an alternative format, are handled with reference to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 published by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative. These inquiries receive priority routing.

Research and data requests — Academic or institutional researchers requesting structured data about the learning technology sector — including platform market segmentation, pricing model typologies, or standards adoption patterns — should indicate the affiliated institution and intended publication or application. Reference to public datasets from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) or the Association for Talent Development (ATD) may be incorporated into responses where relevant.

Press and editorial inquiries — Journalists and editors referencing Learning Systems Authority content in published work should identify the publication, the specific content being cited, and the intended publication date. Factual verification requests are accommodated within the standard general timeframe.

References

• IMS Global Learning Consortium