Academic Learning Company, LLC traces its roots as an academic and educational publisher to D. Appleton & Company (Boston, 1813) which later became Appleton Century Crofts (New York). Appleton Century Crofts was the American publisher of the two-volume New Century Dictionary and New Century Encyclopedia, the premier reference materials in the 19th century. In the 1970's, Appleton Century Croft was sold to Meredith Publishing. Later, in 1974 Charles Walther purchased the New Century division from Meredith in an early management buyout. In 1981, New Century acquired Follett Publishing and Winchester Press in 1982. In 1990, Frank Gil purchased New Century Publishing and changed the company name to New Win Publishing Inc. In November 2003, Academic Learning Company, LLC from California acquired New Win Publishing Inc.'s assets and divided New Win Publishing into two divisions. Velázquez Press is the educational publishing division focused on publishing reference and educational books for schools. New Win Publishing has three imprints:Winchester Press, WBusiness Books, and ZHealth Books. Winchester Press publishes outdoor, fishing, and craft books. WBusiness Books publishes books of interest to the business community. ZHealth Books publishes health and diet books. Academic Learning Company also started a new division, Vela Media, in 2005 to provide premier content for print media. In 2010, Academic Learning Company, LLC realigned its mission with the Seal of Biliteracy movement. ALC focuses on developing products, programs, services and technology to ensure education equity and closing the achievement gap for English learners and/or minority students.