Foundations in Learning, a Coralville-based education technology company founded by two University of Iowa professors, aims to close the reading deficiency gap that is holding back millions of students nationwide. It took 10 years and thousands of hours of research and development for the company to bring its cloud-based assessment and intervention system for struggling readers in grades 2-12 to market, the Corridor Business Journal reported. With the launch of its Foundations Learning System and a new CEO, the company will be building strategic alliances with other companies and attending and presenting at conferences where it can reach influencers in the education community. About 51 million students in the United States are not reading at the proficient level for their grade, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The company’s curriculum is currently being used in California, Nevada, Missouri, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, including longer-term pilot programs in Texas and Iowa.