Kentucky Educational Development

What Kentucky Educational Development does

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC), founded in 1965, is the oldest and largest educational cooperative in Kentucky, operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Ashland, KY with a satellite office in Lexington. It serves 81 Kentucky school districts representing 597 schools, 21,725 teachers, and 368,932 students through a portfolio of shared services including instructional support, special education services (via the SERTAC program), grant acquisition and management, technology services, and cooperative purchasing through its PurchasePros subsidiary. PurchasePros extends KEDC's reach to over 1,000 member organizations across 20 states via group purchasing contracts.

KEDC's product portfolio includes two notable AI-enabled offerings: the AI Rolling Lab, a first-of-its-kind mobile classroom delivering hands-on AI experiences to grades 3-5; and Lenses on Literature, an ELA curriculum supported by a $12.1 million federal EIR Expansion Grant and delivered in partnership with Carnegie Learning across 120 schools in Florida, Kentucky, and Maine. Other products include New Horizons Academy (online alternative education), Critical Incident Mapping school safety solutions (delivered via PurchasePros partnerships with Critical Response Group and nSide), the KEDC Podcast, and an annual AI Summit conference. Under CEO Nancy Hutchinson (since July 2012), KEDC has expanded its services, opened the Lexington office, and built national profile through AESA leadership and U.S. Senate recognition of its AI-in-K-12 work.

KEDC's revenue mechanics combine recurring membership service fees, cooperative purchasing transaction fees (PurchasePros), federal and state grants, and event registration fees (e.g., $150 member / $250 non-member AI Summit pricing). The organization employs 101–250 staff and is governed by an Executive Board chaired by Dr. Carrie Ballinger. Recent growth has been driven by multi-state grant wins, AI product launches, and strategic partnerships spanning AI curriculum, AI safety, and school safety infrastructure.

Name

Kentucky Educational Development

Legal name

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation

Website

https://kedc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) is a 1965-founded non-profit educational cooperative serving 81 Kentucky school districts (597 schools, 368,932 students) and 1,000+ organizations across 20 states through instructional services, cooperative purchasing (PurchasePros), grant management, and AI-enabled products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Cooperative Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL), Social Studies & Civics Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAI)

Keywords

• Educational cooperative services
• Professional development training
• Cooperative purchasing program
• K-12 instructional services
• Special education support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Cooperative Purchasing (PurchasePros): KEDC operates PurchasePros, a cooperative purchasing program that provides cost-effective procurement services to member organizations. The program offers group purchasing power to access discounted pricing on goods and services. Members benefit from lower pricing through collective buying.
2. Membership Services: KEDC provides shared services, professional learning, grants management, and innovative programs to 81 member school districts. Revenue comes from service fees for instructional support, special education services, technology services, and other cooperative programs.
3. Federal and State Grants: KEDC secures federal grants including the $12.1 million EIR Expansion Grant for Lenses on Literature literacy program. Grant funding supports program implementation, evaluation, and expansion across multiple states.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) is an educational cooperative providing shared services to 81 Kentucky school districts representing 597 schools, 21,725 teachers, and 368,932 students. Its core offerings span instructional services, special education support, grants management, technology engineering, and cooperative purchasing through its PurchasePros program. The organization also delivers innovative programs including the AI Rolling Lab mobile classroom, the Lenses on Literature ELA curriculum, and the annual AI Summit.

Product overview

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) is an educational cooperative offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified product platform. The core offerings include the AI Rolling Lab, a first-of-its-kind mobile AI learning experience for grades 3-5, and Lenses on Literature, an ELA curriculum enhanced through partnership with Carnegie Learning and supported by a $12.1M federal grant. KEDC provides services through five main channels: Instructional Services (professional learning, AI integration, literacy, math coaching), Special Education Services (SERTAC, behavior support), Grants (federal grant acquisition and management), Technology Services (telecommunications, network, security solutions), and the PurchasePros cooperative purchasing program serving 1,000+ members across 20 states. Additional offerings include New Horizons Academy (alternative online education), the KEDC Podcast, annual AI Summit conferences, Critical Incident Mapping school safety solutions, and professional learning cohorts for Multi-Language Learners and Chronic Absenteeism. KEDC serves 81 Kentucky school districts, 597 schools, 21,725 teachers, and 368,932 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEDC AI Summit: Annual conference designed to empower educators with knowledge and tools to harness artificial intelligence in K-12 education
• KEDC Podcast
• AI Rolling Lab
• KEDC SERTAC
• PurchasePros

Products and services

• AI Rolling Lab A first-of-its-kind mobile AI learning lab that transforms a modern mobile classroom into an immersive, hands-on AI experience for grades 3-5. Features interactive stations with AI-enabled robot, weather globe, creative media tools, and guided activities demonstrating AI for problem-solving, career exploration, and digital literacy.
• Lenses on Literature Innovative secondary ELA curriculum designed to help students become stronger readers, writers, and critical thinkers. Encourages students to read meaningful grade-level texts, think deeply, and express ideas clearly through writing and discussion. Supported by a $12.1M federal EIR Expansion grant and partnership with Carnegie Learning.
• PurchasePros Cooperative Purchasing Cooperative purchasing program doing business as KEDC. One of the nation's largest educational cooperatives, providing cost-effective procurement services. Serves over 1,000 member organizations in 20 states through group purchasing power for innovative products and services.
• Instructional Services Professional learning and instructional support services for Kentucky school districts, including AI integration, literacy instruction, mathematics coaching, project-based learning, and visible learning programs.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education support services for member districts including SERTAC (Special Education Regional Training and Assistance Center), paraprofessional training, behavior support programs, and alternatives to suspension training.
• Grants Management Services Grant acquisition and management services including federal EIR grants, USDA rural development grants, and partnership facilitation for member districts seeking external funding.
• Technology Services Technology engineering and support including telecommunication solutions, network solutions, security solutions, and custom technology implementations for Kentucky schools.
• New Horizons Academy Online educational program providing high-quality, engaging educational resources in a supportive innovative learning environment for students needing alternative educational pathways.
• AI Summit Conference Annual conference bringing together teachers, administrators, and education leaders to explore how AI is transforming K-12 education. Features keynote speakers, AI-powered vendor hall, and hands-on experiences with cutting-edge technology including KEDC's Mobile AI Lab. Registration: $150 for KEDC members, $250 non-members.
• Critical Incident Mapping School safety solution delivered through PurchasePros partnership with Critical Response Group (CRG) and nSide. Provides field-verified digital maps, standardized safety labeling, real-time data integration, and mobile-ready files for law enforcement, fire, and EMS during emergencies.
• KEDC Podcast Podcast platform featuring timely conversations from educators and important partners to increase knowledge, provide inspiration, and share updates on programs accessible to KEDC member districts.
• Multi-Language Learners Cohort Professional learning cohort designed for teams of educators working with English language learners. Provides resources and strategies for helping MLL students achieve academic success.
• Combating Chronic Absenteeism Network Networking opportunity for school and district leaders to address attendance challenges. Includes four meetings during school year, professional text resources, and collaborative work time.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lenses on Literature program shows up to two years of literacy growth in a single school year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 June 2026KEDC partnered with KHSAA to host a Flood Relief Donation Drive for Kentucky families, collecting donations at KHSAA Headquarters in Lexington.
• EDSAFE AI AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026KEDC partners with EDSAFE AI Alliance as part of Kentucky's work to expand equitable access to AI learning opportunities. This partnership was recognized in U.S. Senate testimony on the future of K-12 education in the age of AI.
• Carnegie LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026KEDC partners with Carnegie Learning on a five-year Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Expansion grant to implement and evaluate Lenses on Literature, a secondary ELA curriculum, at scale across approximately 120 middle schools. The project involves a randomized controlled trial evaluating curriculum impact on student engagement, reading and writing performance, and standardized assessment outcomes.
• Maine Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026KEDC partners with Maine Department of Education as part of the EIR Expansion grant for Lenses on Literature, working across Florida, Kentucky, and Maine to reach 120 schools, 300 teachers, and nearly 10,000 students.
• Impact FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026KEDC partners with Impact Florida on the EIR Expansion grant for Lenses on Literature, a multi-state effort working across Florida, Kentucky, and Maine.
• WestEdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026KEDC partners with WestEd, a research and development agency, for evaluation of the Lenses on Literature program as part of the federal EIR Expansion grant.
• Critical Response Group, Inc. (CRG)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 November 2025KEDC selected Critical Response Group to deliver Critical Incident Mapping solutions across Kentucky schools. CRG is a national leader in critical incident mapping, partnering with schools in 42 states covering more than 22,000 schools.
• nSide, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 10 November 2025KEDC selected nSide, Inc. to deliver Critical Incident Mapping and School Safety Platform solutions. nSide has led statewide implementations in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, covering more than 3,600 campuses.
• MindSpark LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2022MindSpark Learning partnered with KEDC to launch an Educational Accelerator for Artificial Intelligence in Kentucky, making it the second U.S. region (after Los Angeles) to implement the IBM-funded AI education program. Five KEDC member districts participated.
• McConnel CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEDC partnered with McConnel Center to present the Student Citizen Project, where students can earn civic seals from the Kentucky Secretary of State.
• Kentucky Writing ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEDC collaborates with Kentucky Writing Project to offer week-long summer Writing Institutes at Ashland and Lexington locations for K-12 teachers and administrators.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Curriculum Associates: A national K-12 instructional services and assessment company (i-Ready). Comparable to KEDC's Lenses on Literature and instructional services in delivering literacy and math solutions to K-12 districts, though at a far larger commercial scale.
• Lakeshore Learning Materials: A national educational supplies and curriculum provider that also offers professional development to schools. Comparable to KEDC in serving K-12 districts with a broad portfolio of products and services, though operating as a private for-profit rather than a cooperative.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH): A major K-12 curriculum and assessment publisher that partners with educational service agencies and districts. Operates in the same instructional services and literacy space where KEDC delivers Lenses on Literature and AI-integrated instruction.
• Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA): The national membership organization representing 550+ educational service agencies across the U.S. KEDC's CEO is AESA's Executive Council President, and the organizations share the ESA service-delivery model that KEDC exemplifies in Kentucky.

Emerging players

• MindSpark Learning: An AI education organization partnered with KEDC since 2022 to launch the Educational Accelerator for AI in Kentucky. Operates in the same emerging K-12 AI education space where KEDC is building the AI Rolling Lab and AI Summit.

Direct peers

• Education Service Center Region 13 (Texas): One of 20 Texas regional education service centers providing cooperative services to school districts. Directly comparable to KEDC in operating as a regional ESA serving member districts with shared instructional, special education, and cooperative purchasing services.
• Erie 1 BOCES (New York): A New York Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared instructional, special education, technology, and cooperative purchasing services to member school districts. Operates the same cooperative model as KEDC across a different geography.
• Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD): An Oregon regional education service district providing special education, instructional services, technology, and cooperative supports to member school districts. Comparable to KEDC as a multi-service regional ESA.
• Cooperative Educational Service Agency 6 (CESA 6): A Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency serving school districts with instructional services, professional development, special education support, and cooperative purchasing — the same multi-service cooperative model as KEDC.

Others

• Carnegie Learning: KEDC's strategic partner on the $12.1M EIR Expansion grant for Lenses on Literature. Both organizations are deeply embedded in K-12 literacy and AI-enabled instruction, with KEDC serving as the implementation/scale partner and Carnegie Learning providing the curriculum and research infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KEDC1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXVknoCtdyf-oR2JUUug94w
• Facebookfacebook.com/KEDC.ORG
• Instagraminstagram.com/kedc_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Educational Development