What WestEd does

WestEd is a national nonprofit research, development, and service agency headquartered in San Francisco and founded in 1966, employing 501-1,000 staff. The organization delivers applied research and evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance to state education agencies, local education agencies, school districts, schools, and postsecondary institutions across the United States. Core service lines span literacy (Reading Apprenticeship, Writing Apprenticeship, Language Literacy and Learning), mathematics (Carnegie Math Pathways including Quantway and Statway), assessment design and psychometrics, early childhood development (Program for Infant/Toddler Care, Early Start Neighborhood, California Early Childhood Online), special education systems (NCSI, CIFR), economic mobility and workforce alignment, education finance, and charter school program monitoring. WestEd also operates federally funded national technical assistance centers including the Data Integration Support Center (DISC), Regional Educational Laboratories, and the Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability.

WestEd's underlying technology stack combines research and evaluation methodologies, professional learning platforms, assessment design and psychometric tooling, and applied AI services. Proprietary or branded components include DISC for cross-sector data integration with privacy controls, an AI Readiness and Integration practice that helps agencies adopt AI under security and compliance constraints, and internally developed AI tools for assessment item generation, screener comparability via machine learning, and an LLM bias-detection rubric validated against 2,400 generated responses. The portfolio includes GenAI Coaching for Math PLCs, AI Professional Learning Services, and an EdTech partnership program that supports third-party education technology vendors with research-based validation.

The business model is professional services delivered through government contracts, foundation grants, and fee-for-service engagements. Major revenue comes from federal awards (Department of Education, EIR Expansion grant), state education agency contracts, and multi-decade partnerships with California state agencies. The go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-direct: WestEd engages state and local education agencies through direct contracts and research-practice partnerships rather than self-serve channels. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because services are customized to scope and client requirements; contact is via toll-free 877-493-7833. WestEd has no parent company, no disclosed ownership changes, and no subsidiaries.

Name

WestEd

Legal name

WestEd

Website

https://wested.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WestEd is a national nonprofit research and development agency providing research, evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance to state and local education agencies, districts, and schools across the United States, spanning literacy, math, assessment, early childhood, special education, and AI integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Research and Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Credentialing, Academic Credit, Assessment & Transcript Services (EDAIAFAO), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Adult Basic Education (ABE) & Foundational Skills Remediation (EDANAJAK)

Keywords

• Education research services
• Professional learning services
• Technical assistance centers
• Educational assessment services
• Research-practice partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: WestEd operates federally funded support centers, research and development centers, and agency-funded content-focused centers. Major revenue comes from federal government contracts including Department of Education grants, state education agency contracts, and foundation grants.
2. Fee-for-Service Technical Assistance and Professional Learning: Customized professional development, technical assistance, and evaluation services provided to state and local education agencies, districts, and schools on a contract basis
3. Research-Practice Partnerships: Collaborative relationships with state and local education agencies for tailored research and evaluation services

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WestEd provides customized research, evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance services to state and local education agencies, school districts, and educational institutions. The organization operates federally funded national centers (Regional Educational Laboratories, NCSI, CIFR, DISC, CSAA) and delivers evidence-based programs such as Reading Apprenticeship, Writing Apprenticeship, Carnegie Math Pathways, PITC, and psychometric assessment services on a contract basis.

Product overview

WestEd is a national research and education organization offering a comprehensive suite of services including research and evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance across education and human development. The portfolio includes established programs such as Reading Apprenticeship and Writing Apprenticeship for literacy instruction; GenAI Coaching for Math PLCs and AI Professional Learning Services for AI-enhanced education; Carnegie Math Pathways (Quantway and Statway) for mathematics; and the Data Integration Support Center (DISC) for data systems. Key technical assistance centers include the Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (CSAA), Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR), National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), and Center for Economic Mobility. Early childhood services include the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), Early Start Neighborhood, and California Early Childhood Online. The Research-Practice Partnership Network connects educators with WestEd researchers. WestEd also provides assessment services, education finance planning, school choice program support, and EdTech partnership services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Data Integration Support Center (DISC): A center at WestEd that supports efforts to integrate data across key sectors while protecting privacy and ensuring the usefulness, fidelity, and transparency of data systems.
• Center for Economic Mobility
• Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (CSAA)
• Carnegie Math Pathways
• Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC)

Products and services

• Reading Apprenticeship A professional development model and instructional approach that improves academic literacy for middle, high school, and college students, grounded in science of reading research and disciplinary literacy. Targets middle, high school, and college educators and their students.
• Writing Apprenticeship A professional development model and instructional approach aligned with Reading Apprenticeship that equips middle and high school educators to support students with real-world writing practices, focusing on discipline-specific understanding and authentic connection with audiences.
• Language, Literacy, and Learning A comprehensive suite of professional learning and technical assistance services that build educator and leadership capacity to deliver high-quality literacy instruction, connecting decoding, language development, and comprehension to improve reading outcomes for K–5 learners.
• Carnegie Math Pathways (Quantway and Statway) Math pathways course solutions (Quantway and Statway) that empower students to reach college and career goals by transforming the mathematics learning experience, with robust training, onboarding support, and mentorship for faculty.
• GenAI Coaching for Math PLCs A yearlong professional learning program that harnesses generative AI to enhance math instruction and elevate student learning in established professional learning communities.
• AI Professional Learning Services Professional learning that integrates generative AI into educational priorities and helps educators, leaders, and systems use AI to reduce burdens, strengthen teaching, and enhance learning.
• Data Integration Support Center (DISC) Provides comprehensive support and customized assistance to public agencies for integrating data across key sectors while protecting privacy and ensuring usefulness, fidelity, and transparency of data systems, including AI readiness services.
• Early Childhood Assessment Services Develops reliable, developmentally appropriate early childhood assessments including kindergarten readiness assessments used at scale in four states, and supports K–3 universal screening systems including research on screener score validity and cross-screener comparability.
• Psychometric Assessment Services Serves as an independent psychometric partner to state agencies, districts, and assessment vendors for single studies or multiyear embedded support for operational programs, including independent validity research.
• Student Agency in Learning (SAIL) An in-depth, hybrid course providing comprehensive professional learning in formative assessment for teachers, helping create classroom cultures that equip students to monitor and direct their own learning.
• Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (CSAA) Provides tools, research, and direct technical assistance to help states and districts strengthen their standards, assessment, and accountability systems.
• Next Generation Accountability Systems Helps partners create and refine high-quality assessment and accountability systems to support K–12 student learning.
• Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) Provides professional development and resources for infant/toddler providers and the communities they serve, a national model for early childhood professional development based on respectful, responsive, and relationship-based care practices.
• Early Start Neighborhood Provides a home base for Early Start professionals and partners seeking training, technical assistance, and resources on early intervention Part C requirements, implementation, and evidence-based practices.
• Family Child Care at Its Best A statewide professional development program funded by the California Department of Social Services providing high-quality, research-based workshops to help family child care providers strengthen quality of care and education.
• California Early Childhood Online Provides high-quality, evidence-based training for educators of children birth to age 5 in partnership with the California Department of Social Services, improving early learning environments in California and around the world.
• Education Finance Planning and Evaluation Provides rigorous and high-quality school finance research and technical assistance, supporting clients with district budget analyses and forecasting, cost analyses, and funding formula and accountability system design and evaluation.
• Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR) Works with state leaders to improve state capacity to collect, report, analyze, and use Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) fiscal data to maximize support for students with disabilities and their families.
• National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) Supports states and their partners in assessing special education systems, solving problems, sustaining improvement, and sharing knowledge, including guidance on implementing and managing fiscal systems.
• Indicators of Distress An early warning system for school choice programs that helps state and local leaders identify and address key issues before a school is deemed failing.
• Charter Schools Program Monitoring and Data Collection Helps the Charter Schools Program ensure that federal funds help expand high-quality charter school options through monitoring and support of grant implementation activities.
• Center for Economic Mobility Partners with education and workforce systems to create stronger pathways to economic mobility through technical assistance, research, and convening support.
• AI Readiness and Integration Guides public agencies through building understanding, developing use cases, assessing readiness, and implementing AI solutions while maintaining security, privacy, and compliance standards.
• Artificial Intelligence Education for Virtual Schools Prepares students to understand and engage with AI technologies through quality and accessible AI learning content designed for virtual school environments.
• Research–Practice Partnership Network Connects local education agencies with WestEd researchers to transform evidence into action through collaborative research, funding support, and strategy translation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to two years of literacy growth in a single school year documented through federally funded research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Center for Inquiry and ImprovementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Partnership with Lorain County Community College on Back on Track initiative through WestEd's Center for Economic Mobility. The initiative creates career pathways from low-wage jobs to family-sustaining careers, targeting 600-800 students initially with three new pathways in IT, healthcare technology, and advanced manufacturing.
• KEDC (Kentucky Educational Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Partner in Carnegie Learning's federal EIR Expansion grant to implement and evaluate Lenses on Literature curriculum at approximately 120 middle schools in a randomized controlled trial through 2030.
• Maine Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Partner in Carnegie Learning's federal EIR Expansion grant for implementing and evaluating Lenses on Literature secondary ELA curriculum at scale.
• Impact FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Partner in Carnegie Learning's federal EIR Expansion grant for adolescent literacy curriculum implementation and evaluation.
• California Department of Developmental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30-year partnership supporting professional growth of early childhood interventionists through Early Start Neighborhood, providing in-person and online training to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
• California Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for California Early Childhood Online, Family Child Care at Its Best, and California Quality Recognition and Improvement System revision - providing high-quality, evidence-based training for educators of children birth to age 5.
• California Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Preschool Through Third Grade Learning Progressions, California State Plan for Early Childhood Development, and various curriculum and assessment initiatives.
• National Association of Higher Education SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop skills-focused communities of practice and open-source data tools to help 2- and 4-year institutions understand program alignment with regional labor markets.
• University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sub-baccalaureate career and technical education research with Florida Department of Education to understand how community colleges align CTE programming to labor markets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Institutes for Research (AIR): One of the largest U.S. behavioral and social science research organizations, AIR competes head-to-head with WestEd on federal education contracts (RELs, assessment, evaluation) and operates with the same nonprofit, federally funded technical assistance model.
• Education Development Center (EDC): Global nonprofit that designs, delivers, and evaluates programs in education, health, and economic opportunity. Closely comparable to WestEd in mission, federal contract portfolio, and focus on literacy, early childhood, and STEM.
• Mathematica Policy Research: Nonpartisan research and evaluation firm focused on education, health, and workforce policy. Competes directly with WestEd on federal and state evaluation contracts and uses similar research-practice partnership models.
• Abt Associates: Research and consulting firm with a substantial education practice. Comparable in delivering federal TA, evaluation, and survey/research services to state and federal education agencies.
• MDRC: Nonprofit social policy research organization with deep education and workforce portfolio, including community college pathways. Direct competitor in evidence-based program evaluation and research-practice partnerships.
• RTI International: Independent nonprofit research institute with a large education and workforce practice that competes for federal and state contracts in assessment, evaluation, and technical assistance.
• SRI International: Nonprofit research organization with an education division providing evaluation, assessment, and technology-enhanced learning research. Competes in adjacent federal R&D contracts.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large, established research institution with a significant education division that competes for federal research and evaluation contracts. Broader than WestEd in scope (defense, health) but directly comparable in K-12 and higher ed research work.

Emerging players

• Hanover Research: Subscription-based research and advisory firm serving K-12 and higher education institutions. Comparable in delivering applied research and decision support to districts and institutions, though commercial rather than nonprofit.
• TNTP (The New Teacher Project): Nonprofit focused on teacher workforce and instructional improvement. Comparable to WestEd's educator effectiveness, professional learning, and school/district transformation work, though narrower in focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WestEd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wested
• Xx.com/WestEd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WestEd