Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29

What Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 does

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 (IU29) is a public regional educational service agency established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1971, one of 29 such Intermediate Units in the state serving as the statutory administrative layer between local school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The agency coordinates and delivers a broad portfolio of shared educational services across all 12 Schuylkill County public school districts (including Blue Mountain, Pine Grove Area, Pottsville Area, Tamaqua Area, North Schuylkill, and Tri-Valley SD) plus a consortium of non-public and parochial schools under Act 89. Headquartered at 17 Maple Avenue in Mar Lin, PA, with an organizational directory of approximately 197 staff, IU29 operates Early Intervention classrooms in Mar Lin, Schuylkill Haven, Frackville, Tamaqua, and Hegins, the Maple Avenue Campus for specialized K-22 programming, the Schuylkill Learning Academy for alternative education, and the Lifelong Learning Center for adult education, GED/HiSET, ESL, and Family Literacy.

Its service catalog spans preschool special education (screenings, evaluations, speech/OT/PT), ACHIEVE afterschool programming for 600+ K-8 students, Special Education training and consultation (including PATTAN-aligned supports and Project SEARCH transitions), Curriculum & Instruction consulting (Acadience Math, gifted education, ESL Program Specialist certification, Teacher Induction, Guest Teacher training, Title I/IIA administration), and ancillary transactional services through a Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Center and IDENTOGO fingerprinting site. Technology is standard ed-tech consumption — Moodle LMS, IXL, SAS Portal, iPad-based instructional apps — with no proprietary platform or API surface.

Funding flows through state PDE allocations for Career & Technical Education, Special Education Supports, Curriculum Services, and Defined Mandated Services; federal grants (Title I, Title IIA, ARP ESSER, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Pre-K Counts); and minor transactional revenue from testing and background-check services. Programs are predominantly free to participants. The entity is governed by a Board of Directors with district representatives, with Executive Director Dr. Anthony Serafini overseeing an executive team including Assistant Executive Director Shannon Brennan, Business Manager Kristina Frantz, Director of Special Education Dr. Rene Evans, Director of Technology Services Mark Barnett, and Director of Curriculum Services Annie Milewski. IU29 functions as a service-shared cooperative rather than a commercial enterprise; growth is bounded by Schuylkill County geography and the politics of Pennsylvania education funding.

Name

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29

Legal name

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29

Website

https://iu29.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 is a Pennsylvania public educational service agency established in 1971 that coordinates special education, curriculum, early intervention, and adult education programs for the 12 school districts of Schuylkill County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs (EDAKAAAE)

Keywords

• Educational service agency
• Special education services
• Curriculum instruction support
• Early intervention programs
• Adult education literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Mar Lin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: IU29 coordinates services for Schuylkill County Schools funded through Pennsylvania Department of Education allocations, including Career and Technical Education, Special Education Supports, Curriculum Services, and Defined Mandated Services.
2. Federal Grants: Receipt of federal funding including ARP ESSER funds, Title I, Title IIA, and 21st Century Community Learning Center grants for specific programs and initiatives.
3. Testing and Administrative Services: Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Center providing certification exam services; fingerprinting/background check services through IDEMIA IdentoGO.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 is a Pennsylvania regional educational service agency that coordinates shared educational services across the 12 public school districts of Schuylkill County plus non-public and charter schools. It delivers direct programs including Early Intervention for preschoolers with developmental delays, special education supports, curriculum and instruction services with professional development, the ACHIEVE afterschool program, the Maple Avenue Campus and Schuylkill Learning Academy for alternative education, and the Lifelong Learning Center for adult education (GED/HiSET, ESL, family literacy). Services are largely funded by state allocations and federal grants and provided at no cost to participants or districts.

Product overview

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 is a regional educational service agency serving Schuylkill County, PA, established in 1971. Rather than a unified software product, IU29 delivers a portfolio of educational service programs including: early intervention for preschool children with developmental delays; the ACHIEVE afterschool program (K-8) providing STEM enrichment; Curriculum & Instruction Services with professional development and ESL certification; the Maple Avenue Campus and Schuylkill Learning Academy for specialized/special education; the Lifelong Learning Center offering GED, ESL, and family literacy programs; and various support services including guest teacher training, teacher induction, Pre-K Counts, Pearson VUE testing, and fingerprinting services. These programs coordinate with local school districts, non-public schools, and community agencies across Schuylkill County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACHIEVE After School Program A free 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program providing academic enrichment, STEM activities, homework help, character education, and summer programming for K-8 students from low-income families across Schuylkill County. Currently serves 600+ students.
• Early Intervention Services Preschool special education services for children ages 3-5 with developmental delays, including screenings and evaluations, individualized education plans, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Delivered at Maple Avenue Campus and satellite classrooms in Schuylkill Haven, Frackville, Tamaqua, and Hegins.
• Pre-K Counts State-funded pre-kindergarten program at Pine Grove Elementary providing quality half-day and full-day education for 3 and 4 year olds.
• Curriculum & Instruction Services Support, consultation, professional development, and resources for educational entities including standards alignment, gifted education, ESL programs, educator effectiveness, Acadience Math, Title I, Title IIA, STEM support, and comprehensive planning.
• ESL Program Specialist Certification Eighteen-credit CPE certification program for ESL Program Specialists covering language development, assessment, instructional strategies, and practicum fieldwork.
• Guest Teacher Program Training program preparing participants with bachelor's degrees to become substitute teachers through two-day training sessions covering professionalism, lesson planning, and classroom management.
• Teacher Induction Program Mandatory training program for new teachers to obtain Level II Certification, including mentor assignments, training sessions, and professional development.
• Maple Avenue Campus Specialized educational programs for K-22 students requiring individualized instruction, behavioral support, or therapeutic services, including vocational programs, the Student Assistance Program (SAP), and alternative education.
• Schuylkill Learning Academy Therapeutic and alternative education program integrating academics with behavioral health supports, including alternate education and day treatment, for students who benefit from structured environments.
• Lifelong Learning Center Community programs including GED/HiSET preparation, English as a Second Language classes, Family Literacy, and Teen Pregnancy/Parenting support services, provided at no cost to participants.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education support including Training and Consultation (TaC), assistive technology, autism support, inclusion services, behavioral support, psychological services, and transition programs (including Project SEARCH) for students with special needs.
• Project SEARCH Work transition program providing on-the-job training for special needs interns hosted at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill.
• Technology Services Technology support department including media and design competitions, technology coordination, and tech support for instructional staff across the agency.
• Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Center Computer-based testing center offering exams for academic admissions, healthcare, IT, government, financial services, and military certifications.
• Fingerprinting/Background Check Services IDENTOGO FBI background check processing services at the Lifelong Learning Center location for employment and licensing purposes.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pennsylvania Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971IU29 was established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly as a regional educational service agency. PDE provides funding allocations and oversight for IU services including Career and Technical Education, Special Education Supports, and Title programs.
• Schuylkill Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer and Technical Education center affiliated with IU29. Students from county districts attend for vocational training. IU29 and STC share administrative services including Business Services, Human Resources, and Technology.
• Star Community HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Smile & Thrive Community Health Day events providing dental care and health screenings to community members at IU29 facilities.
• St. Luke's University Health NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare network partner in Smile & Thrive Community Health Day events providing health screenings and community assistance resources.
• Lehigh Valley Hospital-SchuylkillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Project SEARCH program providing on-the-job training for special needs interns at the hospital facility.
• Schuylkill County School DistrictscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIU29 coordinates services for 12 public school districts: Blue Mountain, Pine Grove Area, Shenandoah Valley, Mahanoy Area, Pottsville Area, Tamaqua Area, Minersville Area, Saint Clair Area, Tri-Valley SD, North Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven Area, and Williams Valley.
• Non-public Schools ConsortiumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIU29 serves as administrative agency providing remedial education, ESL, and psychological services to Diocese of Allentown schools and private schools in Schuylkill County including Marian High, Nativity B.V.M., Assumption BVM, St. Jerome Regional, St. Joseph Center, St. Nicholas, and others.
• PATTAN (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network providing training and technical assistance for special education. IU29 staff coordinate with PATTAN for professional development and special education resources.
• ESS (Educational Staffing Solutions)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party staffing provider for substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and clerical personnel serving IU29 programs at Maple Avenue Campus and partner locations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18: A Pennsylvania IU serving Luzerne County, providing special education supports, early intervention, curriculum services, and adult education to constituent districts. Comparable in statutory role and service breadth, in a county adjacent to Schuylkill.
• Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13: A Pennsylvania IU providing special education, early intervention, and curriculum support to school districts in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Operates the same statutory model as IU29 and is among the larger IUs in the state with a similar service portfolio.
• Chester County Intermediate Unit 24: A Pennsylvania IU serving Chester County with a similar statutory mandate and a comparable mix of special education, early intervention, and curriculum/instruction services to constituent school districts and non-public schools.
• BLaST Intermediate Unit 17: A Pennsylvania IU serving Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties with a comparable mix of special education, early intervention, professional development, and non-public school services. Closely comparable regional rural-scale IU model.
• Berks County Intermediate Unit 14: A Pennsylvania IU serving Berks County with a similar portfolio of special education, early intervention, professional development, and non-public school services. Operates under the same statutory framework as IU29.
• Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21: A Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit serving Carbon and Lehigh counties with a comparable mandate to coordinate special education, early intervention, curriculum services, and adult education across constituent school districts. Directly comparable in statutory structure, service mix, and funding model.
• Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12: A Pennsylvania IU serving Adams, Franklin, and York counties with a comparable service mix spanning early intervention, special education, and curriculum services. Closely comparable in scale and rural/small-city county context.
• Delaware County Intermediate Unit 25: A Pennsylvania IU serving Delaware County with a comparable statutory role and service mix including special education, early intervention, and non-public school services. Operates under the same state-mandated IU framework as IU29.
• Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15: A Pennsylvania IU serving the Harrisburg/Capital region with a comparable portfolio including early intervention, special education, curriculum services, and adult education programs funded by PA Department of Education allocations.
• Colonial Intermediate Unit 20: A Pennsylvania IU serving the Lehigh Valley region (Northampton, Monroe, and Pike counties) with a comparable statutory mandate and service portfolio including special education, early intervention, and curriculum support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Schuylkill_IU29
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@schuylkillintermediateunit1987
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchuylkillIntermediateUnit29
• Instagraminstagram.com/socialiu29

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29