Yellow Breeches Educational Center

What Yellow Breeches Educational Center does

Yellow Breeches Educational Center (YBEC) is a Pennsylvania-licensed private special education nonprofit that operates an alternative K-12 educational program for students who have not succeeded in traditional public school settings. Founded in 2000 by Mark Staszko Sr. and headquartered in Carlisle, PA, YBEC serves students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual/Developmental Disability, Social/Emotional Disturbed diagnoses, Specific Learning Disability, and Traumatic Brain Injury through an integrated experiential education model. The organization operates six campuses across 11 Pennsylvania counties, serving over 200 students annually with low staff-to-student ratios of 1:4 in elementary and 1:6 in secondary classrooms. Its core technology is pedagogical rather than digital, built on a proprietary curriculum combining academics, adventure-based experiential learning, service-learning, transition skills training, and a positive behavior modification system organized around five pillars (Courage, Effort, Respect, Responsibility, Trust). Standard classroom tools such as Smartboards are supplemented by outdoor recreation equipment (boats, climbing gear, scuba equipment) to deliver adventure-based programming. Supporting services include full-time emotional support counseling, door-to-door transportation, and transition partnerships with four Pennsylvania colleges.

YBEC operates as a contracted service provider to public school districts rather than a tuition-charging school. All students are referred by their home school district at no cost to families, with funding flowing through Individualized Education Program (IEP) arrangements negotiated as multi-year contracts with 45+ Pennsylvania school districts. The go-to-market is relationship-driven B2B sales to district special education directors, augmented by a website and Facebook presence for top-of-funnel awareness. Customer segments include K-12 students with special needs (primary persona), Pennsylvania school districts (primary business unit), and families seeking alternatives to traditional public school placements. The organization maintains compliance with USDA equal opportunity requirements, Pennsylvania Private Special Educational Academic School licensing, and a published student wellness policy.

Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Based on the scale of approximately 200 enrolled students, 6 campuses, and 101-250 employees, YBEC's annual operating budget is most plausibly in the $10M-$25M range, supported by per-pupil special education reimbursements from Pennsylvania school districts. The organization is family-led, with founder Mark Staszko Sr. serving as CEO and his son Mark Staszko Jr. as COO, with no external parent company or institutional investor ownership. Strategic expansion has been incremental and organic, focused on adding campuses within Pennsylvania and deepening district relationships rather than geographic diversification beyond the state.

Name

Yellow Breeches Educational Center

Legal name

Yellow Breeches Educational Center Inc.

Website

https://yellowbreeches.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Yellow Breeches Educational Center is a Pennsylvania nonprofit that operates six K-12 special education campuses serving over 200 students with Autism, IDD, SED, SLD, and TBI, funded through contracts with 45+ school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), 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 industry

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Alternative education
• Experiential learning
• Adventure education
• K-12 special needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlisle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. School District Contracts: YBEC provides special education services to students referred by Pennsylvania school districts. The service is provided at no cost to families. Revenue is generated through contracts with school districts who pay for special education services under IEP (Individualized Education Program) arrangements. Students and families do not pay tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yellow Breeches Educational Center is a private, Pennsylvania-licensed special education school providing an alternative, experiential and adventure-based education program for K-12 students with special needs who have not succeeded in traditional classroom settings. The organization delivers this program at no cost to families through referral contracts with Pennsylvania public school districts, operating across six campuses with small staff-to-student ratios (1:4 elementary, 1:6 secondary) and integrating academics, experiential learning, adventure programming, service-learning, transition skills, and a behavior modification system.

Product overview

Yellow Breeches Educational Center (YBEC) is an experiential education school providing a unified program for K-12 special education students. The core offering consists of five integrated program components: Academics (certified special education instruction with small ratios), Experiential Education (hands-on learning and themed trips), Adventure Education (wilderness activities including climbing, boating, and water sports), Service-Learning (community partnerships), and Transition Skills Training (life and career preparation). Supporting services include Emotional Support, a Positive Behavior Modification System (three-level progression), Family Involvement programs, and Transportation. The TRAILS program, operating across five campuses, serves students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual/Developmental Disability, Social/Emotional Disturbed, Specific Learning Disability, and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academics Program Core academic instruction delivered using alternative teaching methods tailored to each student's IEP, taught by certified special education teachers in small classes (1:4 elementary, 1:6 secondary staff-to-student ratios). Designed for K-12 special education students referred by Pennsylvania school districts.
• Experiential Education Hands-on learning program featuring engaging classroom themes and interactive experiences outside the classroom, transforming academic concepts into tangible real-life contexts through themed experiential trips. Designed for K-12 special education students.
• Adventure Education Adventure-based programming incorporating wilderness activities such as climbing, boating, whitewater rafting, skiing, and scuba diving to help students reframe perspectives, build self-esteem, and develop self-efficacy through challenging experiences. Designed for K-12 special education students.
• Service-Learning Program Community-involvement curriculum combining learning goals with civic responsibility, partnering with organizations such as Community Aid, Habitat for Humanity, Bethesda Mission soup kitchen, American Red Cross, and Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Designed for K-12 special education students.
• Transition Skills Training Cross-curricular instruction in social skills, life skills, career exploration, health education, first aid and CPR, character development, leadership development, and vocational skills, including partnerships with Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, York Technical Institute, HACC, and Shippensburg University. Designed for K-12 special education students preparing for post-graduation community participation.
• Positive Behavior Modification System Level-based incentive system (Levels One through Three) where students earn points by demonstrating the Five Pillars of character education (Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Trust, and Effort) to unlock privileges and rewards, culminating in advanced adventure opportunities. Designed for K-12 special education students.
• Emotional Support Services Full-time emotional support services for students with disabilities requiring services primarily in social or emotional skills development or functional behavior, including master's-level mental health counseling. Designed for K-12 special education students with social/emotional needs.
• Transportation Services Door-to-door transportation service provided to enrolled students, with notification regarding van pickup times and schedules. Provided to families at no cost.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 200 students annually across 6 campuses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC partners with Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology for student transition and career exploration. Students visit the college as part of their transition skills training to explore technical education and career pathways.
• York Technical InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC partners with York Technical Institute for student career exploration and transition skills development. Students gain exposure to technical career pathways through college visits.
• HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHACC serves as a transition partner for YBEC students exploring higher education and career pathways in the Harrisburg region.
• Shippensburg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC partners with Shippensburg University for student career exploration and transition services, exposing students to higher education options.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat for Humanity serves as a service-learning partner where YBEC students participate in construction and community service activities while developing vocational and teamwork skills.
• Bethesda Mission Soup KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC students volunteer at Bethesda Mission soup kitchen as part of service-learning curriculum, developing community responsibility and practical life skills.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Red Cross is a service-learning partner where YBEC students participate in community service and learn about humanitarian aid.
• Community Aid (stocking and sorting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC students participate in Community Aid service-learning activities including stocking and sorting donations, building practical work skills.
• Appalachian Trail ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC students participate in trail maintenance with Appalachian Trail Conservancy, combining environmental stewardship with adventure education.
• Wild Wood ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC students participate in cleanup and conservation activities at Wild Wood Park as part of service-learning and environmental education.
• PA Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBEC students engage with PA Food Bank for service-learning experiences that build community involvement and practical skills.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lakeside Educational Network: Network of PA-approved private special education schools serving at-risk and special-needs K-12 students via district referrals — directly comparable alternative-education model and customer base to YBEC.
• New Story Schools: Multi-state network of private special education schools serving K-12 students referred by public districts with autism, emotional disturbance, and behavioral health needs — same revenue model, larger geographic footprint.
• The Vanguard School: Pennsylvania-approved private special education school serving K-12 students with special needs via district referrals. Comparable operating model, regulatory category, and customer base to YBEC.
• Melmark: Pennsylvania-based private nonprofit providing special education, residential, and clinical services for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities — comparable mission, funding mix, and PA footprint to YBEC.
• Wordsworth Academy: Pennsylvania-based private special education school serving K-12 students with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. Most directly comparable to YBEC in terms of state, student population, and approved-private-school model.
• The Timothy School: Pennsylvania private special education school in Rydal serving students with autism and developmental disabilities via district referrals — directly comparable PA-approved private academic school model to YBEC.
• The Pathway School: PA-approved private special education school in Norristown serving students with autism, emotional disturbance, and other disabilities through referral-based enrollment — directly comparable GTM and student profile to YBEC.

Regional players

• Chester County Intermediate Unit: PA intermediate unit operating special education programs and classrooms serving students across Chester County districts — partially comparable as a public alternative to private providers like YBEC for special education referrals.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national nonprofit operating special education schools and behavioral health programs across multiple states, including Pennsylvania — broader portfolio but overlaps with YBEC on alternative K-12 special education delivery.
• Woods Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and complex needs, including special education day programs — comparable mission and PA special-needs population, broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yellowbreeches
• Xx.com/ybec

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Yellow Breeches Educational Center