Passport To Learning

What Passport To Learning does

Passport To Learning, INC. is a privately held, for-profit human services organization founded in 1977 by Betty Walkes, a former teacher with 27 years of experience at the Los Angeles Unified School District. The company is headquartered in Northridge, California, and operates as a credentialed vendor for 12 California Regional Centers (ACRC, ELARC, FDLRC, GGRC, HRC, NBRC, NLACRC, RCEB, SARC, SCLARC, SGPRC, and WRC), which are state-funded entities overseen by the California Department of Developmental Services. PTL provides education, training, and support services to youth and adults classified with intellectual and developmental disabilities (MMR or intellectual disability) across both Southern and Northern California, with physical offices in eight regions: Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, San Fernando Valley, North Bay, East Bay, and Antelope Valley.

The company's service portfolio comprises five programs delivered by field-based direct-support staff: the Independent Living Skills Program (ILS) for functional independence; Supported Living Skills (SLS) for independent living with additional support; the Adaptive Skills Training Program (AST) for educational and employment goal attainment; Judicially Involved Support Services (JISS) for individuals with special needs in correctional settings, with a documented recidivism rate of less than 2 in 10 participants compared to a 7-in-10 statewide average; and Parenting Support Services (PSS) for in-home parenting instruction. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-staff-intensive and delivered in correctional facilities, community settings, and participants' natural environments.

Revenue is generated entirely through government-funded vendor contracts with California Regional Centers, with no disclosed private-pay, commercial, or out-of-state revenue. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates under multi-year contract structures tied to the state I/DD funding system. The company is founder-owned and independently operated, with no private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor involvement, and no documented M&A activity. The organization employs 200+ qualified and bilingual staff (per company self-report) and has grown organically over four decades.

Name

Passport To Learning

Legal name

Passport To Learning, INC.

Website

https://passport2learn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Passport To Learning is a California-based human services organization founded in 1977 that operates as a credentialed vendor for 12 California Regional Centers, delivering education, training, and support services to youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across five program lines in Southern and Northern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (61)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAAAD

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

SECONDARYEDAKANAI

Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAAABAI

Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Independent living support
• Supported living skills
• Adaptive skills training
• Human services vendor

Headquarters

HQ city

Northridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Regional Center Vendor Services: PTL operates as a vendor for California Regional Centers providing developmental disability services. Services include Judicially Involved Support Services (JISS), Independent Living Skills Program (ILS), Parenting Support Services, Adaptive Skills Training Program (AST), and Supported Living Skills (SLS). Revenue is derived from government-funded regional center contracts for individuals with developmental disabilities classified as MMR or intellectual disability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Passport To Learning delivers five direct human-service programs to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across California. The portfolio includes Independent Living Skills (ILS), Supported Living Skills (SLS), Adaptive Skills Training (AST), Judicially Involved Support Services (JISS), and Parenting Support Services (PSS), all provided as vendor services under contracts with 12 California Regional Centers and the Department of Developmental Services.

Product overview

Passport To Learning offers a suite of five distinct service programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout California. The portfolio includes Independent Living Skills (ILS) for functional independence, Supported Living Skills (SLS) for independent living with support, Adaptive Skills Training (AST) for educational and employment goal attainment, Judicially Involved Support Services (JISS) for those in correctional settings with recidivism prevention, and Parenting Support Services (PSS) for in-home parenting assistance. These programs are delivered through regional teams across California, including Los Angeles, San Jose, San Fernando Valley, Sacramento, North Bay, East Bay, and Antelope Valley locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Living Skills Program (ILS)
• Supported Living Skills (SLS)
• Adaptive Skills Training Program (AST)
• Judicially Involved Support Services (JISS)
• Parenting Support Services (PSS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Recidivism rate reduced to less than 2 in 10 participants returning to jail compared to 7 in 10 statewide average for California inmates

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered foundational and core.

• South Central Los Angeles Regional CenterfoundationalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1977PTL was founded in 1977 when Betty Walkes became a vendor for South Central Los Angeles Regional Center as a specialist to provide tutoring to clients in the greater Los Angeles area. This partnership established PTL's vendor status and continues to be a core regional center partner.
• California Regional Centers (ACRC, ELARC, FDLRC, GGRC, HRC, NBRC, NLACRC, RCEB, SARC, SCLARC, SGPRC & WRC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPTL operates as a vendor for 12 California Regional Centers that fund and refer individuals with developmental disabilities to PTL's services. These regional centers are government-funded organizations that coordinate services for individuals with developmental disabilities throughout California.
• Department of Developmental Services (DDS)coreOthersCalifornia Department of Developmental Services oversees regional centers and the appeals process. PTL's services comply with DDS guidelines and regulations. The appeals procedure is available at www.dds.ca.gov/complaints or via telephone at (916) 654-2987.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health: Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network) is one of the largest U.S. providers of home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates as a vendor for state IDD/Medicaid systems nationally, directly comparable to PTL's regional-center vendor model in California.
• BrightSpring Health Services: BrightSpring is a publicly traded provider of home and community-based services including IDD waiver services, behavioral health, and pharmacy. Provides similar ILS/SLS/employment-related IDD supports under state Medicaid contracts at national scale.

Direct peers

• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national nonprofit providing services for individuals with disabilities, including independent living, employment, and community-based supports. Comparable to PTL's IDD service portfolio in that it delivers person-centered disability services under a multi-program model.
• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is a national organization providing services, advocacy, and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including independent living, employment, and case management. Comparable in serving IDD populations with multi-program, community-based delivery.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): UCP is a national network providing direct services to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including independent living, supported living, and employment supports. Comparable to PTL in its multi-program IDD service delivery model and reliance on government funding.
• Mains'l Services: Mains'l Services is a California-based vendor for regional centers providing independent living, supported living, and community-based supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Most directly comparable peer given overlap in California Regional Center vendor model and IDD service mix.
• Momentum WORK, Inc. Momentum WORK is a California-based nonprofit providing employment, training, and community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable to PTL's AST and ILS programs in California, particularly the employment-readiness component.
• PRIDE Industries: PRIDE Industries is a California-based nonprofit providing employment, training, and facility services for people with disabilities. Comparable to PTL in mission and California base, with overlap on employment and community-integration supports for IDD individuals.
• LifeStream (formerly known as Inland Regional Center service provider): LifeStream is a Southern California nonprofit providing services for people with developmental disabilities, including independent and supported living. Operates within the same California Regional Center vendor framework as PTL with comparable IDD service offerings.

Others

• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: United Way of Greater Los Angeles funds and coordinates human-services programs serving vulnerable populations in the same California regions where PTL operates. Relevant as a community funder and ecosystem partner within PTL's service geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Passport-To-Learning-107139605045698
• Instagraminstagram.com/passport2learning.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/passport-to-learning-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Passport To Learning