Student Advocacy Center

What Student Advocacy Center does

The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 by Ruth Zweifler and a multi-racial group of community members in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It operates as the only statewide non-legal education advocacy organization in Michigan, providing free services to K-12 students facing school discipline (suspensions, expulsions, forced alternative placements), special education disputes, homelessness-related school barriers, immigrant/ELL rights issues, foster-care educational instability, and discrimination against pregnant or parenting teens. The organization maintains three offices — Ypsilanti (Washtenaw County, headquarters at 124 Pearl St., Ste. 504), Detroit (Wayne County), and Jackson — and employs approximately 25 staff including two Co-Executive Directors, advocates, mentors, program managers, and coordinators, governed by a 15-member Board of Directors.

The service portfolio comprises a toll-free Statewide Students' Rights Helpline (1-855-688-1916) with 48-hour response (24 hours for expulsion cases), in-person education advocacy for intensive cases in the three county offices, the evidence-based Check & Connect mentoring program, Youth Action Michigan youth organizing, and the Create-A-Letter tool providing downloadable Microsoft Word templates (FERPA requests, IEP meeting requests, OCR complaints, homeless eligibility disputes). Three resource toolkits — Rethink Discipline, Anti-Racism, and Understanding Trauma — and customized training services round out the offering. Service technology is document-template and web-resource based rather than a unified software platform; no proprietary AI, app, or API was disclosed. Founded as a grassroots response to disproportionate discipline of Black students, the organization led the campaign that overturned Michigan's Zero Tolerance laws through the 2017 Rethink Discipline Bills (Public Acts 360-366 of 2016).

Revenue is generated primarily through donations and foundation grants, with named funders including United Way of SE Michigan, The Skillman Foundation, and the Carls Foundation. A pilot fee-based advocacy program for middle- and high-income families and sliding-scale professional training for schools provide supplemental earned revenue. All helpline and in-person advocacy services are free to qualifying Michigan families, with income eligibility tied to the federal free school lunch threshold. In October 2024, the organization transitioned to a Co-Executive Director model with Peri Stone-Palmquist and Anell Eccleston, entering its 50th anniversary year.

Name

Student Advocacy Center

Legal name

Student Advocacy Center of Michigan

Website

https://studentadvocacycenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 providing free, statewide non-legal education advocacy to K-12 students facing school discipline, special education disputes, and homelessness-related barriers, with offices in Ypsilanti, Detroit, and Jackson.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Student Support & Related Services (Counseling, SEL, Health, Safety) (EDAJAAAK), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Education advocacy services
• Student rights support
• School discipline help
• Youth mentoring programs
• Nonprofit education advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ypsilanti

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary funding from donors and foundation grants. Services funded so there is no cost to families. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2. Fee-Based Advocacy (Pilot): Small fee-based advocacy program piloted for middle- and high-income families to expand capacity for serving more families while maintaining free services for low-income households.
3. Training Fees: Customized training services for schools and organizations on Rethink Discipline topics offered on a sliding scale fee basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan helps K-12 students across Michigan stay in school and access their educational rights through a statewide toll-free helpline, in-person advocacy in three counties, an evidence-based mentoring program (Check & Connect), and youth-led community organizing. Services cover school discipline (suspensions and expulsions), special education, homelessness education rights, immigrant/ELL rights, pregnant and parenting teen support, and foster care education stability, with training and toolkits offered to schools and partner organizations.

Product overview

Student Advocacy Center of Michigan provides educational advocacy services organized as a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: the Statewide Students' Rights Helpline (a toll-free no-cost advocacy advice service accessible across Michigan), Education Advocacy and Support (in-person intensive case support in Washtenaw, Wayne, and Jackson counties), Check & Connect Mentoring (an evidence-based student engagement program), Youth Action Michigan (youth organizing for educational justice), and the Create-A-Letter Tool (downloadable advocacy templates). Supporting these programs are three resource toolkits: the Rethink Discipline Toolkit, Anti-Racism Toolkit, and Understanding Trauma Toolkit. Training and Technical Assistance services complement the toolkit offerings for schools and organizations seeking professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Action Michigan: A space for students to build relationships and power, research needs, craft and implement strategic actions to improve schools and fight the school-to-prison pipeline.

Products and services

• Statewide Students' Rights Helpline
• Education Advocacy and Support
• Check & Connect Mentoring
• Youth Action Michigan
• Create-A-Letter Tool
• Rethink Discipline Toolkit
• Anti-Racism Toolkit

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of students with advocacy cases met goals established by their family
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Youth Action MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organizing program where students lead change efforts in their schools, researching needs, crafting strategic actions, and advocating for policy changes to fight the school-to-prison pipeline
• Dignity In Schools CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition fighting school-to-prison pipeline; Student Advocacy Center is the first Michigan member. Supports federal advocacy including Model Code Project and Counselors Not Cops campaign
• Michigan Education Justice CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots coalition working on equitable school funding, elevating family voices, creating healing responsive school systems. SAC is lead partner in Washtenaw and Jackson counties
• School-Justice Partnerships (SJPs)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in developing truancy protocols in Washtenaw, provided school code analysis, co-created tools for alternatives to expulsion in Wayne, Washtenaw, and Jackson counties
• 482ForwardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Detroit neighborhood organizations, parents, and youth committed to ensuring all Detroit children have access to excellent education regardless of race or socioeconomic status
• Ypsilanti Community SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner school district for Check & Connect mentoring program referrals
• Lincoln Consolidated SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner school district for Check & Connect mentoring program referrals
• Washtenaw County Trial CourtcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJuvenile Division partner providing Check & Connect referrals for court-involved youth
• Washtenaw Community Mental HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity mental health partner providing Check & Connect referrals
• Covenant House Academy - SouthwestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for Check & Connect mentoring referrals
• University of Michigan (Law School, School of Social Work, School of Education)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Rights Project volunteers from U of M assist with school discipline advocacy cases
• The Arc MichiganmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStateside project launched 2022 to provide education advocacy for students with disabilities experiencing foster care, scaling SAC's successful model statewide
• Detroit Public Schools (Cody High School)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupport students through Youth Action Michigan organizing program

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Michigan Education Justice Coalition: Michigan-based grassroots coalition working on equitable school funding and healing-responsive school systems, in which SAC serves as lead partner in Washtenaw and Jackson counties. Closest operating analog within Michigan for organizing and family-voice elevation work.
• SchoolHouse Connection: National nonprofit focused on education for children and youth experiencing homelessness, including McKinney-Vento advocacy — directly mirroring SAC's Homeless Education advocacy program and Co-ED Peri Stone-Palmquist's prior role leading Washtenaw County's McKinney-Vento project. Operates nationally with policy and technical assistance focus.
• 482Forward: Detroit-based coalition of neighborhood organizations, parents, and youth ensuring Detroit children access excellent education regardless of race or income. Direct peer operating in SAC's Wayne County geography with shared equity-focused school discipline and organizing mission.
• Disability Rights Michigan: Michigan's federally funded protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Comparable scope (statewide Michigan) and overlapping subject matter around IDEA, special education rights, and school discipline of students with disabilities. Differs in providing legal representation where SAC provides non-legal advocacy.
• The Arc Michigan: Michigan-based disability advocacy nonprofit partnered with SAC since 2022 to scale foster-care education advocacy statewide for students with disabilities. Direct peer in Michigan disability/education advocacy space and a key strategic partner.
• Dignity In Schools Campaign: National coalition of organizations fighting the school-to-prison pipeline — of which SAC is the first Michigan member. SAC's Youth Action Michigan program directly implements DISC's Model Code Project and Counselors Not Cops campaigns, making this both a partner and a thematic peer organization.

Emerging players

• Attendance Works: National nonprofit advancing student attendance through research, policy, and practice. Overlaps with SAC's chronic-absence and Check & Connect mentoring outcomes (71% improved attendance), but operates at policy/awareness level rather than direct case advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places school-based coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver case management, mentoring, and dropout prevention services. Highly comparable to SAC's Check & Connect mentoring and in-person advocacy model, but operates at national scale across all 50 states versus SAC's Michigan-only scope.
• National Center for Youth Law: California-based national legal advocacy organization for children and youth in the child welfare, education, and juvenile justice systems. Comparable mission around school discipline reform and educational rights of vulnerable youth, but operates as a legal-aid and policy center rather than direct family advocacy.

Regional players

• Education Law Center of Pennsylvania: State-focused legal and policy advocacy organization for public school students, particularly low-income and at-risk youth. Strong operational analog to SAC's statewide advocacy model (school discipline, special education, equity) but legal-aid oriented and serving Pennsylvania.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiFZLe5_z4vbVjzCI6oXReA
• Facebookfacebook.com/studentadvocacycenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/student-advocacy-center-of-michigan
• Instagraminstagram.com/studentadvocacycenter
• Xx.com/sacmichigan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Student Advocacy Center