The Education Cooperative

What The Education Cooperative does

The Education Cooperative (TEC) is the oldest public, non-profit educational collaborative in Massachusetts, founded in 1968 and headquartered in East Walpole. It operates as a member-governed service organization serving 19 public school districts across MetroWest Massachusetts (Canton, Dedham, Dover-Sherborn, Framingham, Natick, Needham, Wayland, Westwood, and others). TEC's core function is providing DESE-approved specialized educational programs that member districts cannot efficiently deliver in-house, including four day schools — TEC Campus School (ages 3-21, special needs and complex disabilities), TEC High School (grades 8-12, internalizing behaviors), TEC Academy–Phoenix (grades 6-12, external emotional/behavioral challenges), and TEC Academy–Lower Campus (grades K-2, social-emotional and behavioral needs).

Beyond direct instruction, TEC operates a diversified service portfolio that includes TEC Connections Learning (TECCL) for online K-12 course delivery with MA-certified teachers, Professional Development workshops (Fuse MA Fellowship with Highlander Institute, license renewal, degree programs), TEC Bids Cooperative Purchasing (competitive-bid procurement for supplies and fuel), TEC Student Data Privacy Alliance (vendor contract negotiation support), and College and Career Exploration programs (internships, college fairs, field studies). Revenue mechanics are driven by per-pupil tuition from sending districts for special education placements, modest per-session workshop fees ($25 member / $35 non-member), a $750 annual Cooperative Purchasing participation fee for non-members, and 80 free online learning seats per member district per school year.

The organization employs 51-100 staff and operates without external equity funding, parent company, or M&A activity. Governance is vested in a Board of Directors representing the member districts, creating a closed-loop structure where the customer base and ownership overlap. TEC's competitive position rests on its DESE regulatory approvals, multi-decade incumbency, integrated therapeutic-academic service model, and institutional relationships that would be costly for any new entrant to replicate.

Name

The Education Cooperative

Legal name

The Education Cooperative

Website

https://tec-coop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Education Cooperative (TEC) is a Massachusetts-based non-profit educational collaborative serving 19 member school districts with DESE-approved special education day schools, online learning, professional development, cooperative purchasing, and student data privacy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Special Education & Related Services (IEP Delivery Online) (EDAJADAG), Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Therapeutic day schools
• Professional development workshops
• Cooperative purchasing program
• K-12 online learning

Headquarters

HQ city

East Walpole

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Special Education School Enrollment: TEC operates approved special education day schools serving students ages 3-21 with special needs and complex disabilities. Students are placed by their sending school districts.
2. Professional Development Workshops: TEC offers professional learning workshops, license renewal courses, degree programs, and job-alike groups for teachers and administrators. Fees range from $25 for member districts to $35 for non-members per workshop session.
3. Cooperative Purchasing Program: TEC manages competitive bidding on behalf of member districts for office supplies, classroom materials, custodial supplies, athletic equipment, and fuel. Non-member district participation fee is $750 annually.
4. TEC Online Learning Licenses: TEC Connections Learning (TECCL) provides K-12 online courses with MA-certified teacher support. Member districts receive 80 free seats per school year including summer.
5. Internship Program Fees: Career internship and field study placement program for high school and college students in the Boston MetroWest area.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Education Cooperative operates DESE-approved special education and therapeutic day schools serving students ages 3-21 with special needs, complex disabilities, and emotional/behavioral challenges across four school programs. It also delivers professional development for educators, K-12 online learning through TEC Connections Learning with MA-certified teachers, cooperative purchasing for member districts, internship and college/career exploration programs, and student data privacy alliance services.

Product overview

The Education Cooperative (TEC) is the oldest public, non-profit educational collaborative in Massachusetts, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services. The organization operates four DESE-approved school programs: TEC Campus School (special education for ages 3-21), TEC High School (therapeutic day school for grades 8-12), TEC Academy – Phoenix (therapeutic day school for grades 6-12), and TEC Academy – Lower Campus (grades K-2). Supporting these schools are professional development services including the Fuse MA Fellowship, TEC Professional Development workshops and degree programs, and the Educator Rejuvenation program. TEC provides educational advancement services including TEC Online Learning (TEC Connections Learning) for K-12 online courses with MA-certified teachers, an Internship Certificate Program placing nearly 100 students annually, and College Fairs. Business services include TEC Student Data Privacy Services (vendor negotiation support) and TEC Bids Cooperative Purchasing (competitive purchasing for school supplies, food, and equipment). Together, these offerings serve 19 member school districts and expand opportunities for students, educators, and communities across Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TEC Campus School: A small and supportive special education community serving individuals with special needs and complex disabilities for ages 3-21.
• TEC High School
• TEC Academy - Phoenix
• TEC Academy - Lower Campus
• TEC Connections Learning (TECCL)
• TEC Student Data Privacy Alliance
• TEC Bids Cooperative Purchasing

Products and services

• TEC Campus School DESE-approved special education public day school in East Walpole serving individuals with special needs and complex disabilities for ages 3-21 in a small, supportive environment with DESE-licensed staff.
• TEC High School Therapeutic day school for students in grades 8-12 with internalizing behaviors and social-emotional challenges, focusing on personal wellness, academic achievement, and college and career readiness.
• TEC Academy – Phoenix Therapeutic day school for students in grades 6-12 with external emotional and behavioral challenges, focusing on developing positive behavioral skills, academic success, identifying personal goals, and post-secondary experiences.
• TEC Academy – Lower Campus Specialized program providing a nurturing and supportive environment for students in grades K-2 who face social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges that hinder their participation in general education settings.
• TEC Online Learning (TEC Connections Learning) DESE-approved online K-12 courses with MA-licensed online teacher support, including synchronous LiveLesson sessions, aligned to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks; covers Core Courses, Advanced Placement, Electives, CTE, World Languages, and National Test Prep.
• TEC Professional Development Professional learning offerings for teachers, administrators, and school-related staff including license renewal workshops, degree programs, job-alike groups, and the Fuse MA Fellowship for blended and personalized learning strategies.
• TEC Student Data Privacy Services (Student Data Privacy Alliance) Collaborative service model providing schools and districts with administrative and legal support to negotiate student data privacy terms with their software vendors.
• TEC Bids Cooperative Purchasing Cooperative purchasing program offering competitive bid savings on thousands of products including food, office and school supplies, custodial, athletic equipment, and fuel for member school districts, with over 30 years of continuous operation.
• TEC Internship Certificate Program Career internship and field study placement program supporting junior and senior high school students as well as college students in the Boston Metrowest area, placing nearly 100 students annually in 60-hour career-based internships.
• TEC College Fairs Opportunities for high school students to engage with local and nationally known college representatives as they navigate post-secondary education options.
• TEC Field Study Certificate Program Field study placement program supporting students as they explore career and educational pathways.
• Fuse MA Fellowship Fellowship program in partnership with Highlander Institute focused on blended and personalized learning strategies, resource sharing, coaching, and cross-district collaboration for educators across Massachusetts.
• TEC Educator Rejuvenation Program designed to address educator burnout and provide support through professional development focused on well-being and renewal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 students placed in career internships annually through the Internship & Career Exploration Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives (MOEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEC is a member of MOEC, which supports and represents educational collaboratives across Massachusetts. This affiliation provides networking, advocacy, and resource-sharing among educational collaboratives in the state.
• TEC Connections Learning (TECCL) / TECCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEC Connections Learning is supported by TECCA (Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School) to provide high-quality online courses for K-12 students in member districts with MA-certified online teacher support.
• PFLAGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPFLAG (the largest organization for the LGBTQ+ community, families and allies) partnered with TEC to deliver professional development workshop on Cultivating Safe Schools for LGBTQ+ Students.
• Highlander InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEC partners with Highlander Institute to deliver the Fuse MA Fellowship program, which trains educators in blended and personalized learning strategies, coaching, and cross-district collaboration.
• Member School Districts (19 districts)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner19 Massachusetts school districts (Canton, Dedham, Dover, Dover-Sherborn, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, King Philip, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norwood, Sharon, Sherborn, Walpole, Wayland, Westwood) collaborate with TEC to provide specialized educational services, professional development, and cooperative purchasing programs.
• Community Organizations (Cradles to Crayons, Community Servings, etc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEC High School students engage in community service with organizations like Cradles to Crayons (Newton), Community Servings (Jamaica Plain), Binney Wakefield Arboretum, and New Life Furniture (Walpole) as part of transition and life skills programs.
• Greater Boston Home Health Care ServicesminorOthersDonated a personalized augmentative communication device for a graduating TEC student to support communication skills.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Valley Collaborative: Massachusetts educational collaborative serving member districts with special education, therapeutic day school, and professional development programs, structurally and operationally identical to TEC and competing for the same sending-district referrals.
• CASE Collaborative: Massachusetts educational collaborative providing special education, professional development, and cooperative services to member districts, operating under the same MOEC/MDESE framework as TEC.
• Collaborative for Educational Services (CES): Western Massachusetts educational collaborative providing professional development, special education, and cooperative purchasing to member school districts.
• LABBB Collaborative: Massachusetts collaborative serving special education students ages 3-22 with therapeutic and academic programs, direct overlap with TEC Campus School and TEC Academy service models.
• Shore Educational Collaborative: Massachusetts collaborative operating therapeutic and special education day school programs for districts on the North Shore, comparable service mix and regulatory environment as TEC.
• Greenbush Education Cooperative: Kansas-based educational collaborative offering special education, professional development, and cooperative services to member districts; demonstrates the multi-state scalability of the collaborative model TEC operates.
• ACCEPT Education Collaborative: Massachusetts collaborative offering therapeutic day school, specialized instruction, and cooperative services to member districts in the MetroWest/Northeast region.

Broad incumbents

• Catapult Learning: National provider of special education, behavioral health, and professional development services to K-12 districts; broader geographic and program footprint but overlapping therapeutic and supplemental service category.
• SESI (Specialized Education Services): National operator of therapeutic day schools and specialized education programs for students with special needs, addressing the same IEP-driven out-of-district placement market as TEC's campuses.

Emerging players

• The Menta Group: Regional operator of therapeutic day schools and alternative education programs for students with emotional/behavioral needs, competing for similar referrals though concentrated in the Midwest.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Education_Coop
• Facebookfacebook.com/EducationCoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-education-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 The Education Cooperative