Zumbro Education District

What Zumbro Education District does

Zumbro Education District (ZED) is a public education cooperative organized under Minnesota state law, serving approximately 9,500 students across six southeastern Minnesota member school districts: Blooming Prairie, Byron, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, Stewartville, and Triton. Founded in 1998 and led by Executive Director Patrick Gordon, ZED delivers a portfolio of specialized programs and itinerant services that individual districts could not cost-effectively maintain independently. Core programs include the Area Learning Center (alternative education for grades 6-12), Birth-to-Three early intervention, Early Childhood Special Education (birth to age 7), Transition 2 Success (ages 18-22), and the Futures/SUN Program (Federal Setting 4 services for students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder). Itinerant services span 14 disciplines including assistive technology, speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy, behavior analysis (BCBA-level), school psychology, audiology, deaf/hard of hearing, English learner, physical health disabilities, ECSE evaluation, and blind/visual impairment support.

ZED's revenue model is publicly funded and stable: member districts contribute operating funding, the Minnesota Department of Education channels state special education allocations, and a federal Carl Perkins grant (administered through the Southeast Service Cooperative) supports career and technical education. Supplemental revenue streams include tuition from the ZED Summer Academy for gifted students ($125 full / $62.50 scholarship) and facility rental income from the Kasson headquarters building. Technology infrastructure is conventional — Infinite Campus for student information, Google Workspace for internal operations, Autobooks for online tuition payments, and Applitrack for employment applications — with no proprietary technology, AI/ML components, or paid consumer product surface. The organization is governed by a board composed of the Executive Director plus one school board representative from each member district and is accountable to the Minnesota Department of Education.

ZED's competitive position rests on efficient scale: aggregating credentialed specialized staff across six districts produces service depth (BCBAs, school psychologists, audiologists, assistive technology specialists) that no single member district could independently justify. The cooperative structure is reinforced by 25+ years of operating precedent under Minnesota's education cooperative framework, creating a regulatory and institutional lock-in. Marketing is relationship-driven through member-district networks, a website (zumbroed.org), social media (Facebook, Twitter), and recurring student enrichment events (Science Fair, Academic Triathlon, Choral Festival, Art Show, Creative Writing Contest). Customer concentration is structurally High — revenue depends on six districts and state funding — but churn risk is low due to institutional governance ties.

Name

Zumbro Education District

Legal name

Zumbro Education District

Website

https://zumbroed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zumbro Education District is a Minnesota public education cooperative serving approximately 9,500 students across six member school districts with specialized programs (Area Learning Center, Birth-to-Three, Transition 2 Success) and itinerant therapy and support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Cooperative Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Early intervention programs
• Alternative education programs
• Educational cooperative services
• Student enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Byron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member District Contributions: Member school districts contribute funding to support ZED operations and specialized services for students with disabilities.
2. State Education Funding: ZED receives state education funding through the Minnesota Department of Education, accountable to state regulations for providing special education and early intervention services.
3. Perkins Grant: Federal Perkins grant funding for career and technical education, administered through Southeast Service Cooperative, supporting applied academic curricula and work-based learning opportunities.
4. Summer Academy Fees: Tuition-based summer enrichment program for gifted and talented students in grades 3-6, with scholarship options available.
5. Facility Rental: ZED offers its building facilities for rental to community groups, non-profit organizations, and approved private entities for educational, community, and approved private events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zumbro Education District (ZED) operates as a collaborative educational cooperative providing specialized educational services to six member school districts in southeastern Minnesota. It delivers core programs including the Area Learning Center (alternative school for grades 6-12), Early Childhood Special Education (birth to age 7), Birth-to-Three Early Intervention, Futures/SUN Program, and Transition 2 Success, alongside 14 itinerant support services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior analysis, school psychology, assistive technology, audiology, and related services) and six student enrichment activities.

Product overview

Zumbro Education District operates as a collaborative educational cooperative providing a comprehensive portfolio of specialized programs and services to six member school districts in southeastern Minnesota. The organization offers four core educational programs: the Area Learning Center (alternative high school for grades 6-12), Early Childhood Special Education (birth to age 7), Birth-to-Three Early Intervention, and Transition 2 Success (for students age 18-22). The Futures/SUN Program provides specialized Federal Setting 4 services for students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, ZED delivers 14 itinerant support services including Assistive Technology, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Psychologists, Behavior Analysts, Audiology, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, English Learner, Physical Health Disabilities, ECSE Evaluator, Blind/Visual Impairment, and Carl Perkins/Tech Prep services. The district also coordinates six student enrichment programs: Academic Triathlon, Creative Writing Contest, Choral Festival, ZED Science Fair, Traveling & Virtual Art Show, and ZED Summer Academy. These programs serve approximately 9,500 students across Blooming Prairie, Byron, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, Stewartville, and Triton school districts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Area Learning Center (ALC) An alternative public school serving students in grades 6-12 within the Zumbro Education District. Designed to support at-risk students by providing flexible, personalized educational programs aimed at helping them stay or get back on track for graduation and achieve academic success.
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Specialized services for children from birth to age 7 who have developmental delays or medical needs. Provides early intervention and support in cognition, communication, self-help, physical development, vision, hearing, and social/behavioral skills.
• Transition 2 Success (T2S) A non-credit based program for students age 18-22 who qualify for extended services beyond their senior year. Focuses on job skills, independent living, recreation and leisure, home living skills, and community participation as outlined in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
• Futures/SUN Program A Federal Setting 4 program offering intense educational services for students who have qualified for special education services under Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Provides individualized instruction through an IEP with emphasis on behavioral functioning, social skills, and self-advocacy.
• Birth-to-Three Early Intervention Early intervention services for children between birth and three years old experiencing developmental delays. Services are provided in natural environments including home, child care, and community settings, with parent education and caregiver coaching.
• Assistive Technology Services Provides support in selection and implementation of assistive devices, software, and tools for students with diverse learning needs. Includes training and guidance for staff and families in member districts to foster inclusive learning environments.
• Speech Therapy Speech-language pathology services provided by licensed professionals to support students with communication disorders. Services include evaluation, individual therapy, and consultation with teachers and families.
• Occupational Therapy Services supporting students in developing skills necessary for daily activities and academic success, including fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-regulation. Therapists collaborate with teachers and families to create tailored interventions.
• Physical Therapy Physical therapy services provided to students with physical or health impairments to improve mobility, strength, and functional abilities. Services are distributed across member districts including Byron, Stewartville, Blooming Prairie, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, and Triton.
• School Psychologist Services Psychological services including evaluations to assist educational teams, counseling as a related service for special needs students, behavior management consultation, and professional development for school personnel.
• Behavior Analyst Services Services provided by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) who hold Masters Degrees and graduate-level certifications. Specialty area is behavior management including developing behavior plans, assessing instructional programs, and providing staff training.
• Audiology Services Hearing-related services including interpreting hearing test results, providing in-services on hearing loss impact, recommending and managing assistive listening devices, and collaborating with Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southeast Service CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe ZED Consortium for the Perkins grant is administered through Southeast Service Cooperative in Rochester. Jami Schwickerath serves as the Secondary Perkins Consortia Coordinator for ZED, implementing applied academic curricula and coordinating career development materials and work-based learning opportunities.
• Help Me Grow (Minnesota)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide Minnesota program for early intervention services. ZED uses the Help Me Grow Portal for referrals of children with developmental concerns. The program provides resources for families and connects children ages birth to 3 with early intervention services.
• Region 10 Low Incidence ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional resource providing support and information for students with low-incidence disabilities, referenced as a general link for special education resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Resource Training & Solutions: Minnesota education service cooperative providing special education and professional development services to member school districts in central Minnesota, comparable in structure and member-funded service delivery to ZED.
• High Plains Regional Education Cooperative: New Mexico regional education cooperative providing special education, related services, and shared programming to member districts, structurally similar to ZED's regional service model.
• Region 10 Education Service Center: Texas regional ESC that delivers specialized support services — including special education, professional development, and shared programming — to multiple member school districts, structurally analogous to ZED's service cooperative model.
• Northwest Regional Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD that provides special education, early intervention, and ancillary services to multiple component school districts, paralleling ZED's cooperative delivery of itinerant specialized services.
• Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA): Wisconsin's network of regional CESAs pool resources across member districts to deliver special education, professional development, and student services — the same multi-district cooperative role ZED plays in southeastern Minnesota.
• Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District: Minnesota intermediate school district that operates specialized programs (special education, career-tech, alternative education) for member districts, directly analogous to ZED's role as a regional service provider in southeastern Minnesota.

Broad incumbents

• Sourcewell (formerly NJPA): Minnesota-based cooperative serving government, education, and nonprofit agencies with a broader procurement and service portfolio than ZED, but operating under the same cooperative model for member institutions.

Others

• Southeast Service Cooperative: A Minnesota regional service cooperative that administers grants and cooperative programs for school districts in the region, including the Perkins grant for ZED. Direct partner with overlapping governance territory.
• TIES (Technology in Education Cooperative): Minnesota education cooperative providing technology and instructional services to school districts, comparable to ZED in operating under a member-district cooperative structure for shared educational services.

Regional players

• Southwest–West Central Service Cooperative: Minnesota regional service cooperative delivering educational and shared services to member districts in a different region of the state — same cooperative model and service orientation as ZED, but in non-overlapping geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZumbroEducation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZED6012

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Zumbro Education District