Meeting Street

What Meeting Street does

Meeting Street is a Providence, Rhode Island-based non-profit organization (founded 1946) that operates a comprehensive prenatal-to-age-22 service continuum for children with disabilities, developmental delays, and complex medical needs, and for typically developing peers through inclusive programming. Its core delivery consists of four schools (The Grace School K-8, The Carter School ages 14-22, The Schwartz School ages 3-22 in Massachusetts, and the Early Learning Center for ages 6 weeks to 5 years), the RI Pre-K lottery program, and a stack of early childhood family-support programs (Early Intervention in RI and MA, Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, Welcome Family, and WIC). Programs are delivered across three campuses in Providence, Dartmouth, and New Bedford, supported by specialized facilities including aquatic therapy pools, sensory integration rooms, adaptive gyms, and on-site nursing. The technology layer is centered on assistive/adaptive equipment—AAC devices, motorized lifts, gait trainers, switches, and iPads with communication applications—and the legacy 1969 Meeting Street School Screening Test for early learning-disorder identification.

Meeting Street's business model is a diversified non-profit funding stack. School district tuition (paid through IEP processes for special education placements) is a core recurring stream, supplemented by RIDE Pre-K funding, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Early Intervention contracts, a federal Head Start grant, and fee-based tuition at the inclusive Early Learning Center. About 87 cents of every donated dollar is reinvested into programs per the organization, and a $350,000 annual Grace School Scholarship Fund (partially funded through the STEPS RI tax credit program) supports need-based access. The Schwartz Center for Children was merged into Meeting Street in 2014, expanding the footprint into Southeastern Massachusetts. Key certifications—RIDE Pre-K, MA DESE special education, MA DPH Early Intervention, NAEYC accreditation, BrightStars 4-star, Office of Head Start, and LEED—gate access to most of these revenue streams.

Go-to-market is hybrid and segmented by program: community-led referrals and an annual telethon drive awareness and donations; direct district sales through IEP teams anchor special education placements; and direct-to-consumer self-referrals (no doctor referral required) feed Early Intervention, EHS, and ELC enrollment. Outreach is multi-channel across web, social, email (English/Spanish), community events, and partnerships with pediatricians, United Way, and the RI Center for the Book. Day-to-day operations are supported by consumer tools Remind and Brightwheel for family communication, with no public developer API, SDK, or AI/ML infrastructure disclosed.

Name

Meeting Street

Legal name

Meeting Street

Website

https://meetingstreet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Meeting Street is a Providence, RI-based non-profit operating a prenatal-to-age-22 continuum of special education, inclusive K-8 and high school programs, and early intervention/home-visiting services for children with disabilities and developmental delays across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Early Childhood Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Early childhood education
• Inclusive education programs
• Early intervention services
• Developmental therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School District Tuition Payments: Special education tuition is paid by students' local school districts when placement at Meeting Street is determined appropriate through the IEP process. Tuition covers personnel and services needed to meet individual child needs.
2. Government Program Funding: Meeting Street receives funding through Early Intervention (EI) programs funded by state departments of public health, Early Head Start federal grants, and RI Pre-K funding through the RI Department of Education. These programs are provided at no cost to eligible families.
3. Private Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, annual fund contributions, planned giving, endowment funds, and special events including an annual telethon. The organization reports that 87 cents of every dollar donated is reinvested into programs. Federal Tax ID: 05-0269232 (RI), 04-2296947 (MA).
4. Tuition for Inclusive Programs: Early Learning Center operates as a fee-based inclusive program. Financial assistance through The Grace School Scholarship Fund provides $350,000 annually in scholarships for families demonstrating need.
5. RI Tax Credit Program (STEPS): Through partnership with STEPS scholarship granting organization, corporations can receive RI tax credits in exchange for contributing scholarship dollars to The Grace School.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Meeting Street is a non-profit organization that provides a continuum of educational, therapeutic, and developmental services for children prenatal through age 22 across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Core offerings include special education schools (The Carter School, The Schwartz School), inclusive K-8 education (The Grace School), early childhood programs (Early Learning Center, RI Pre-K), Early Intervention services for developmental delays, and home-based family support programs (Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, Welcome Family, WIC). Services are funded through school district tuition, government grants, private donations, and family fees where applicable.

Product overview

Meeting Street is a non-profit educational organization offering a comprehensive continuum of programs for children prenatal to age 22 across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The organization operates multiple school programs (Early Learning Center, RI Pre-K, The Grace School K-8, The Carter School high school, The Schwartz School) alongside early childhood family support services (Early Intervention, Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, Welcome Family, WIC). The product portfolio includes inclusive education services where children with and without special needs learn together, special education with on-site therapies and medical support, and home-based family support programs. Founded in 1946, Meeting Street serves over 5,000 children and families annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Grace School: Fully inclusive K-8 independent school in Providence, RI - the first truly inclusive K-8 school in the nation.
• The Carter School
• The Schwartz School
• Early Learning Center (ELC)

Products and services

• Early Learning Center (ELC) A fully inclusive school for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years located on the Providence campus, featuring infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms with a sensory integration gymnasium and secure outdoor playground. Operates year-round with BrightStars 4-star rating and NAEYC accreditation.
• RI Pre-Kindergarten A lottery-based, high-quality pre-kindergarten program for Providence children, funded and certified by the RI Department of Education (RIDE), providing free early childhood education to 4-year-old residents of Providence.
• The Grace School The nation's first truly inclusive K-8 independent school in Providence, RI, where children with and without special needs learn together. Capped at 18 students per classroom with both general education and special education teachers. Operates as a fee-based inclusive program with scholarship assistance through The Grace School Scholarship Fund.
• The Carter School A high school program for young adults ages 14-22 with special needs, located in Providence, RI. Utilizes a center-based approach with Education, Employment, and Life Skills centers to prepare students for adulthood through academics, vocational training, and independent living skills.
• The Schwartz School Year-round special education in Dartmouth, MA for students ages 3 to 22 with multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. Certified by Massachusetts DESE, offering on-site therapies, aquatic therapy pool, and vocational training.
• Early Intervention (MA) Home-based program of supports and services for children under age 3 experiencing developmental delays in Massachusetts, offering behavioral health, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and sensory/feeding needs at no out-of-pocket cost to families.
• Early Intervention (RI) Program helping families with infants and toddlers experiencing developmental delays in Rhode Island, providing infant mental health, sensory needs, and general nutrition services at no out-of-pocket cost.
• Early Head Start School readiness program providing family-centered home-visiting services to income-qualifying families from prenatal to age 3 in Providence, RI, promoting healthy child development and supporting parents toward self-sufficiency.
• Healthy Families America An evidence-based home visiting program pairing expectant parents or families with children prenatal to age 5 with a Family Support Worker to assist families on their pathway to self-sufficiency.
• Parents as Teachers (MA) A national evidence-based family visiting program in New Bedford, MA providing free voluntary support to families with children prenatal to age 5, including personal home visits, developmental understanding, and community resource connections.
• Welcome Family A free nurse home visit and follow-up support program for mothers with newborns in New Bedford, MA, providing 90-minute health assessments, education, and referrals to services.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Supplemental Nutrition Program providing nutritional assistance and 1:1 counseling at a Providence clinic to ensure healthy starts for children and families, including breastfeeding support and benefits for healthy foods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87 cents of every donated dollar reinvested into programs and services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Brown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1957Meeting Street entered a collaborative long-range Child Development Study with Brown University in 1957, focusing on children with cerebral dysfunction. This partnership contributed to early research in child development.
• RI Department of Education (RIDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting Street's Pre-K program is funded and certified by RIDE. The lottery-based program provides free, high-quality early childhood education to Providence children. Meeting Street collaborates with RIDE on program standards and compliance.
• Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Schwartz School is certified by DESE, ensuring compliance with Massachusetts educational standards for special education services.
• STEPS (Scholarship Tax Credit Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Grace School is a proud partner of STEPS, a scholarship granting organization (SGO) comprised of area independent schools providing robust financial aid to students from low-income households through the RI Scholarship Tax Credit Program.
• U.S. Office of Head Start / Administration for Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly Head Start program supported by Grant Number 01CH013004 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• United Way of New BedfordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for events such as the Community Baby Shower, connecting families with early childhood resources.
• RI Center for the Book / RI Office of Library and Information ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosting Kids Reading Across RI 2026 Kickoff event, presented in partnership with the RI Center for the Book and RI Office of Library and Information Services.
• American FundsminorOthers403B Retirement Plan administered by American Funds with multiple investment options available for employees.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode IslandminorOthersHealth insurance, dental insurance, and vision coverage offered to employees through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Horace Mann Educational Associates (HMEA): Massachusetts-based non-profit providing services to children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. HMEA is a direct peer — Meeting Street's HR Director previously served as HMEA's HR Director, and the two operate overlapping EI, special education, and family support programs across the same geography.
• Easter Seals Rhode Island / Massachusetts: National non-profit network providing early intervention, special education, and disability services. Direct peer delivering EI and family support services in the same New England markets as Meeting Street, including pediatric therapy and inclusive programming.
• Seven Hills Foundation: Massachusetts non-profit providing special education, early intervention, and adult disability services. Direct peer with overlapping pediatric therapy, EI, and special education schools in Southeastern Massachusetts — competing directly with Meeting Street's Schwartz School and South Coast programs.
• Children's Friend (Rhode Island): Rhode Island non-profit providing early childhood education, family support, and child welfare services. Direct peer operating Head Start, EI, and home-visiting programs in the same Providence-area market, competing for similar state contracts and family referrals.
• May Institute: Non-profit providing special education, autism services, and behavioral health across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Direct peer operating special education schools, EI, and family support programs serving children with developmental disabilities similar to Meeting Street's Carter and Schwartz Schools.
• Melmark: Non-profit provider of special education, residential, and clinical services primarily serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Comparable to Meeting Street's continuum of special education schools and EI services, with overlapping New England presence.

Regional players

• Family Service of Rhode Island: Large Rhode Island non-profit providing family counseling, early childhood, and social services. Regional peer operating Head Start, family support, and home-visiting programs comparable to Meeting Street's HFA, Parents as Teachers, and Welcome Family services in the same Providence-area geography.
• The Arc of Rhode Island: State-affiliated non-profit serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Rhode Island. Overlaps with Meeting Street's special education and EI programs; competes for similar state funding and family referrals within the same Rhode Island geography.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national non-profit operating special education schools and behavioral health services across multiple states. Broad incumbent serving a similar population (children with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities) with comparable IEP-based school programs.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Major non-profit hospital and research institution serving children with developmental disabilities and special needs. Broad incumbent operating special education schools, pediatric rehabilitation, and research programs comparable to Meeting Street's therapeutic and educational continuum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@meetingstreetnow
• Facebookfacebook.com/MeetingStreetNow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2178370
• Instagraminstagram.com/meetingstreetnow
• Xx.com/meetstreetnow

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Meeting Street