What Progressive Education Network does

Progressive Education Network (PEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that supports a network of thousands of educators and hundreds of partner schools across the United States and internationally. With roots as the Progressive Education Association founded in 1919, PEN connects like-minded progressive educators through its biannual national conference, its flagship professional development program NIPEN (National Institute of the Progressive Education Network), the annual Institute for Imaginative Inquiry, and NewPEN, an online engagement series for educators newer to progressive pedagogy. The organization explicitly focuses on advancing student-centered, equity-oriented teaching practices in both public and private school settings.

PEN's core offering is professional development and community, not technology products. The network distributes its programs through partner schools (including Antioch University as a credit-bearing PD partner), regional and national conferences (e.g., PEN 2026 in Columbus, Ohio), and virtual cohorts and asynchronous forums. Its technology stack is minimal: a WordPress-based website handling membership listings, events, donations, and a partner job board; no proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or integration ecosystem is disclosed.

PEN's revenue model blends three streams: tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations, professional development institute fees (e.g., Imaginative Inquiry Summer Institute at $1,350-$1,400 per participant, Critical Skills Classroom Immersion credit course at $1,644), and biannual conference registration fees. Pricing structures include early-registration discounts (15%), public-school educator discounts (20%), group discounts (30% for three or more educators), and scholarships to broaden access. With 1-10 employees and no public revenue disclosure, PEN operates as a small staff organization reliant on partner schools and donor support, executing its mission primarily through events, programs, and community convenings rather than a scalable technology product.

Name

Progressive Education Network

Legal name

Progressive Education Network

Website

https://progressiveeducationnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Progressive Education Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1919 that supports a community of thousands of educators and hundreds of partner schools through professional development (NIPEN), biannual national conferences, online cohorts, and a partner school directory advancing progressive, equity-focused pedagogy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Development and Education Network Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Progressive education network
• Educator professional development
• Nonprofit education association
• Teacher training institutes
• Education conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PEN relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to support network operations, professional development programs, and conference activities.
2. Professional Development Programs: Revenue from professional development institutes including NIPEN (National Institute of PEN), Summer Institutes, and workshops. Programs like Imaginative Inquiry Summer Institute charge $1350-$1400 per participant with early bird and group discounts available.
3. Conference Fees: Biannual national conferences generate revenue through registration fees. PEN 2026 conference in Columbus, Ohio features member discounts for school registrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Progressive Education Network (PEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a community-led network advancing progressive education. It sells professional development programs (NIPEN, Institute for Imaginative Inquiry, summer workshops), biannual national conferences, online engagement series (NewPEN), and partner school membership services to progressive educators, teachers, and schools.

Product overview

Progressive Education Network (PEN) is a network organization rather than a traditional product company. It offers a unified portfolio of professional development and networking services centered around advancing progressive education: the flagship NIPEN program provides immersive school-based learning experiences; the biannual national conference convenes educators for shared learning; the Institute for Imaginative Inquiry offers summer training in inquiry-based methods; and NewPEN and the Forum/Listserv provide online engagement platforms. Additionally, PEN facilitates a partner school network with benefits including job posting and event sharing services. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with roots dating to 1919 as the Progressive Education Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIPEN (National Institute of the Progressive Education Network)

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Children's Community SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in PEN network, serving as beacon for progressive education practices
• The Crefeld SchoolcoreOthersIndependent coeducational day school serving grades 7-12, accredited by PAIS and MSA, emphasizing social justice
• The Falk SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• The Marylhurst SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• The Miquon SchoolcoreOthersProgressive independent school founded 1932, serving Nursery through 6th grade with 150 students on 10+ acre campus with woods, creek, and bamboo forest
• Westland SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Willowwind SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• The Children's SchoolcoreOthersAge 3 – grade 8 school in Atlanta empowering students through play-based and project-based learning
• Plato AcademycoreOthersPartner school where each student has a voice, nurturing capable and competent individuals
• The Common SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• PS1coreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Presidio Hill SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• City and Country SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• City Neighbors Foundation SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• City Neighbors High SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• NCCL SchoolcoreOthersNewark Center for Creative Learning - independent progressive elementary and middle school with 80 students K-8, 10:1 ratio
• Presidio Knolls SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Park Day SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Peconic Community SchoolcoreOthersNonprofit 501(c)3 independent progressive school founded 2012, 95 students ages 3 through Grade 8, in Cutchogue NY
• Prairie Creek Community SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Midwest Academy InccoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Hanahau'oli SchoolcoreOthersPreeminent independent elementary school in Hawai'i founded 1918, hosts Professional Development Center for PEN programs
• Free Union Country SchoolcoreOthersCommunity-based elementary school founded 1984 with progressive education tradition
• The Philadelphia SchoolcoreOthersPreschool through 8th grade progressive education school celebrating 50 years, connecting lessons to the real world
• University Cooperative SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Walden SchoolcoreOthersIndependent Pre-K to 6th-grade school with 50+ year commitment to progressive practice, social-emotional learning, and diversity
• Red Oak Community SchoolcoreOthersIndependent school with no tests, grades or homework; values social justice, cultural diversity, and neurodiversity
• Serendipity SchoolcoreOthersPartner school where children love coming to school, experiencing deep learning through active joyful discovery
• Antioch UniversitycoreOthersUniversity partner spanning coast-to-coast with online and low-residency locations, sharing progressive values aligned with PEN mission
• Watkinson SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• The Park School of BaltimorecoreOthersPre-K through Grade 12 Progressive School with belief in student's capacity to enjoy learning
• Friends School of MinnesotacoreOthersGuided by progressive education principles with small classes of 14-18 children and 7-to-1 student-teacher ratio
• Park West Cooperative Nursery SchoolcoreOthersFounded 1971 by parents, based on developmental theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Dewey with play-based curriculum
• North Branch SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Lowell SchoolcoreOthersPrivate school serving 350 students PK-grade 8 in Washington DC, promoting democratic values and active citizenship
• Capitol Hill Day SchoolcoreOthersEngages diverse community of students connecting classroom to larger world
• The Waverly SchoolcoreOthersProgressive coeducational college prep school in Pasadena CA serving preschool-12th grade with nearly 350 students
• The River SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network in Washington DC
• Antigua Green SchoolcoreOthersInternational partner school in Antigua focused on progressive education
• Revolution SchoolcoreOthersBreaking down the walls between learning and life
• The Northwest SchoolcoreOthersPartner school in progressive education network
• Sheridan SchoolcoreOthersIndependent school partner in progressive education network located in Washington DC

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Facing History and Ourselves: Facing History provides PD, curricula, and resources for educators on equity, social justice, and historical consciousness—directly overlapping with PEN's equity-centered mission. Both serve progressive K-12 educators seeking deeper engagement with justice-oriented pedagogy.
• National Equity Project: National Equity Project provides coaching, PD, and leadership development to educators focused on equity and deeper learning—closely aligned with PEN's equity-and-justice-centered mission and progressive school audience.
• Coalition of Essential Schools: Founded on progressive education principles by Ted Sizer, Coalition of Essential Schools serves as a network of schools and educators committed to student-centered pedagogy. It is a direct peer with overlapping mission around progressive school reform and educator community building.
• Center for Collaborative Education: CCE works with schools and districts to redesign education around deeper learning, equity, and student-centered practices, overlapping strongly with PEN's progressive education focus. It offers PD and consulting to school communities, comparable to PEN's NIPEN and conference programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): NAIS is the largest US membership organization for independent K-12 schools, offering conferences, PD, and resources that overlap with PEN's progressive school audience. It is a broader incumbent serving all independent schools, not specifically the progressive subset.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): NAEYC is the largest US professional association focused on early childhood education, offering conferences, PD, and resources overlapping with several PEN partner schools that begin at PK or preschool. It is a broader incumbent serving all early childhood educators, not specifically progressive.
• Bank Street College of Education: Bank Street is a graduate school of education founded on progressive principles (Dewey tradition), offering PD and training to educators. It shares PEN's progressive education DNA but operates as a degree-granting institution rather than a membership network.

Others

• American Educational Research Association (AERA): AERA is the largest US research organization in education, hosting annual conferences and publications relevant to PEN's educator audience. It is an adjacent scholarly community rather than a direct competitor, but provides alternative PD and networking for research-oriented educators.

Emerging players

• Highlander Research and Education Center: Highlander is a nonprofit education and organizing center with a long history of providing PD rooted in social justice, similar to PEN's equity mission. Both serve educators and community leaders working for social change, though Highlander's scope extends beyond K-12 schools.
• Association for Constructivist Education: A niche professional association focused on constructivist pedagogy, which is closely related to progressive education principles. It serves a similar educator audience and offers PD events, but at a smaller scale than PEN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProgEdNet
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProgressiveEducationNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-progressive-education-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Progressive Education Network