What Educational Service District 105 does

Educational Service District 105 (ESD 105) is a regional public educational service agency created by Washington State statute (RCW 28A.310) in 1969 and headquartered in Yakima, Washington. It operates as one of nine Educational Service Districts under the oversight of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), serving 25 public school districts and more than 20 state-approved private and tribal schools across Kittitas, Yakima, and portions of Grant and Klickitat counties in South Central Washington. The agency serves an in-region population of approximately 66,000 students and supports nearly 4,000 educators, governed by a seven-member board elected by school board members.

ESD 105's core offering is a cooperative service portfolio spanning five areas: Academic Support (art, career readiness, computer science, early learning, math, science, migrant education), District Support Services (fiscal services, K20 networking, regional transportation, workers' compensation, PR and marketing), Educator Support (professional development, certification, clock hours, TPEP evaluation training, B.E.S.T. Grant), Student Support Programs (ATTEND Network, Open Doors 105 GED+, PBIS, school-based behavioral health, school nurse corps), and Special Services (special education cooperatives, LINK Transition Center). The agency operates 22 early learning sites, a transportation center in Union Gap, and multiple buildings in downtown Yakima. Underlying technology consists of standard educational platforms—Canvas LMS, Skyward/Qmlativ student information systems, and Laserfiche document management—rather than proprietary systems.

The business model is a hybrid public funding structure: 97% of revenue derives from grants, cooperative fees, and self-directed service contracts with districts, while only 3% comes from direct state legislative appropriations. ESD 105 reports a force-multiplier ratio of $43 in services delivered to schools for every $1 in state core funding. Approximately 300 employees staff the agency. Customers are exclusively public school districts and private/tribal schools within the statutory service region, and the go-to-market is relationship-driven through cooperative agreements and direct district contracts rather than competitive sales. ESD 105 is not a for-profit entity; it is a government agency with no parent company, no equity funding, and no acquisition history.

Name

Educational Service District 105

Legal name

Educational Service District 105

Website

https://esd105.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Educational Service District 105 is a Washington State regional educational agency that operates cooperatives and shared services for 25 public school districts and 20+ private and tribal schools across South Central Washington, serving roughly 66,000 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Educational Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Educational service agency
• School district support
• Cooperative education programs
• Professional development services
• Regional education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yakima

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cooperative Programs and Services: ESD 105 operates cooperatives for services of mutual benefit to member districts, pooling resources to provide access to services districts may not be able to offer independently. Revenue comes from cooperative fees and service contracts.
2. Federal and Foundation Grants: The majority of ESD funding (97%) is derived from grants, cooperatives, and self-directed initiatives. Only 3% comes from direct legislative appropriations.
3. State Core Funding: Minimal direct state appropriation, accounting for approximately 3% of total revenue.
4. Fees for Services: Revenue generated from providing administrative, business, financial support services, professional development, and training to districts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Educational Service District 105 is a public regional educational service agency that delivers cooperative programs, shared administrative services, professional development, and direct student services to 25 public school districts and more than 20 private and tribal schools across South Central Washington. It operates approximately 60 programs and cooperatives, ranging from early learning and special education to technology infrastructure, transportation, and the Open Doors 105 GED+ program. The agency leverages state core funding through grants and cooperative fees to deliver approximately $43 in services to schools for every $1 in state core funding received.

Product overview

Educational Service District 105 is a regional educational agency providing a comprehensive portfolio of cooperative services to 25 public school districts and over 20 private/tribal schools in South Central Washington. The organization operates as a multi-resource support site offering services across five core areas: Academic Support Programs (spanning art, computer science, career readiness, early learning, math, science, and more), District Support Services (including fiscal, technology/K20 networking, transportation, and superintendent resources), Educator Support (professional development, certification, clock hours, and evaluation programs), Student Support Programs (attendance, behavioral health, alternative education/Open Doors GED+), and Special Services (special education and early learning cooperatives). The portfolio includes named offerings such as Open Doors 105 GED+ program, ATTEND Network, K20 Networking, the Ed Tech Lending Library, and the B.E.S.T. Grant for new educators. ESD 105 serves approximately 66,000 students across Kittitas, Yakima, and portions of Grant and Klickitat counties through resource leveraging and cooperative programs that deliver approximately $43 in services to schools for every $1 in state core funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Doors 105 (GED+ Program) A GED+ program helping students reconnect with their education and earn a high school equivalency certificate, currently serving approximately 150 students at the ESD Annex location.
• Early Learning Services Services for children ages 0-5 including Blossoms Early Learning Center, Head Start Seedlings Centers, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), Full Day Kindergarten, and Preschool Special Education, delivered at 22 sites across the region.
• Regional Transportation Services Regional transportation management, pupil transportation training (CWU partnership), and inter-district transportation for students experiencing homelessness (90+ students transported 200,000+ miles annually).
• Migrant Education Program Partners with districts to ensure migrant-eligible students have equitable access to educational opportunities through advocacy, supplemental programming, family partnerships, and removal of barriers to academic success.
• District Support Services Operational support services for school districts including Fiscal Services, the Greater Columbia River Information Service Center, Public Relations & Marketing, Superintendent Resources, Technology Services (K20 Networking), and Workers' Compensation.
• Educator Support Services Professional development and certification services for educators including Educator Growth and Development, Certification, Clock Hours, Fingerprinting, Leader Impact Network, Paraeducator Certificate Program, TPEP evaluation training, and B.E.S.T. Grant for new educators.
• Academic Support Programs Comprehensive academic support services covering Art, Career Readiness, Computer Science, Educational Technology, Early Learning, English Language Arts, Instructional Improvement, Math, Migrant Services, Science, Social Studies, and Special Services, including the Washington State Fellows' Network.
• Student Support Programs Student welfare services including 21st Century Community Learning, Attendance and Reengagement (ATTEND Network), CPWI, Health Services (School Nurse Corps), Knowledge Bowl, MTSS, PBIS, School Safety, School Climate Transformation, and School-Based Behavioral Health Services.
• Special Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides $43 in services for every $1 in state core funding received
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Heritage UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2025Joint statement issued regarding premature closure of Yakima Grow Your Own Consortium. Partnership for educational initiatives in South Central Washington.
• Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESD 105 carries out liaison activities between local school districts, OSPI, and the State Board of Education as part of Washington's K-12 education system consisting of local districts, ESDs, OSPI, and the State Board of Education.
• Yakama NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner providing educational services. ESD 105 supports Yakama Nation Tribal School and maintains collaborative relationship.
• Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESD 105 Board of Directors is a member of the statewide Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD). Region supports WASA 'Big 3' platform for legislative priorities.
• Workforce Education & Business (WEB) AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on career readiness and workforce engagement between education and business sectors.
• Greater Columbia River Information Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional information service center partnership providing fiscal and operations support to districts.
• Washington Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESD 105 is one of 9 ESDs in Washington State, part of the statewide AESD organization coordinating educational service delivery.
• LEADER Impact NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development initiative launched by ESD 105 in partnership with College Spark, providing RISE scholarships to support educational leaders.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Educational Service District 114: West Sound ESD serving Kitsap, Mason, and parts of Pierce counties; operates comparable regional service cooperatives and special education administrative functions.
• Educational Service District 101: Sister Educational Service District serving northeast Washington, operating under the same RCW 28A.310 statutory framework with comparable cooperative, special education, and regional service functions.
• Educational Service District 113: Southwest Washington ESD serving districts around Thurston, Mason, and Lewis counties; operates analogous cooperative services, special education, and migrant education programs under the same state framework.
• Educational Service District 123: Adjacent ESD serving the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla region; provides parallel cooperative services, early learning, and migrant education programs to districts in southeastern Washington.
• Educational Service District 171: North Central ESD serving Wenatchee, Okanogan, and Chelan/Douglas counties; provides parallel cooperative services across academic, special education, and migrant education programs.
• Educational Service District 189: Northwest ESD serving Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties; operates cooperative programs, special education administration, and migrant education services in northwest Washington.

Emerging players

• Erie 1 BOCES: New York Boards of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared educational services to component school districts—an analogous cooperative regional education service model outside Washington.

Broad incumbents

• Nebraska Educational Service Units: Statewide network of Educational Service Units providing cooperative services, special education, and staff development to Nebraska school districts—a structurally similar regional education service model.
• Iowa Area Education Agencies: Statewide system of 9 Area Education Agencies providing regional education services, special education support, and professional development to Iowa school districts—an analogous regional cooperative model.
• Education Service Center Region 20: Texas Education Service Center serving San Antonio-area districts with cooperative purchasing, professional development, and student services—comparable regional service intermediary model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/esd105
• Facebookfacebook.com/esd105
• Instagraminstagram.com/esd_105

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Educational Service District 105