What Clackamas Education Service District does

Clackamas Education Service District (CESD) is a public regional Education Service District and political subdivision of the State of Oregon that provides administrative, educational, and technology support services to all 10 public school districts in Clackamas County (Canby, Colton, Estacada, Gladstone, Lake Oswego, Molalla River, North Clackamas, Oregon City, Oregon Trail, and West Linn-Wilsonville). The organization operates through five service departments: Early Learning (Head Start to Success, Preschool Promise, EI/ECSE, PEER Preschool, Clackamas Early Learning Center), Special Programs (Heron Creek Therapeutic Program, LEEP, Motor Team, Medicaid billing, Transition Network), Teaching & Learning (curriculum, AI integration, STEM, literacy, math, multilingual learners, MCREN, professional development), Technology Services, and Communications.

CESD's core technology products include Synergy Student Information System (hosted for the majority of Clackamas County districts and over 150 districts statewide, managing demographics, attendance, scheduling, grade book, special education, and mobile apps) and Infinite Visions finance/HR software (GL, payroll, benefits, employee self-service for K-12 districts). The organization also operates a 3,000 square foot regional data center providing co-location, network services, internet filtering, and disaster recovery to districts and government clients. Synergy's footprint across 150+ Oregon districts represents the largest commercial-style asset within CESD's portfolio.

CESD's revenue model is overwhelmingly government and grant-funded, with approximately 44% sourced from the Oregon State School Fund and the balance from state and federal grants (Head Start, special education, migrant education), service contracts with partner districts (formalized through annual Local Service Plans), and entrepreneurial services to area partners and businesses (printing, technology). Headcount is approximately 350+ employees dispersed across the county, including about 180 licensed professionals (teachers, specialists, OTs, PTs, speech pathologists). Services to children and families (Head Start, EI/ECSE, screenings) are free for eligible families; PEER Preschool charges $50/month tuition. Governance is by a seven-member publicly elected Board of Directors, and the organization is not venture-backed or privately held.

Name

Clackamas Education Service District

Legal name

Clackamas Education Service District

Website

https://clackesd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clackamas ESD is a public regional Education Service District serving all 10 public school districts in Clackamas County, Oregon with early learning, special education, teaching/learning, technology (Synergy SIS for 150+ districts statewide), and administrative services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Administration of Education Programs (923110), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance, Risk & Audit Support Services (EHS, Title IX/Clery Support, Policy Admin) (EDAEALAK), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), District Finance, Budgeting & Procurement Offices (EDADABAG)

Keywords

• Education support services
• Special education programs
• Early childhood learning
• Student information systems
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Clackamas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State School Fund: Primary funding source from the State of Oregon, representing approximately 44% of total funding. This is the main recurring public funding stream for Oregon education service districts.
2. State and Federal Grants: Grant funding from state and federal sources supporting specific programs such as Head Start, early learning initiatives, special education, and migrant education programs.
3. Service Contracts with Districts: Contracted services with individual school districts for technology support, professional development, special programs, and other customized services as outlined in annual Local Service Plans.
4. Entrepreneurial/Services to Partners: Services provided to area partners and businesses to offset costs to the school districts, including technology services and printing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clackamas Education Service District (CESD) is a regional public education service district that delivers administrative, instructional, and technology support services to all 10 public school districts in Clackamas County, Oregon. Its offerings span early learning and preschool programs, special education and therapeutic services, regional technology infrastructure (including a hosted student information system and finance/HR software), professional development, fiscal services, human resources, and communications support. The organization is funded primarily by the State School Fund (approximately 44%), state and federal grants, and contracted service agreements with partner districts.

Product overview

Clackamas Education Service District provides a comprehensive portfolio of educational support services organized into five major areas: Early Learning (child care support, early learning center, early intervention/ECSE, Head Start, and preschool programs), Special Programs (therapeutic programs, life skills education, therapy services, Medicaid support, and transition services), Teaching & Learning (curriculum support, AI integration, career/technical education, STEM, literacy, math, multilingual learners, professional development, and student services), Technology Services (network/data center hosting, student information systems, finance/HR software), and Communications. The district serves all 10 school districts in Clackamas County, Oregon, providing enterprise-scale solutions at reduced costs. Core technology products include Synergy (student information system) and Infinite Visions (finance/HR software), which are hosted and supported for districts across Oregon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Care Resource & Referral of Clackamas County (CCR&R) Supports high-quality child care throughout Clackamas County by offering professional development, training, and technical support to child care providers, helping providers earn licenses and achieve quality ratings.
• Clackamas Early Learning Center Provides instruction and evaluation services to children ages birth to 5, focusing on accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive support for underserved populations including those experiencing poverty, disabilities, and families speaking languages other than English.
• Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) Delivers early intervention and early childhood special education support to young children with delays or disabilities affecting learning, providing specialized consultation and instruction at no cost to families.
• Head Start to Success & Preschool Promise Provides free comprehensive preschool to three- and four-year-old children experiencing poverty, working in partnership with Canby, North Clackamas, and Oregon Trail school districts.
• PEER Preschool Low-cost inclusive early learning classroom where typically developing children learn alongside children experiencing disabilities, with tuition of $50 per month.
• Heron Creek Therapeutic Program Provides therapeutic services for students with complex cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioral challenges that impact their ability to learn.
• Life Enrichment Education Program (LEEP) Provides comprehensive education for students grades K through transition with complex disabilities and communication needs, supporting academic, social-emotional, communication, and life skills curriculum through Individualized Education Plans.
• Local Educational Agency Motor Team Provides occupational and physical therapy staff support to school district partners, including consultation, assessments, and direct services for students with Individualized Education Plans.
• Medicaid and School-Based Health Services Provides Medicaid administrative claiming and billing support, along with Medicaid fee-for-service process allowing districts to recover costs of medically necessary support to eligible students.
• Regional Technical Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,650+ pre-K children served with special education services and/or free preschool
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Canby School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Canby School District for Head Start to Success free preschool program, with classrooms located at district schools.
• North Clackamas School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with North Clackamas School District for Head Start to Success free preschool program, with classrooms located at district schools.
• Oregon Trail School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Oregon Trail School District for Head Start to Success free preschool program, with classrooms located at district schools.
• Multnomah ESDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual AI Empowered EDU conference, a sold-out event dedicated to exploring artificial intelligence in education, held in May 2025.
• Northwest Regional ESDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual AI Empowered EDU conference dedicated to exploring artificial intelligence in education.
• University of PortlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual AI Empowered EDU conference dedicated to exploring artificial intelligence in education.
• South Metro-Salem STEM PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership for STEM consultant services to expand educator and student access to science, technology, engineering and math courses.
• Clackamas County Children's CommissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for instructional services at the Clackamas Early Learning Center, serving children ages birth to 5.
• Future Generations CollaborativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for instructional services at the Clackamas Early Learning Center.
• Oregon Department of EducationsupportingOthersUses Oregon Equity Lens to evaluate and analyze policies, decisions, and service outcomes. Equity & Inclusion Coordinator previously worked as education equity specialist at ODE.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Tyler Technologies: Owner of Infinite Visions, the K-12 finance/HR software platform that Clackamas ESD hosts for districts statewide. Ecosystem participant and software partner rather than a direct competitor; relevant for understanding the technology supply chain underlying CESD's tech services.

Broad incumbents

• Berks County Intermediate Unit: Pennsylvania intermediate unit providing special education, technology, and professional development services to school districts. Broadly comparable as a regional education service intermediary under a different state framework, with similar service portfolio scope.
• Education Service Center Region 20: Large Texas education service center serving schools across a multi-county region. Broadly comparable as a regional education services intermediary, though operating under Texas rather than Oregon law and at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Lane Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Lane County. Direct peer under the same Oregon statutory framework, providing technology, special education, early learning, and professional development services to partner districts.
• Southern Oregon Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties. Direct peer in the same statewide ESD network, offering comparable technology, special education, and instructional support services to its constituent districts.
• Willamette Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Direct peer under the same Oregon ESD statutory framework, providing special education, technology, and early learning services to partner districts.
• Columbia Gorge Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Hood River and Wasco counties. Direct peer in the same statewide framework; Clackamas ESD's Transition Network already extends into Hood River and Wasco counties, indicating service overlap.
• Northwest Regional Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties. Directly comparable as an Oregon ESD providing back-office, special education, and technology services to constituent districts; co-hosts the AI Empowered EDU conference with Clackamas ESD.
• Multnomah Education Service District: One of Oregon's 19 regional ESDs serving Multnomah County. Directly comparable as a co-host of the AI Empowered EDU conference and as a peer regional service intermediary providing special education, early learning, and technology services to constituent districts.
• High Desert Education Service District: Oregon regional ESD serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties. Direct peer within Oregon's 19-ESD network providing comparable back-office, special education, and technology services to constituent school districts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL2CNMGbsZVx-K3CAPJz3MUSVU99DF9xMF
• Facebookfacebook.com/clackesd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Clackamas Education Service District