NCCAT

What NCCAT does

NCCAT is a private, state-funded nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that delivers professional development exclusively to North Carolina public school teachers serving PreK-12, including charter schools. It operates two physical campuses—a main site in Cullowhee (adjacent to Western Carolina University) and an eastern site on Ocracoke Island—and supplements them with on-site school-based training, virtual programming, and self-paced online courses delivered through the Canvas Learning Management System. Programmatic applications are processed through Orbund (nccat.orbundsis.com and learn.nccat.org). Programming spans literacy, math, STEM, digital tools, Holocaust education, beginning-teacher support, and career and technical education (CTE), with two signature teacher recognition programs (Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year and CTE Teacher of the Year).

The organization's revenue model is dominated by annual state appropriations from North Carolina, supplemented by private donations channeled through the Development Foundation of NCCAT, Inc. (established 1994). Most residential and online programming is offered at no direct cost to eligible teachers, who receive food, lodging, materials, and substitute-teacher reimbursements through the Honored Educator Scholarship program. Select revenue-generating streams include School-Based Programming Services (effective January 1, 2026: $300/day plus travel expenses) and Literacy Badge days (contracted at $500/day). Strategic partnerships include the Burroughs Wellcome Fund as signature sponsor of teacher awards, the Claims Conference for Holocaust education, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and NCACTE for CTE programming.

Following Hurricane Helene disruption in late 2024, NCCAT resumed operations and in April 2026 broke ground on a Cullowhee campus expansion that will add 51 residential beds, a literacy center, and expanded professional development space—targeting the ability to host five residential programs per week serving up to 122 educators.

Name

NCCAT

Legal name

The Development Foundation of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Inc.

Website

https://nccat.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NCCAT is a state-funded nonprofit founded in 1985 that delivers professional development to North Carolina public school PreK-12 teachers through residential programs at two campuses, school-based services, and Canvas-based online courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)

Keywords

• Teacher professional development
• K-12 educator training
• Residential PD programs
• Online teacher courses
• School-based PD services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cullowhee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Primarily funded by the state of North Carolina through annual allocations to support teacher professional development programs
2. Private Donations: Personal, private, and corporate donations through the Development Foundation of NCCAT Inc. enhance state funding for programs
3. School-Based Program Fees: Effective January 1, 2026, school-based programs offered at $300 per day plus travel expenses (lodging, mileage at $0.70/mile, meals). Literacy Badge days require $500/day contracted fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCCAT provides professional development programs exclusively for North Carolina public school teachers, including tuition-free residential programs at two campuses (Cullowhee and Ocracoke), self-paced online courses, customized school-based programming delivered on-site at districts, and specialized offerings such as Holocaust education and the Literacy Badge program. NCCAT operates as a quasi-governmental nonprofit funded primarily through state appropriations with supplemental private donations.

Product overview

NCCAT (North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching) is a professional development organization offering multiple delivery formats: residential programs at Cullowhee and Ocracoke campuses, NCCAT Online self-paced courses via Canvas, and School-Based Programming Services delivered at schools statewide. The portfolio includes specialized programs in Holocaust Education, literacy, math, STEM, and digital learning, alongside scholarship programs (Honored Educator Scholarships) and annual teacher recognition awards (Beginning Teacher of the Year and CTE Teacher of the Year).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Professional Development Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• NC public school students earned 382,964 CTE credentials - the most in state history
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025Claims Conference partnered with NCCAT to offer Holocaust education opportunities including 'Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Reflections' trip to Washington D.C. and 'The Gathering of Holocaust Educators' program. Funded by generous support of the Frank and Shelly Weiner Holocaust Education Teacher Training Endowment.
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCAT partners with NCDPI on CTE Teacher of the Year award program and beginning teacher recognition. State Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green serves as Ex Officio on NCCAT Board of Trustees.
• North Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education (NCACTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCAT partners with NCACTE on CTE Teacher of the Year award program. Executive Director John Kirkman serves on award committee.
• College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCU College of Education and Allied Professions sponsored the WNC Elementary STEM/Science Community of Practice PD Day at NCCAT.
• Truist Leadership InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided meal and lodging accommodations for the week of professional development during Beginning Teacher of the Year recognition events.
• Wake Forest UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Sponsor for Beginning Teacher of the Year award program; recognition ceremony held at Brendle Recital Hall on Wake Forest campus.
• Participate LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Education Sponsor for Beginning Teacher of the Year award program.
• ScholasticminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for 2024 Literacy Leaders Conference at NCCAT.
• 95 Percent GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for 2024 Literacy Leaders Conference and Bronze Sponsor for Beginning Teacher of the Year awards.
• Lexia LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for 2024 Literacy Leaders Conference at NCCAT.
• Great MindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for 2024 Literacy Leaders Conference and Bronze Sponsor for Beginning Teacher of the Year awards.
• William and Ida Friday Institute for Education InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch scholars from Friday Institute led 'Recipe for Problem Solving K-5' professional development program at NCCAT.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WestEd: Non-profit education research and service agency delivering PD, research, and technical assistance to K-12 systems. Comparable as a PD delivery organization serving multiple states with research-backed programming and school-based services.
• The New Teacher Center: Non-profit focused on mentoring, coaching, and PD for new teachers. Comparable as a teacher PD non-profit with mentoring/induction programs similar to NCCAT's Beginning Teacher of the Year and induction-adjacent offerings.
• Friday Institute for Education Innovation at NC State University: NC-based education research and PD organization that already partners with NCCAT to deliver K-5 problem-solving PD programs. Directly comparable as a North Carolina-focused teacher PD provider with research-backed content and similar statewide reach.

Broad incumbents

• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): Global non-profit serving educators through PD, standards, and certification focused on educational technology. Comparable as a PD-focused educator membership organization whose digital tools offerings intersect NCCAT's Digital Tools and AI for Literacy programs.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: National non-profit that advances accomplished teaching via board certification and supports teachers through PD. Comparable as a non-profit, teacher-development organization with state-level partnerships and recognition programs.
• Learning Forward: National professional association for educator learning and PD standards, formerly the National Staff Development Council. Comparable as a national-scale advocate and standards-setter for teacher professional development, though focused on standards and accreditation rather than direct delivery.
• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): Global non-profit focused on educator effectiveness through PD, curriculum resources, and conferences. Comparable as a long-established, large-scale provider of teacher learning content and certification, though national rather than state-scoped.

Emerging players

• Digital Promise: Non-profit working at the intersection of education, technology, and innovation, including educator micro-credentials and PD. Comparable as a non-profit advancing educator capacity for innovative practice, with a similar focus on emerging modalities such as AI integration.
• Relay Graduate School of Education: Non-profit graduate school and PD provider serving teachers and leaders across multiple states. Comparable in serving teachers via alternative certification and PD pathways, though focused on degree-granting programs in addition to non-degree PD.
• Center for Teaching Quality: Non-profit focused on teacher leadership and equitable PD. Comparable as a teacher PD non-profit targeting educator voice and leadership development, similar in mission and non-profit structure though national rather than state-scoped.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nccatnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-carolina-center-for-the-advancement-of-teaching-nccat-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NCCAT