Essdack

What Essdack does

ESSDACK (Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas) is a non-profit educational service agency organized as an Interlocal Agency under Kansas law, headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas. Founded in 1983 by educators from five central Kansas school districts, the organization serves 60+ member districts and has impacted 1+ million students over its 40+ year history. Its core function is providing shared services that individual small-to-mid-sized districts cannot cost-effectively deliver independently, including professional learning workshops, embedded instructional coaching, student alternative-education programs, leadership development, and administrative back-office functions.

The product portfolio spans several interconnected lines. Professional Learning Services delivers workshops, conferences, embedded coaching, and self-paced virtual courses through an OnDemand platform, with graduate credit available via MidAmerica Nazarene University. Student Services includes three physical Learning Centers (Barton, McPherson, and Reno counties), the tuition-free Propel adult virtual diploma program, ESSDACK Connect for homeschool families, and the Restore program for suspended/expelled students. The Resilience Team offers trauma-informed coaching, the RISE behavioral intervention, Restorative Practice Coaches cohorts, and the Poverty Paradigm Simulation. INspired Leadership provides executive coaching, ELI assessments, and SECD toolkits. Supporting infrastructure includes Technology Support, E-rate processing, CTE consortium coordination, government grants assistance, and Print Solutions. EdVantage Benefits Group (EBG), established in 1991, administers a self-funded group health insurance consortium through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, with retirement plan administration handled via Ameritime partnership.

ESSDACK generates revenue through a diversified mix: recurring membership dues from school districts, fees for professional learning workshops and embedded services, product sales through an online marketplace, health insurance consortium administration, retirement plan services, and nearly $3 million in awarded government grants passed through to member districts. Pricing models range from freemium (Learning Centers, Propel) to unit pricing ($500/quarter per student for Restore) to multi-year contracts ($3,600 cohort fee for Restorative Practice Coaches). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from member districts and operates without parent-company affiliation. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Essdack

Legal name

Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas

Website

https://essdack.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ESSDACK is a non-profit educational service agency headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas, serving 60+ member K-12 school districts across central Kansas with professional learning, student alternative-education programs, trauma-informed coaching, leadership development, health insurance, and retirement administration services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Administration of Education Programs (92311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Educational service agency
• Professional learning services
• K-12 district support
• School insurance consortium
• Alternative education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hutchinson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: School districts pay membership dues to receive substantial discounts on ESSDACK products and services, access to health insurance pool and retirement plans, and representation through Superintendent's Council and Board of Directors.
2. Professional Learning Services: Workshops, coaching, embedded services, and professional development for educators and administrators. Revenue from workshop registration and on-site professional learning engagements.
3. Product Sales: Marketplace selling educational products, books, resources, and printed materials. Also includes print solutions services for district document needs.
4. Health Insurance Consortium: EdVantage Benefits Group (EBG) provides group health insurance for member districts. ESSDACK provides administrative support with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas as carrier for 2025-2026 plan year.
5. Retirement Plan Administration: 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plan services through partnership with Ameritime. ESSDACK connects educators with registered investment advisors.
6. Government Grants: ESSDACK consultants and staff have been awarded nearly $3 million in state and federal government grants for technology integration, project-based learning, social studies instruction, and literacy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Essdack is a non-profit educational service agency that provides professional learning workshops, embedded coaching, leadership development, alternative education programs, and district operations support (including health insurance and retirement plan administration) to K-12 school districts primarily in central Kansas. It operates as an Interlocal Agency under Kansas law, funded through membership dues from 60+ member districts and revenue from workshops, product sales, and government grants.

Product overview

ESSDACK is an educational service agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services for member school districts, educators, and learners. The core offerings include: Professional Learning Services (workshops, coaching, embedded services, and keynotes covering literacy, numeracy, technology integration, and project-based learning); Student Services comprising Learning Centers in Barton, McPherson, and Reno counties, the Propel virtual adult diploma program, ESSDACK Connect for homeschool families, and the Restore alternative education program for suspended students; Resilience services including the RISE program for behavioral support, Restorative Practice Coaches cohort, and Poverty Paradigm Simulation; and INspired Leadership coaching with ELI assessments. Supporting infrastructure services include Technology Support, E-rate processing, health insurance through EdVantage Benefits Group, retirement planning via 403(b)/457(b) plans, Print Solutions, and Career Expo events. ESSDACK also operates an OnDemand virtual learning platform and provides government grants assistance. The organization serves 100+ school districts across central Kansas with over 200 years of combined consultant experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Learning Centers: Alternative education centers offering high school diploma completion programs for teen learners in Barton County, McPherson County, and Reno County.
• Propel
• Connect
• Restore
• NET Academy
• Resilience Team
• INspired Leadership
• Print Solutions
• Career Expo

Products and services

• Professional Learning Services Interactive, research-based professional learning workshops, coaching, embedded services, and conference keynotes covering literacy, numeracy, Google Workspace integration, project-based learning, and other instructional practices for teachers and administrators of member districts.
• Embedded Services On-site and virtual coaching providing targeted support for instructional practices, behavior management, curriculum alignment, special education IEPs, and MTSS implementation tailored to district needs.
• NET Academy (New Era Teacher Academy) Program for early career teachers, educators with alternative licensure, or those needing refresh, featuring July Jumpstart kickoff, quarterly face-to-face sessions, and monthly virtual check-ins.
• Learning Centers (Diploma Completion) Physical locations in Barton County, McPherson County, and Reno County offering teen learners degree-completion opportunities with a focus on earning a high school diploma through flexible, student-centered programs, completely free for students.
• Propel (Adult Virtual Diploma Program) 100% tuition-free virtual adult diploma program for learners 20+ years old, offering flexible 24/7 academic coursework, career knowledge, and Fast Track certificate classes with coaching support for job preparation.
• ESSDACK Connect Virtual program supporting local homeschool families and other students with certified teachers, LMS and custom courses, SECD (Social Emotional Character Development), leadership courses, post-secondary prep, and field trips.
• Restore Program Alternative program for Kansas middle and high school students serving long-term suspensions or expulsions, providing academic graduation completion with social-emotional skill development and success mentor pairing; districts pay $500 per quarter per student.
• RISE Program Research-based alternative to out-of-school suspension providing Relationship, Instruction, Safety, and Emotional Support for elementary students struggling with behavioral challenges, integrating Restorative Practices.
• Restorative Practice Coaches Cohort Year-long cohort program training school teams (3-5 educators per building) in restorative practices with in-person training, virtual PLCs, and unlimited coaching support to transform school culture.
• Poverty Paradigm Simulation Interactive simulation experience (up to 250 participants) where role-players live in poverty for one simulated month, designed for communities and schools to initiate paradigm shifts for generational change.
• INspired Leadership Coaching Leadership coaching and culture audits helping organizations build high-functioning teams, featuring ELI assessments, ELI 360 multi-perspective feedback, and Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius framework.
• EdVantage Benefits Group (EBG) Health Insurance Nonprofit health insurance consortium for Kansas school districts offering self-funded, ACA-compliant health plans with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as carrier for the 2025-2026 plan year.
• 403(b)/457(b) Retirement Plans Retirement savings programs administered through partnership with Ameritime, offering online enrollment, deferral management, and investment advisor assistance for educators.
• Technology Support Direct customer and end-user tech support, server and network management, CMS software management, wireless networks, computer carts, and mobile device setup and maintenance for schools.
• E-rate Services E-rate office processing and coordinating services for Kansas school districts to obtain technology funding, handling forms, processes, and regulator communications.
• Government Grants Assistance Grant writing assistance from brainstorm to accepted proposal, with consultants having been awarded nearly three million dollars in state and federal government grants.
• CTE (Career & Technical Education) Services CTE specialists providing guidance on regulations, business partnerships, district CTE Pathways, and Perkins Consortium coordination for member school districts.
• Career Expo Annual two-day college and career planning event at Kansas State Fairgrounds, the largest in Kansas, showcasing career opportunities from two-year and four-year college degrees, industry certifications, apprenticeships, and military options; nearly 5,000 students attended in 2025.
• OnDemand (Self-Paced Virtual Learning) Virtual, self-paced online courses allowing learners to study at their convenience with graduate credit options, covering topics like trauma-informed resources, book studies, and math routines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 100+ school districts and impacted 1+ million students over 40+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeritimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESSDACK and Ameritime have partnered together to provide retirement and investment decision assistance. Ameritime's registered Investment Advisors help with ESSDACK's 403(b) plan administration.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor the 2025-2026 plan year, BCBSKS serves as the insurance carrier for EdVantage Benefits Group health plans, offering statewide network and claims processing.
• MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESSDACK partners with MidAmerica Nazarene to provide graduate credit for in-person or self-paced professional learning.
• Association of Education Service AgenciesminorOthersBusiness partner organization.
• Kansas Department of EducationcoreOthersState education department partner for grants, CTE consortium, and virtual program approval.
• United States Department of JusticeminorOthersBusiness partner organization.
• Benefits DirectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness partner providing benefit services.
• BKD LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting and advisory firm business partner.
• Emporia State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner.
• TraneminorOthersBusiness partner organization.
• Youth Core MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner collaborating on poverty resolution projects in Kansas and beyond.
• Jim Sporleder ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for trauma-informed practices.
• Central Rivers Area Education AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArea education agency partner.
• TPP Retirement Plan SpecialistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetirement plan specialist partner.
• GallagherminorOthersInsurance and benefits consulting partner.
• HUB InternationalminorOthersInsurance brokerage partner.
• Kansas State FairgroundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored venue for Career Expo, the largest college & career planning event in Kansas.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Solution Tree: National professional learning and PD provider for K-12 educators on PLCs, assessment, and leadership. Competes with ESSDACK for workshop registrations and embedded contracts, but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• Marzano Resources: National K-12 professional development and instructional coaching provider overlapping with ESSDACK's professional learning and embedded services offerings in instructional practices and leadership.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Provider of crisis prevention, de-escalation, and trauma-informed training programs serving K-12 schools nationwide — overlapping with ESSDACK's resilience and restorative practices portfolio.

Emerging players

• Edmentum: Online learning platform already used as a student resource partner by ESSDACK. Provides virtual coursework, alternative education, and credit recovery solutions — partially overlapping with ESSDACK's Propel, Connect, and Restore programs.

Direct peers

• Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Iowa AEA already cited as a partner using ESSDACK's leadership coaching services. AEAs in Iowa perform a near-identical role to Kansas ESAs, providing professional learning, special education, and media services to member districts.
• Education Service Center Region 12 (Texas): Texas ESC serving K-12 school districts with professional learning, student services, and district operations support — directly comparable in cooperative model, service breadth, and member-district structure to ESSDACK.
• BOCES Networks (NYSED): Boards of Cooperative Educational Services in New York perform essentially the same function as ESSDACK — cooperative K-12 service agencies offering professional learning, alternative education, and shared administrative services to member districts.

Others

• Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA): National membership association for ESAs that has recognized ESSDACK. Not a competitor but the industry body governing the cooperative service agency model that defines ESSDACK's structure and peer network.

Regional players

• Northwest Kansas Education Service Center: Regional Kansas ESC providing professional development, special education support, and cooperative purchasing to member school districts — comparable in mission and member-driven model, though operating in a different Kansas geography.
• Kansas Education Service Centers (Greenbush, etc.): Greenbush and other Kansas ESCs provide K-12 professional development, special education cooperatives, and technology support to member districts in different regions of Kansas, competing for embedded service and PD contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/essdack
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdRupgxpdrpkRjI05HbYEJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ESSDACK
• Instagraminstagram.com/essdack

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Essdack