Designs for Learning
Designs for Learning is a Minnesota-based professional services firm founded in 1995 that delivers bundled onsite and remote support — covering finance, HR, special education, program support, and technology — primarily to charter schools, with expansion into small businesses and nonprofits in the region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Designs for Learning does
Designs for Learning (DL) is a private, Minnesota-based professional services firm founded in 1995 that provides bundled onsite and remote support to charter schools across five functional domains: Financial Management, Human Resources, Program Support / Special Projects, Special Education / School Social Work, and Technology. The company delivers services through a combination of in-house staff and a large network of contractors — including school finance specialists, payroll specialists, school psychologists, special education teachers, speech and OT contractors, and technology support personnel — under leadership of President/CEO Pamela Meade, CFO Wilderness Pinna, and COO/CTO Travis Kemen.
The underlying technology stack is operational rather than productized: DL uses ScreenConnect for remote assistance, Freshservice for technology ticketing, and operates three client-facing portals (Finance Portal, Educational Contractors Portal for special education time tracking, and the Technology Portal). It also maintains five resource hubs aligned to its service lines and a DL Bulletin Board for content distribution. There is no proprietary AI/ML, no public API, and no disclosed patents or proprietary software products.
Commercially, DL generates revenue through ongoing service contracts with educational institutions, described as a subscription-recurring model with custom contractual pricing per organizational need. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting mid-market charter schools primarily in Minnesota, with stated expansion intent into small businesses, nonprofits, and non-charter schools within the region. No pricing is publicly disclosed and the company has no outside investors, parent company, M&A history, or funding rounds on record.
Designs for Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Designs for Learning
- Legal name
- Designs for Learning
- Website
- https://designlearn.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Designs for Learning is a Minnesota-based professional services firm founded in 1995 that delivers bundled onsite and remote support — covering finance, HR, special education, program support, and technology — primarily to charter schools, with expansion into small businesses and nonprofits in the region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Designs for Learning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)
Keywords
Where Designs for Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Designs for Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Educational Support Services: Provides comprehensive support services to charter schools and educational organizations including finance, HR, special education, program support, and technology. Revenue is generated through ongoing service contracts with educational institutions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Designs for Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Designs for Learning provides comprehensive onsite and remote support services to charter schools and educational organizations across five areas: Financial Management (business office and accounting support), Human Resources (workforce, compliance, employee relations), Program Support/Special Projects (training, program evaluation, education systems), Special Education/School Social Work (evaluations, direct services, contractor staffing), and Technology (E-Rate, IT support, remote assistance). Services are delivered by a team of specialists and contractors supported by client-facing web portals.
Product overview
Designs for Learning is a consulting services company that provides comprehensive, personalized support services to Minnesota charter schools and other educational organizations. The company operates a portfolio of service offerings organized around five core areas: Financial Management, Human Resources, Program Support/Special Projects, Special Education/School Social Work, and Technology. These services are delivered through a combination of onsite and remote support, staff training, and system implementation. The company also operates multiple client-facing web portals including a Finance Portal, Educational Contractors Portal, and Technology Portal (using FreshService), as well as resource hubs for each service area and a DL Bulletin Board for news and resources. The company was founded in 1995 and serves primarily Minnesota charter schools, with expansion into small businesses, nonprofits, and non-charter schools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Management Services Comprehensive finance and school operations support services for charter schools, including business office support, financial planning, and accounting functions.
- Human Resources Services HR consulting and support services for educational institutions, helping schools manage their workforce, compliance, and employee relations.
- Program Support / Special Projects Comprehensive program support including staff training, education systems implementation, program evaluation, and individualized education systems support for charter schools.
- Special Education / School Social Work Special education consulting services and school social work support, including evaluation, coordination, and direct services for students with special needs.
- Technology Services Technology support and consulting including E-Rate services, technology tickets, remote assistance, and IT infrastructure support for educational institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enhanced organizational effectiveness allowing schools to focus on children
Companies that use Designs for Learning
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Designs for Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Designs for Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Designs for Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EdOps: EdOps provides charter school business management, finance, HR, and operational support services to charter schools. It is the closest direct comparable to Designs for Learning in terms of model: outsourced back-office and operations for charter schools.
Broad incumbents
- Edmentum: Edmentum provides digital curriculum, instructional services, and educator support to K-12 schools and districts. Comparable as a K-12 educational services provider addressing charter and district institutions with supplementary programs.
- Catapult Learning: Catapult Learning (which absorbed Specialized Education Services) provides special education, intervention, and compliance services to K-12 schools. Comparable to DL in delivering special education and school social work support directly to schools.
- Stride: Stride (formerly K12 Inc.) provides managed online learning and educational services to K-12 students, including charter and district schools. Comparable as a broader education services provider serving charter institutions.
- Public Consulting Group: PCG provides management consulting and operational support services to K-12 schools, with particular depth in special education staffing, compliance, and program administration. Overlaps with DL's special education and program support offerings at a national scale.
- Charter Schools USA: Charter Schools USA is a large charter school management organization that operates and supports charter schools across multiple states, including back-office services. Comparable to DL because it serves the same charter school segment with operational and educational support offerings.
- ChanceLight: ChanceLight provides K-12 special education, behavioral health, and tutoring services to schools nationwide. Adjacent to DL through shared K-12 special education and social work in schools delivery.
Emerging players
- Proximity Learning: Proximity Learning provides virtual special education and related services to K-12 schools through live, online instruction. Adjacent to DL's special education delivery model, focused on remote/virtual school support.
- Therapy Travelers: Therapy Travelers places school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists in K-12 schools nationwide. Directly comparable to DL's contracted special education therapist staffing model.
- Sunbelt Staffing: Sunbelt Staffing is a large K-12 staffing provider placing special education teachers, school psychologists, SLPs, and school nurses in school districts. Comparable to DL's contractor-based special education staffing service line.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Designs for Learning social profiles
Digital presenceDesigns for Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Designs for Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Designs for Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Designs for Learning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Designs for Learning
What does Designs for Learning do?
Designs for Learning provides comprehensive onsite and remote support services to charter schools and educational organizations across five areas: Financial Management (business office and accounting support), Human Resources (workforce, compliance, employee relations), Program Support/Special Projects (training, program evaluation, education systems), Special Education/School Social Work (evaluations, direct services, contractor staffing), and Technology (E-Rate, IT support, remote assistance). Services are delivered by a team of specialists and contractors supported by client-facing web portals.
Is Designs for Learning a public or private company?
Designs for Learning is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Designs for Learning founded?
Designs for Learning was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Designs for Learning based?
Designs for Learning is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Designs for Learning make money?
One revenue line is on record: educational Support Services.
Who are Designs for Learning's main competitors?
EdOps is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Edmentum, Catapult Learning, Stride, Public Consulting Group, Charter Schools USA and ChanceLight. Emerging players are Proximity Learning, Therapy Travelers and Sunbelt Staffing.
Does Designs for Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Designs for Learning.
What industry is Designs for Learning in?
Designs for Learning's product category is Education Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAKAL, Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists), with a secondary code of EDAJACAF, Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.