New Hampshire Learning Initiative

What New Hampshire Learning Initiative does

New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 and headquartered in North Hampton, NH, that advances K-12 competency-based education through a portfolio of professional development programs. Its flagship offering is PLACE (Performance Learning and Assessment Consortium for Educators), a statewide professional learning network spanning 35 New Hampshire school districts across seven content areas (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Arts, CTE, and Interdisciplinary). Supporting programs include OGAP (K-8 mathematics formative assessment), Future Learning Pathways (FLP), BEST (essential skills/Work Study Practices), Project-Based Learning workshops, NGSS-aligned science workshops, and the annual Empowered Learning Summer Conference. NHLI does not sell technology products; its deliverable is human-led professional development delivered through in-person workshops, virtual coaching, and ongoing PLC facilitation.

NHLI operates a hybrid revenue model combining fee-for-service professional development with grant funding. Fee-for-service pricing ranges from $450 (two-day conference registration) to $850 (OGAP training) per participant, with an SNHU graduate-credit add-on at $240 per credit. Grant funding comes from federal and state government sources plus private foundations, with named supporters including Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Barr Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, NEA-New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The organization has earned federal validation as the only early IADA (Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority) system ready for operational assessment, lending regulatory distinction to its performance-assessment approach. NHLI reports 92% of surveyed teachers experiencing moderate-to-significant instructional practice changes attributable to PLACE, and 95% five-year retention of its teacher design leads, underscoring depth rather than breadth in its engagement model.

Name

New Hampshire Learning Initiative

Legal name

New Hampshire Learning Initiative

Website

https://nhlearninginitiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Hampshire Learning Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers competency-based professional development to K-12 educators, operating the PLACE network across 35 NH school districts via workshops, coaching, and grant-funded consortiums.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Professional Development: NHLI conducts fee-for-service professional development workshops, training programs, and conferences for educators, schools, and districts. Fees vary by program (e.g., $850 for OGAP training, $450-595 for workshops).
2. Grant Funding: NHLI receives grant funding from federal and state government sources as well as private foundations that support their educational mission and programs.
3. Graduate Credit Partnership Revenue: Through a partnership with SNHU, NHLI offers graduate credit options for participants in select PD programs at $240/credit, creating an additional revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NHLI delivers professional development, coaching, and educational frameworks focused on competency-based learning, performance assessment design, and student-centered instructional practices to K-12 educators, schools, and districts. Its signature offering is the PLACE statewide professional learning network spanning 35 districts and 7 content areas, complemented by fee-for-service workshops (OGAP, Project-Based Learning, NGSS Science), the annual Empowered Learning Summer Conference, customized district programs, and a graduate credit pathway through a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University.

Product overview

New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of professional development programs and educational services focused on competency-based learning. The core product is PLACE (Performance Learning and Assessment Consortium for Educators), a statewide professional learning network spanning 35 districts and 7 content areas. Supporting programs include OGAP (mathematics formative assessment for K-8), Future Learning Pathways, BEST (essential skills), and various workshops including Project-Based Learning, NGSS Science, and annual summer conferences. NHLI partners with Southern New Hampshire University for graduate credit options and provides customized district-level programs in leadership, curriculum, assessment, and Portrait of a Learner processes. The organization also operates Student Voices, a platform capturing student perspectives on learning experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NH PLACE: Performance Learning and Assessment Consortium for Educators - a collaborative professional learning network for educators focused on competency-based learning and assessment, spanning 35 districts and 7 content areas.
• PLACE
• SCI-PLACE
• SCLLC

Products and services

• PLACE (Performance Learning and Assessment Consortium for Educators) A statewide professional learning network for educators focused on building teacher assessment literacy and leadership in competency-based education through performance learning and assessment across ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Arts, CTE, and World Languages. No cost to districts; generously supported by NEA-NH; participants earn up to 30 Professional Development Hours.
• OGAP (Ongoing Assessment Project) An evidence-based formative assessment system providing professional development, resources, and routines for teachers and leaders to adjust instruction to meet diverse student needs in grades K-8 mathematics, including Additive Reasoning, Multiplicative Reasoning, Proportional Reasoning, and Fractions trainings. Priced at $850 per participant.
• Future Learning Pathways (FLP) A grant-funded network supporting districts in developing innovative competency-based learning practices through team-based collaboration, expert guidance, and customized planning for student career, college, and life success. No cost to district teams.
• BEST (Building Essential Skills Today) A program focused on student futures through development of essential skills and dispositions including Work Study Practices and Success Skills, using rubrics, toolkits, and instructional practices for educators.
• SNHU Graduate Credit Partnership Partnership with Southern New Hampshire University enabling educators to earn 3-6 transferable graduate credits for full participation in select NHLI professional development programs at $240 per credit.
• District Programs Customized professional development for districts including Competency-Based Learning Academy, Needs Assessment, Professional Learning Communities, Leadership Support, Balanced Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, and Portrait of a Learner services.
• Project-Based Learning Workshop A three-day in-person workshop on project-based learning (PBL) teaching method encouraging learning through engaging, real-world curriculum-related questions or challenges. Offered at $595 per participant.
• NGSS Science Workshop A two-day in-person design workshop for K-12 science teachers supporting design of student-centered, competency-based instructional model aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Priced at $500 per participant.
• Empowered Learning Summer Conference Annual two-day conference for educators focused on designing student-centered learning with meaningful evidence of learning, featuring keynotes, sessions, and networking. $450 for two days; $275 one day; 3 SNHU graduate credits available.
• Portrait of a Learner (POL) A collaborative process to define a vision for student success after high school by identifying community-valued competencies, involving representatives from district, schools, family, business, and community.
• Teacher Leader Program A five-Saturday session program building foundation for leading and supporting innovative practices in schools, assisting districts in competency-based education and equity goals, with stipend available for full participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of surveyed teachers reported moderate-to-significant changes in day-to-day instructional practice as direct result of PLACE engagement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHLI and SNHU have partnered to enable educators to gain graduate credit focused on competency-based learning and leadership. For full participation in select NHLI PD series, participants can earn 3-6 transferable graduate credits at $240/credit. Programs eligible include OGAP mathematics training, Intentional Assessment Design, NH PLACE participation, Project-Based Learning, and more.
• NEA-New HampshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA-NH provides ongoing teacher support funding for NHLI's PLACE program, which is generously supported by NEA-NH. The partnership enables no-cost participation for NH districts in the PLACE professional learning network.
• Jobs For the Future (JFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFF serves as a key partner in NHLI's research-practice partnership (RPP) focused on scaling deeper learning competencies and Work Study Practices (WSPs) in New Hampshire. JFF has been collecting data and insights on the scaling of WSPs, with NHLI as the practice partner supporting teacher-centered approaches.
• New Hampshire Department of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNH DOE partners with NHLI on educational initiatives including competency-based education implementation and the PLACE program. The state has been a leader in innovative assessment through IADA participation.
• U.S. Department of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting innovative assessment work. New Hampshire participated in the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) program with NHLI-developed assessments being the only early IADA system ready for operational assessment.
• New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NMEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an aligned organization conducting similar activities in districts and schools across the country, supporting workforce development connections.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aurora Institute (formerly iNACOL): National nonprofit advancing K-12 personalized, competency-based, and online learning through policy, research, and field-building. Highly comparable as the sector's leading convener and CompetencyWorks host for CBL practitioners.
• Education Elements: Education consulting firm partnering with districts on personalized learning, equity, and strategic planning. Comparable to NHLI on district-level professional development and instructional transformation, though delivered via consultancy model.
• KnowledgeWorks: National nonprofit focused on personalized, competency-based learning and future-of-work education. Directly comparable to NHLI in mission around student-centered, competency-based K-12 transformation and policy advocacy.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit driving equitable economic advancement through education and workforce pathways. JFF is already an NHLI research partner and overlaps directly on deeper learning, work study practices, and district transformation work.
• Center for Collaborative Education: Nonprofit advancing equitable, student-centered schools through professional development and school redesign. Comparable to NHLI on district-level coaching, personalized learning, and equity-centered instructional practice.
• Great Schools Partnership: New England-based nonprofit providing proficiency-based learning and graduation guidance to schools and states. Directly comparable to NHLI on competency-based education frameworks, district coaching, and Northeast regional focus.
• reDesignED: Consulting group supporting schools and districts with proficiency/competency-based learning, performance assessment, and community-based accountability. Directly comparable to NHLI on assessment design and district implementation support.

Others

• Barr Foundation: Major Boston-based foundation funding public K-12 education redesign and arts learning. Comparable as a sector funder whose grantmaking strategy shapes the CBL field in which NHLI operates, rather than as a competitor.
• Nellie Mae Education Foundation: Largest New England-based private foundation focused solely on education, funding student-centered learning and CBL. Comparable as a strategic funder (including NHLI funder) shaping the competency-based ecosystem.

Regional players

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Large nonprofit university offering graduate programs and a competency-based degree model. Comparable as NHLI's graduate-credit partner and a regional CBL higher-ed leader, though operating in postsecondary rather than K-12.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nhlearningin
• Facebookfacebook.com/nhlearninginitiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/nhlearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-hampshire-learning-initiative-nhli

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 New Hampshire Learning Initiative