Vermont Rural Education Collaborative

What Vermont Rural Education Collaborative does

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative (VREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Derby, Vermont that serves more than 5,500 Pre-K to grade 12 students across 43-45 public schools in seven supervisory unions and districts in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom region. The organization operates as a membership-based collaborative of rural school districts, delivering youth programs, educator professional development, community schools support, and workforce development pathways rather than a technology product or single SaaS platform. Its programs include the AIM career-readiness curriculum, Expeditionary Field Studies (outdoor place-based learning including backpacking and paddling), Middle School Leadership training, Mini-Grants for student-led projects, teacher licensing pathways, and community schools programming aligned with Vermont Act 67.

VREC's core offerings are organized into three programmatic pillars: Youth Programs (AIM, Expeditionary Field Studies, Middle School Leadership, Mini-Grants), Educator Resources (Professional Development, Teacher Licensing Pathways, Teacher Innovation Grants, Workforce Development Initiatives), and Community Schools support. It also publishes a quarterly newsletter (The Echo), a Field Notes blog, and the Voices of Rural Vermont Teachers content series. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, software, or AI components; all services are delivered in person through school partnerships, with consultants and program coordinators working directly with member districts.

VREC's business model is grant- and donation-funded. Revenue streams include foundation grants (historically including the Annenberg Rural Challenge and more recently the Windham Foundation and Bay and Paul Foundation), federal and Vermont Agency of Education grants, state funding through the Vermont Community Schools Act (Act 67), and individual and corporate donations accepted via PayPal and mail. Programs are provided at no cost to member schools. Strategic partnerships include the Vermont Agency of Education, University of Vermont (Catamount Community Schools Collaborative), Vermont State University/Community College of Vermont, Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont National Education Association, North Woods Stewardship Center, and the Rural School Community Alliance. The organization is led by Executive Director John A. Castle with a small core staff and a network of consultants, and is governed by an 11-member board representing member supervisory unions and districts.

Name

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative

Legal name

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative

Website

https://vtruraledu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth programs, educator professional development, community schools support, and teacher workforce development pathways to 5,500+ Pre-K-12 students across 45 public schools in seven supervisory unions in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

Keywords

• Rural education programs
• Youth experiential learning
• Educator professional development
• Teacher licensure pathways
• Community schools support

Headquarters

HQ city

Derby

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Grant Funding: VREC receives support from foundations and grant programs including Vermont Agency of Education grants, Federal grants, and private foundations such as the Annenberg Rural Challenge (historical), Henderson Foundation, and Bay and Paul Foundation.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization receives donations from individuals, civic organizations, and business sponsors. Donations can be made via PayPal or by mail.
3. State Funding: VREC receives state funding through Vermont's Community Schools Act (Act 67) and Act 168 for community schools programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VREC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit collaborative that delivers youth programs (AIM, Expeditionary Field Studies, Middle School Leadership, Mini-Grants), educator resources (professional development, teacher licensing pathways, teacher innovation grants, workforce development initiatives), and Community Schools support to rural Pre-K-12 schools in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Services are funded through grants, state appropriations, and donations and delivered directly to member supervisory unions, districts, and schools via in-person programming, consultants, and partnerships.

Product overview

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of collaborative programs and services rather than a unified software product. Its offerings include Youth Programs (AIM, Expeditionary Field Studies, Middle School Leadership, Mini-Grants), Educator Resources (Professional Development, Teacher Licensing Pathways, Teacher Innovation Grants, Workforce Development), Community Schools support, and content/publication series (The Echo Newsletter, Voices of Rural Vermont Teachers, Field Notes). These are program-based services designed to support rural school communities in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aspire.Imagine.Motivate (A.I.M.) A middle school career-readiness program that empowers students to explore their potential and visualize their future, providing a clear roadmap so students enter high school with a purposeful plan toward earning credentials or degrees. Targeted at middle school students in member schools.
• Expeditionary Field Studies Multi-day, place-based learning experiences for middle school students including hiking and backpacking the Long Trail, the Maine Appalachian Trail, and the White Mountains, and paddling the upper Connecticut River. Designed for member school students.
• Middle School Leadership Annual partnership with the Northwoods Stewardship Center providing a day of self-reflection and leadership training for middle school students in member schools.
• Mini-Grants Grant funding provided to schools within the VREC collaborative for student-led, place-based learning, community-based service learning projects, and to support diversity, equity, and inclusive practices. Targeted at teachers and students in member schools.
• Professional Development A range of courses, workshops, and professional learning networks for educators across the VREC region and beyond. Targeted at teachers and educators in member schools.
• Teacher Licensing Pathways Pathways to teacher licensure developed in collaboration with the VT Agency of Education, VT Department of Labor, VTNEA, and institutions of higher education, including post-baccalaureate registered apprenticeship and emerging alternative BA pathways for para-educators and support staff. Targeted at prospective and current teachers in member districts.
• Teacher Innovation Grants Grant funding for teachers in VREC member schools to support innovative teaching projects and practices. Targeted at educators within member supervisory unions and districts.
• Workforce Development Initiatives Pathways to teacher licensure including post-baccalaureate registered apprenticeship, alternative BA pathways for support staff, post-baccalaureate residency programs, and NEK Next Gen Teacher recruitment, developed with the VT Agency of Education, VT Department of Labor, VTNEA, and member SU/SDs. Targeted at member districts and prospective teacher candidates.
• Community Schools Support and advocacy for community schools implementing integrated student supports, expanded learning opportunities, family engagement, collaborative leadership, and safe equitable environments. Targeted at member supervisory unions and districts.

Quantifiable outcome

• VREC serves more than 5,500 Vermont students across 43 public schools in seven supervisory unions/districts.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and historic.

• Vermont Agency of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state education partner. VREC collaborates with VT AOE on workforce development initiatives, community schools programs, and emerging pathways for teacher licensure. VREC Executive Director John Castle testified to House Education Committee on behalf of AOE priorities.
• University of Vermont (UVM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVM partners through the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (CCSC) to evaluate and support Vermont community schools programs. VREC SU/SDs participate in this program as pilot sites.
• Vermont State University / Community College of VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with the Emerging Pathways Coordinator at VT AOE to develop alternative BA registered apprenticeship pathway for para-educators and support staff to become licensed teachers, launching Fall 2026.
• North Woods Stewardship CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partner for Middle School Leadership programs, providing self-reflection and leadership training for students. Also collaborates on experiential learning programs.
• Vermont Department of LabormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing workforce development pathways including registered apprenticeship programs for teacher licensure.
• Vermont National Education AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on workforce development initiatives including the registered apprenticeship pathway for teachers.
• Student Achievement PartnersminorOthersVREC Professional Learning Consultant Bev Davis has worked with Student Achievement Partners providing professional development support.
• National Center for Teacher ResidenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted to facilitate discovery process for developing post-baccalaureate residency pathway for teacher licensure in the NEK region.
• Champlain CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with VREC in exploration of residency program development for middle and high school math teachers.
• Vermont Math Initiative (VMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with VREC on residency program development for math teachers, currently developing a residency program for middle and high school math teachers to begin Fall 2027.
• Up for LearninghistoricStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth leadership organization that spun off from VREC's predecessor (Vermont Rural Partnership) in 2008. Continues to share mission of youth empowerment.
• Rural School Community AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that VREC works with to amplify collective voice advocating for public policy supporting rural schools and local democratic decision-making.
• Public Assets InstituteminorOthersVermont policy research organization providing data and research support for rural education advocacy.
• Voices for Vermont ChildrenminorOthersChild advocacy organization partnering on issues affecting Vermont youth and families.
• Green Mountain Farm to SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting farm-to-school initiatives and food education in member schools.
• AbenakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Indigenous education and cultural awareness in member schools.
• Appalachian Mountain ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for expeditionary field studies, providing access to huts and trails for student backpacking experiences.
• The Rough and TumbleminorOthersFolk music duo that collaborated with Canaan Schools EPIC students to write an anthem for the town's 250th anniversary.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Rural Education Association: National membership organization dedicated to rural education advocacy, professional development, and research. Comparable to VREC in mission of supporting rural schools and educators, with overlapping roles in convening rural educators and informing rural education policy.
• Coalition for Community Schools: National coalition advocating for community schools that integrate student supports, family engagement, and expanded learning opportunities. Directly comparable to VREC's community schools program focus, though operating as a network convener rather than a direct service provider.
• Up for Learning: Vermont youth leadership nonprofit that spun off from VREC's predecessor organization (Vermont Rural Partnership) in 2008. Shares the youth empowerment mission and continues to collaborate with VREC on programs like Middle School Leadership.
• Rural School and Community Trust: National nonprofit focused on rural schools and rural community development, advocating for equitable opportunities and place-based education. Highly comparable to VREC in mission and approach, though operating at national scale and through policy/grant-making rather than direct service delivery.

Regional players

• Northwest Regional Education Service District: Regional education service district serving rural school districts in northwest Oregon with PD, special education, and equity-focused programs. Operates as a regional intermediary similar to VREC, though organized under Oregon's ESD statute rather than as an independent nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Communities in Schools: National nonprofit operating the largest community schools network in the US, providing integrated student supports in thousands of schools. Operates at much larger scale than VREC but shares the community schools mission and student-support service model.

Others

• Vermont Community Schools Coalition: Vermont statewide coalition that VREC is an active partner in, helping craft Act 67. Comparable as a community schools advocacy and implementation organization operating in the same state and policy environment as VREC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vtruraled
• Xx.com/VTruraled

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Vermont Rural Education Collaborative