Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services

What Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services does

The Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services (UnBOCES) is a public educational cooperative established in 1994 under Colorado's 1965 BOCES legislation, headquartered in Ridgway, Colorado. It operates as a regional educational service unit delivering shared Special Education and related instructional, administrative, and staff services to five member school districts in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado: Norwood and Telluride in San Miguel County, Ouray and Ridgway in Ouray County, and the West End District (Naturita, Nucla, and Paradox Valley Charter School) in Montrose County. Student populations across these districts range from 185 to 892 students, making individual district-level hiring of specialized staff economically impractical and creating the structural rationale for the cooperative.

UnBOCES's service portfolio is built around licensed therapist and specialist delivery, supported by standardized educational technology tools. Core services include Special Education instruction for children ages 3-21 meeting one of 13 state disability criteria, related therapies (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Audiology, School Psychology), ChildFind developmental screenings for children ages 2 years 9 months to 5 using ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE instruments, Gifted and Talented coordination, Early Childhood Services under IDEA, Disability Assessment via the Response to Intervention model, Staff Development, secondary Transition Resources for students ages 15-21, the StarLab portable planetarium program, and the West Central Alternative Teacher Licensure (ATL) program. The organization operates on the Frontline/Excent Colorado statewide special education management platform and maintains more than 20 regional partner-agency relationships for referrals.

The business model is public non-profit cooperative funding: revenues are derived from member district allocations shared across the five districts, plus IDEA and Colorado state special education funding. There is no direct pricing to end users; services are delivered as Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to eligible students. The operating model emphasizes municipal sharing, cost containment, and equity in access to specialized educational services regardless of district size or local tax base. Two programs (SWAP and Suicide and Threat Risk Assessment) have been discontinued, and the ATL program has paused year-one intake for 2026-2027.

Name

Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services

Legal name

Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services

Website

https://unboces.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UnBOCES is a public Colorado educational cooperative that delivers shared Special Education, related therapies, ChildFind screenings, and Gifted and Talented services to five rural member school districts in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, funded through member district allocations and IDEA/state special education dollars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Educational service cooperative
• School district support
• Speech language therapy
• Occupational therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ridgway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Member District Allocations: UnBOCES receives funding through shared cost arrangements with its five member school districts (Norwood, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, and West End). The BOCES model provides accountability, municipal sharing, efficiency, and equity in distributing educational services costs across districts of varying sizes and tax bases.
2. State and Federal Special Education Funding: Funding through IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Colorado state mandates for special education services for children ages 3-21. Services include specially designed instruction, related services, and early intervention programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

UnBOCES is a regional educational service unit that delivers Special Education services and supporting instructional, administrative, and staff services to five member school districts in Western Colorado. It provides therapeutic services (audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, school psychology), developmental screenings (ChildFind), gifted and talented programs, early childhood services, professional development, and alternative teacher licensure across its member districts.

Product overview

Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services (UnBOCES) is a regional educational service unit providing special education services and supporting instructional, administrative, staff, and other services to five member school districts in Western Colorado. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational services including therapeutic services (audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language therapy, school psychology), developmental screening (ChildFind, disability assessment), specialized instruction (gifted and talented, early childhood services, special education), and professional development. Supporting programs include Starlab (portable planetarium), West Central Alternative Teacher Licensure, and transition resources. Several programs have been discontinued or transitioned to member districts (SWAP, Suicide and Threat Risk Assessment). The BOCES was established in 1994 and serves districts in Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audiology Services
• ChildFind
• Disability Assessment and Evaluation
• Early Entrance Program
• Early Childhood Services
• Gifted and Talented (GT) Services
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physical Therapy (PT)
• School Psychology Services
• Special Education Services
• Speech Language Therapy
• Staff Development
• Starlab
• West Central Alternative Licensure (ATL)
• Transition Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves five diverse school districts with student populations ranging from 185-892 students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bright Futures Family OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Collaborative Management Program (CMP), Individualized Services and Support Team (ISST), Parents as Teachers (PAT), and Family Support Services to families in the region served by UnBOCES member districts.
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports people with disabilities needing rehabilitation support to work and for daily living skills. Counties Served: Ouray, San Miguel, Montrose, and Delta. UnBOCES previously operated SWAP program in partnership with DVR.
• Community OptionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides an array of residential, vocational, and various support services to approximately 350 individuals with developmental disabilities. Counties Served: Ouray, San Miguel, all of Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, and Hinsdale.
• San Miguel Health & Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides help for families and children, child welfare, and financial benefit programs. Counties Served: Ouray, San Miguel.
• Colorado Work Force Center/Training AdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides disability navigator services, job seekers with disabilities support, and resource referral. Counties Served: Ouray, San Miguel, Montrose, Delta.
• AXIS Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health services provider in Montrose serving the UnBOCES region.
• San Miguel Resource CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides legal advocacy, emergency shelter, safe housing, support groups, information and referrals, cultural outreach, school-based prevention education, and volunteer advocate training. Counties Served: San Miguel and the West End of Montrose.
• One to OneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship program for children ages 5-17 providing guidance, companionship and understanding. Areas served: Telluride, Norwood, Naturita and Nucla.
• Partners (Mentor Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor program for children ages 6-17. Counties Served: Ouray, Montrose and Delta.
• Voyager Youth ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter school and summer program for children 5-16 years old. Counties Served: Ouray.
• Telluride Adaptive Sports ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides adaptive ski program, Nordic program, summer rafting program, downhill bike clinic, hiking club. Counties served: Ouray, San Miguel, Montrose, Delta and the 4 Corners region.
• County Public Health Offices (San Miguel, Ouray, West End)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health, health services, nurse practitioner, well-child check, WIC, immunizations, eye care, and case management into adulthood for families in the UnBOCES service area.
• University Center of the San MiguelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit community development initiative providing access to post secondary education and professional training in the rural communities of the San Miguel Watershed. Counties Served: Ouray, San Miguel, and West End of Montrose.
• West End Family LinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides program resources, information referral, and program activities for families, children and the elderly in the West End region.
• Wright Stuff Foundation/Primetime Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Norwood Community climbing wall, Making a difference grants, Assets for Rural Youth, Wrights Mesa Cancer Fund, San Juan Parenting Education, Adult Education and Family Literacy, ESL Program, and GED programs.
• AspenDiversified IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit dedicated to assisting people who are disabled or disadvantaged by creating work opportunities. Provides training, vocational, and affirmative business services. Also oversees Open Arms Empowerment Center for individuals with mental illness.
• Uncompahgre Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides medical, dental, mental health, pharmacy, and care coordination services to children of all ages. Located in Norwood, CO. Accepts all forms of insurance and offers sliding fee scale.
• Tri County ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource organization serving the UnBOCES region with various family and community support services.
• Mesa County Work Force Center/Employment WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides social security benefits planning, assistance and outreach serving Southwest Colorado.
• Telluride FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes philanthropy and creates stronger community through grants and services supporting arts, education, athletics, and charitable causes in the Telluride region.
• CO Children Trust FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevention Services Division of Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment providing child welfare and prevention funding.
• Juvenile Diversion ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides alternative to juvenile justice system for youth offenders in San Miguel and Ouray counties.
• Early Intervention ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide system for children under age 3 requiring early intervention services. UnBOCES refers families and coordinates with this state program for children ages birth-3 in the region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• East Central BOCES: Colorado regional educational service cooperative delivering shared special education and staff services to member districts in the East Central region.
• Pikes Peak BOCES: Larger Colorado BOCES providing shared special education, career and technical education, and professional development services to member districts in the Pikes Peak region.
• Santa Fe Trail BOCES: Colorado regional BOCES offering shared special education, gifted and talented, and cooperative staff services to small and mid-sized member districts.
• Centennial BOCES: Colorado regional educational service cooperative delivering shared special education, administrative, and staff services to member districts; same statutory BOCES model and rural district focus.
• Northeast BOCES: Colorado BOCES serving member districts in northeastern Colorado with shared special education, instructional, and administrative services under the same statutory framework.
• San Juan BOCES: Colorado BOCES providing shared special education, professional development, and cooperative services to member districts in the Southwest region; operates under the same Colorado BOCES statute as UnBOCES.
• San Luis Valley BOCES: Colorado BOCES providing shared special education and cooperative services to rural member districts in the San Luis Valley; comparable rural cooperative model serving small districts.
• Mountain BOCES: Colorado Board of Cooperative Educational Services serving member school districts in the mountain region with shared special education and support services; directly comparable regional cooperative structure.

Regional players

• Heartland Area Education Agency: Iowa Area Education Agency providing special education and shared services to member districts; serves as a state-level analogue to Colorado's BOCES model with similar cooperative structure.

Broad incumbents

• Region 9 Education Service Center: Texas-based regional Education Service Center providing shared special education and support services to school districts; analogous regional service unit model in another state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unboces

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services