Bdote Learning Center

What Bdote Learning Center does

Bdote Learning Center is a K-8 public charter school located at 3216 E 29th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded on August 25, 2014, under the name 'Bdote' — the Dakota word for the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, the origin place of Minnesota's first peoples. Authorized by Innovative Quality Schools (IQS) under a FY24–FY26 contract, the school delivers dual-language immersion education in Dakota and Ojibwe to American Indian students and their families in the greater Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, using a place-based, experiential curriculum tied to local history, ecology, and Indigenous cultures. Core products include the Dakota and Ojibwe Language Immersion Programs (K-8), Place-Based Experiential Education, and mandated assessments via FastBridge, MCA, and WIDA, supported by the JMC Student & Family Portal, Adobe Sign for forms, and Zoom for community language tables.

Bdote employs 12 staff and operates as a tuition-free public charter school, with revenue drawn primarily from Minnesota per-pupil state aid, federal Title VI Indian Education grants, Johnson O'Malley funds, Minnesota American Indian Education Aid (AIEA), and donations via Give to the Max, GoFundMe, PayPal, and Amazon Smile. The school is governed by a Board with representation from multiple tribal nations (Seneca Nation of Indians, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, White Earth Nation, Bad River Tribe) and operates under Executive Director Korissa Howes (Fond Du Lac Ojibwe). Operations rely on contracted partners including Monarch Bus Company for transportation and TRIO Community Meals for nutrition. Bdote is distinct in Minnesota as the only K-8 charter school offering dual Dakota and Ojibwe language immersion with culturally-adapted assessments developed in partnership with the Wilder Foundation, Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network, University of Minnesota, Cante Maza, SWODLI, OOG, and Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia.

Name

Bdote Learning Center

Legal name

Bdote Learning Center

Website

https://bdotelearningcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bdote Learning Center is a tuition-free K-8 public charter school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2014, offering dual Dakota and Ojibwe language immersion and place-based experiential education to American Indian students in the Twin Cities metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding (Per-Pupil Aid): As a public charter school authorized by Innovative Quality Schools, Bdote Learning Center receives per-pupil state funding based on student enrollment. This is the primary revenue stream supporting school operations.
2. Federal Title VI Indian Education Grant: Federal funding under Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to support American Indian education programs, including language and cultural programming.
3. Johnson O'Malley (JOM) Funds: Federal funds for eligible American Indian students with enrolled grandparents, parents, or personal enrollment, used to provide and aid student needs.
4. American Indian Education Aid (AIEA) Program: State-compliant American Indian education funding administered through MDE, with budget and narrative collaboratively prepared by AIPAC and school leadership.
5. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Monetary donations accepted through Give to the Max, GoFundMe, PayPal, and mail-in checks. In-kind donations supported through Amazon Smile and Box Tops for Education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bdote Learning Center is a K-8 public charter school that delivers dual Dakota and Ojibwe language immersion education combined with place-based, experiential learning and college preparatory curriculum. The school serves American Indian students and their families in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, providing rigorous academic instruction integrated with Indigenous language, culture, and local history. Core offerings are supplemented by student assessments, nutrition services, transportation, and family engagement programs.

Product overview

Bdote Learning Center is a K-8 public charter school offering a dual-language immersion educational program with Dakota and Ojibwe language tracks. The school combines place-based experiential education tied to local geography, history, and Native cultures with rigorous academic curriculum to prepare students for college. The core educational offerings are supplemented by assessment services (FastBridge, MCA, WIDA), a JMC-based student and family portal, student transportation via Monarch Bus Company, and meal services from TRIO Community Meals. The school operates under the motto 'Tanyan Yahipi - Biindigen' (Come in, Welcome) and aims to develop culturally aware, successful, high-performing students with language fluency and cultural identity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• In over 500 studies, immersion students outperform English-only peers by grades 3-5
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• Monarch Bus CompanycoreOthersProvides bus transportation services for Bdote students. Contact: (651) 251-8080. Routes serve greater Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. All transportation scheduled to arrive at Bdote Learning Center at 7:40am.
• TRIO Community MealscoreOthersProvides meal and nutrition services for Bdote Learning Center since 1960. TRIO is committed to quality nutrition, promoting health and well-being, and reducing isolation among vulnerable populations.
• Mino-Bimaadiziwin Wellness ClinicsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides student therapy services through contracted providers Emma Uhrich and Lorissa White.
• Right Response LLCsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides social work intern (Hannah Williams) and school social worker (Kestrel Feiner-Homer) services.
• Designs for LearningsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides contracted SPED Coordinator (Katy Snider), Director of SPED (Mark Krug), Technology Director (Travis Kemen), and SPED Teacher (Zeinab Abdalla) services.
• Navigate Care ConsultingsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides school nurse Tara Meyer for health and wellness services.
• Clifton Larsen Allen (CLA)supportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides Director of Finance Nate Winter for financial management services.
• Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with language teachers for Dakota & Ojibwe assessment development and administration. MIIN is part of the network of organizations supporting Indigenous language immersion education.
• University of Minnesota - Cante Maza Dakota Language ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDakota language professors from the University of Minnesota assist in training language teachers to administer oral assessments and curriculum development.
• Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Dakotah Language Institute (SWODLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Dakota language assessment development and teacher training for the immersion program.
• Wilder FoundationsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in training language teachers to administer oral assessments for Dakota and Ojibwe immersion curriculum.
• Ojibwemotaadiidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang (OOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOjibwe language organization that partners in training teachers and developing assessments for the Ojibwe language immersion program.
• Innovative Quality Schools (IQS)coreOthersAuthorizing organization for Bdote Learning Center. IQS is a charter school authorizer based in Hutchinson, MN. Executive Director: Laurie Schroeder. Authorizer contract FY24 to FY26.
• Various Tribal Nations (Board Representation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard and staff represent multiple tribal nations including: Seneca Nation of Indians, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, White Earth Nation, Bad River Tribe, Fond du Lac Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe, Red Lake Ojibwe, Leech Lake Ojibwe, Oglala Sioux, Bois Forte Ojibwe, Ho Chunk.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Anishinabe Academy: A Minneapolis Public Schools site serving American Indian students K-8 with culturally responsive programming. Directly comparable to Bdote in target population, grade band, and Twin Cities location; differs as a district-run school rather than a charter.
• Oshki Ogimaag (Grand Portage): Anishinaabe-immersion school in Grand Portage, MN serving K-6 with Ojibwe language and culture at its core. Closely comparable to Bdote's Ojibwe immersion curriculum and Minnesota location; smaller scale and reservation-based.
• Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School: An Ojibwe language immersion school operated by the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe tribal community in Wisconsin. Directly comparable to Bdote's Ojibwe immersion track and endangered-language revitalization mission, though smaller scale and reservation-based rather than urban.
• Nawayee Center School: An urban Indigenous-focused charter school in Minneapolis serving American Indian students in grades 7-12. Comparable to Bdote in mission (culturally relevant Indigenous education) and geography (Twin Cities), though Bdote serves K-8 while Nawayee serves older students, making them complementary rather than overlapping.

Broad incumbents

• Minneapolis Public Schools Indian Education Program: MPS's district-wide program serving American Indian students across multiple schools with cultural support, language instruction, and AIPAC governance. Overlaps Bdote's target demographic and Twin Cities geography; broader scale and district-run rather than immersion-specific.

Others

• Cante Maza Dakota Language Program (University of Minnesota): University of Minnesota-based Dakota language program and Bdote's curriculum/assessment partner. Not a competing school but an enabling partner whose work underpins Bdote's immersion pedagogy and teacher training pipeline.
• Innovative Quality Schools (IQS): Bdote's charter authorizer based in Hutchinson, MN. Comparable as a fellow Minnesota charter ecosystem participant; relationship is regulatory rather than competitive, but IQS also authorizes other charter schools in the state.
• Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN): A network supporting Indigenous language immersion schools across the Midwest. Bdote is an active partner; MIIN is not a direct peer but a strategic ecosystem participant whose member schools (including Bdote) share curriculum and assessment development practices.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bdote-learning-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Bdote Learning Center