CASE: Cooperative Association for Special Education

What CASE: Cooperative Association for Special Education does

Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE) is an intergovernmental cooperative formed in 1960 under Illinois law and headquartered in Glendale Heights, Illinois (also referenced as Glen Ellyn, IL). It is jointly established and governed by seven public school districts in DuPage County — Marquardt SD15, Queen Bee SD16, Glen Ellyn SD41, Lombard ESD44, Glenbard Township HSD87, CCSD89, and CCSD93 — whose superintendents comprise the CASE Board of Directors. CASE is recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) as the legal entity responsible for operating special education programs within those member districts.

The cooperative delivers a comprehensive continuum of special education services for students with disabilities aged 3-22, including specialized academic classrooms, Monarch Academy (a structured program for students with complex communication and sensory needs), Itinerant Services for low-incidence disabilities (Vision, Hearing, Orientation & Mobility), and a full set of related services (Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Adapted Physical Education, Music Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and Assistive Technology). Itinerant Services are extended outward to 64 school districts across the Chicagoland region. Ancillary programs include the Extended School Year summer program, IEP Facilitation, Transportation coordination, Professional Development (e.g., Countywide Institute Days), and Glenbard Parents as Teachers, an early-childhood home-visiting and doula program. CASE employs 263+ specialized staff including BCBAs, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists, teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, teachers of the Visually Impaired, and licensed therapists.

CASE's business model is structured as a member-funded public cooperative, not a commercial enterprise. Member districts contribute to a shared budget for staffing, programs, and professional development; revenue is supplemented by service-based itinerant contracts with non-member districts and Illinois public-education funding mechanisms. There is no commercial pricing, equity funding, or parent-company ownership; the entity is governed by its member districts and reinvests in shared services.

Name

CASE: Cooperative Association for Special Education

Legal name

Cooperative Association for Special Education

Website

https://casedupage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CASE is an Illinois intergovernmental cooperative, jointly governed by seven DuPage County school districts, that delivers special education services (therapies, itinerant low-incidence support, Monarch Academy, early-childhood home visiting) to ~28,000 students across 44 member-district schools and 64 Chicagoland districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Service Coordination / Case Management (IDEA Part C) (EDACAFAK), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Case Management, Referral & Care Navigation (EDALAFAJ)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Cooperative education
• Related services therapy
• Assistive technology
• IEP facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Ellyn, IL

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Member District Cooperative Funding: CASE is funded through joint agreements with 7 member school districts (Marquardt SD15, Queen Bee SD16, Glen Ellyn SD41, Lombard ESD44, Glenbard Township HSD87, CCSD89, CCSD93). Districts contribute to shared special education services including staffing, professional development, and program delivery for students with disabilities aged 3-22.
2. Itinerant Services to External Districts: Vision, Orientation & Mobility and Hearing services are provided to students in 64 school districts in the Chicagoland region beyond the 7 core member districts, generating additional service revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CASE is a cooperative educational organization that delivers comprehensive special education services to seven member school districts in DuPage County, Illinois, serving approximately 28,000 students ages 3-22 with disabilities. Services include Monarch Academy (structured program for students with autism and complex needs), Itinerant Services (Vision, Hearing, Orientation & Mobility), specialized academic classrooms, related therapies (Speech, OT, PT, Music Therapy, Psychology, Social Work), Assistive Technology, IEP Facilitation, Transportation coordination, Extended School Year, and Glenbard Parents as Teachers home visiting program.

Product overview

CASE: Cooperative Association for Special Education is a joint agreement between seven school districts in DuPage County, Illinois, formed in 1960, serving approximately 28,000 students aged 3-22 years with special needs. The organization operates as a service cooperative rather than a technology product company, providing a comprehensive portfolio of educational services including Monarch Academy (a specialized program for students with Autism and complex communication needs), Itinerant Services (Hearing, Vision, and Orientation & Mobility), Specialized Academic Classrooms, and Related Services (Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Adapted Physical Education, Music Therapy, Psychology, Social Work). Additional services include Assistive Technology support, Instructional Support Team, IEP Facilitation, Transportation, Extended School Year program, Glenbard Parents as Teachers (home visiting and doula program), and Professional Development for member districts. The cooperative does not offer a unified software product; rather, it delivers specialized educational services and expertise to member school districts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monarch Academy A highly structured and supportive educational program for elementary students with complex communication and sensory needs, primarily serving students with Autism. The program includes embedded related services, evidence-based teaching methods, and robust visual supports.
• Itinerant Services Licensed teachers providing direct instruction and consult services for students with vision or hearing disabilities across multiple school districts. Includes Hearing Itinerant Teachers, Vision Itinerant Teachers, and Orientation & Mobility specialists.
• Specialized Academic Classrooms Specialized classrooms located in member district schools designed to meet individualized needs of students with disabilities requiring specialized academic instruction and individualized intervention using best practice strategies.
• Speech and Language Pathology Intervention services for students with communication disorders including articulation, apraxia, fluency, voice, social/pragmatic communication, feeding, and expressive/receptive language impairments. Services include Social Thinking, VB-MAPP, PECS, Core Vocabulary, and AAC support.
• Occupational Therapy Supports student participation in daily school activities including activities of daily living, education, work, play, leisure, rest, sleep, and social participation within the school day context.
• Physical Therapy Evaluation and treatment for children with gross motor deficits and breath support limitations to enable access to education. Includes positioning, adaptive equipment, wheelchair propulsion, walking, and stair climbing.
• Adapted Physical Education Physical education adapted or modified to meet individual needs of students with disabilities, provided through consulting, co-teaching, and small group/individual instruction.
• Music Therapy Music-based interventions provided through contract with Dynamic Lynks to help students improve mental and physical health, targeting communication, motor coordination, sensory regulation, social/emotional awareness, and academic skills.
• Assistive Technology Devices and services to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of children with disabilities. Includes evaluation, acquisition, customization, maintenance, implementation, and training for assistive technology devices using the SETT Framework.
• Vision Services Direct and consultative services for students with visual impairments including Braille instruction, low vision and visual efficiency skills, self-advocacy, and Expanded Core Curriculum areas such as daily living and career education.
• Hearing Services Services for students with hearing impairments including instructional and consultative services covering academic skills, self-advocacy, language, communication skills, and independence skills. Includes assistive listening devices and educational sign language interpreting.
• Orientation and Mobility Services Instruction teaching students who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and independently in school, community, and residential environments. Includes tactual, auditory, and visual travel safety techniques and use of tactile, print, and digital maps.
• Psychology Services Student, staff, and school-wide supports including counseling, assessments, social/emotional development support, behavioral concerns, MTSS and PBIS implementation, and evaluation/identification of special education needs.
• Social Work Services Individual and small group services for students with IEP-determined needs, including social emotional learning initiatives, schoolwide interventions, behavior supports, and crisis prevention/response.
• Instructional Support Team Staff development, coaching, and teaching supports for member districts including academic/behavior interventions, FBA/BIP observations, VB-MAPP training, classroom management techniques, PBIS coaching, and professional development.
• IEP Facilitation Third-party facilitation to promote effective communication between parents and IEP teams to develop mutually acceptable Individualized Education Programs, including training for district LEA representatives.
• Transportation Services Centralized coordination of transportation services between parents, district representatives, school staff, and contractual transportation companies, including routing, training, behavior support, and contract management.
• Extended School Year (ESY) Program Summer program running June through July to help students maintain academic, functional, and social-emotional skills over the summer. Includes related services and adapted PE for eligible students.
• Glenbard Parents as Teachers Free home visiting and community doula program for families with pregnancy, infants, toddlers, and in some cases up through kindergarten. Includes bi-weekly home visits, group sessions, developmental screening, and connection to community resources.
• Professional Development Professional development resources and training for educators including Countywide Institute Days, workshops on topics such as autism support, executive functioning, crisis prevention intervention, and consultation/training/coaching services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 28,000 students with special needs across 44 school buildings in 7 member districts.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Spectrios Institute for Low VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASE partners with the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision to schedule and host Low Vision Clinics. These clinics provide students with low vision an evaluation with a low vision optometrist who explores and recommends low vision tools such as telescopes, magnifiers, rec specs, and sunwear. Parents participate during evaluations to ask questions and explore options.
• Dynamic Lynks (Music Therapy Provider)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic therapy services are provided through a contract with Dynamic Lynks, with several Board Certified Music Therapists working with students throughout CASE districts since 2010. Music therapists target non-musical skills including communication, motor coordination, sensory regulation, social/emotional awareness, and academic skills.
• University and College Partners (Education Programs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASE partners with local colleges and universities to foster high quality student teachers, interns, and administrators. Partners include: Rosalind Franklin University, Illinois State University, Midwestern University, Elmhurst College, Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, Governors State University, Lewis University, and Aurora University.
• Glenbard Early Childhood CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA group of community-based partners working with families and young children to develop and support an environment where all are safe, happy, healthy, and eager to learn. Members include Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, and parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream and Wheaton. Partner organizations include Marquardt D15, Queen Bee D16, Glen Ellyn D41, Lombard D44, CCSD89, and CCSD93.
• District 87 (Glenbard Township) - Transition ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity transition resources provided through Glenbard Township High School District 87 for students with disabilities transitioning from school to work or post-secondary education.
• NEDSRA (Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial recreation association providing recreational programs for individuals with special needs in northeast DuPage County.
• WDSRA (Western DuPage Special Recreation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial recreation association providing recreational programs for individuals with special needs in western DuPage County.
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)coreOthersCASE is recognized by ISBE as the legal entity responsible for operating special education programs within its member districts. Operates under Illinois state education law including IL P.A. 101-0515 (Related Service Logs).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Black Hawk Area Special Education District (BHASED): BHASED is a special education cooperative based in the Quad Cities region of Illinois, serving member districts with low-incidence programs and related services. It is comparable in structure but operates in a different Illinois region, making it a regional rather than direct metro competitor.

Direct peers

• Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED): NSSED is an Illinois special education cooperative serving multiple school districts in the northern suburbs of Chicago, providing low-incidence disability programs, related services, and itinerant support. It is the most structurally comparable organization to CASE in terms of cooperative governance, service portfolio, and member-district funding model.
• Special Education District of McHenry County (SEDOM): SEDOM is an Illinois special education joint agreement serving member districts in McHenry County with classrooms, related services, and itinerant programs. Its cooperative structure, K-12 special education focus, and ISBE-recognized status make it a direct comparable to CASE.
• Southwestern Association for Special Education (SASED): SASED is a special education cooperative serving districts in the southwestern Chicago suburbs, providing classrooms, related services, and professional development. Its cooperative governance and K-12 special education service portfolio mirror CASE's operating model.
• Eastern Illinois Area Special Education (EIASE): EIASE is an Illinois special education cooperative providing itinerant and classroom-based services to member districts. It is comparable to CASE as another ISBE-recognized joint agreement offering related services and low-incidence disability programs.
• Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO): NSSEO is a special education cooperative serving northwest suburban Chicago districts with classrooms, related services, and transition programs. It operates a similar joint agreement model and competes with CASE for itinerant and low-incidence service contracts in the broader Chicagoland region.

Others

• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): CEC is the largest international professional organization for special educators, listed as a community resource on CASE's website. It is comparable as a thematically adjacent organization supporting the same special education professional community that CASE draws its staff from.
• Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA): WDSRA is a special recreation association serving western DuPage County with inclusive recreation programs. It is a CASE community partner and a comparable Illinois intergovernmental organization addressing the same disability population through a different service lens (recreation versus education).
• Infinitec: Infinitec is a Chicago-area assistive technology and special education training organization that partners with CASE for AT professional development. It is comparable as an enabling partner in the same ecosystem focused on assistive technology and special education capacity building.
• Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA): NEDSRA is a special recreation association providing programs for individuals with disabilities in northeast DuPage County. It is a CASE community partner and a comparable Illinois intergovernmental agency serving the same geography, though focused on recreation rather than educational services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61567635701527
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/case-cooperative-association-for-special-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries3 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 CASE: Cooperative Association for Special Education