Check & Connect®

What Check & Connect® does

Check & Connect® is an evidence-based student engagement intervention founded in 1990 and operated by the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration (ICI), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The program serves K-12 and post-secondary students at risk of disengaging from school — particularly students with disabilities, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and students impacted by foster care or homelessness. Its core model pairs trained mentors with individual students to systematically monitor attendance, behavior, and academic performance ("Check") while building sustained, trusting relationships that reconnect students to school ("Connect"). Over a 35+ year history, the model has been implemented in 12 countries and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse as an evidence-based intervention, which is a meaningful procurement gate for U.S. K-12 buyers.

The product surface is primarily a professional services portfolio rather than a software platform. Offerings include in-person mentor training (priced at $699 per person), leadership training ($549 per person), online self-paced courses, on-site organizational training, technical assistance, professional development workshops, program evaluation services, online support modules, and monitoring tools that allow implementing sites to track student-level engagement data. Revenue is generated through training fees, technical assistance contracts, and program evaluation engagements delivered to schools, school districts, state education agencies, and international partners. The organization is staffed by a small team of approximately 9 employees, consistent with a focused university-based program rather than a scaled commercial operation. Distribution relies on the University of Minnesota brand, peer-reviewed publications, WWC recognition, and direct outreach to education agencies — a relationship-driven, non-software go-to-market model with limited technology-driven scalability.

Name

Check & Connect®

Legal name

Regents of the University of Minnesota

Website

https://checkandconnect.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Check & Connect® is a University of Minnesota evidence-based student engagement intervention pairing trained mentors with at-risk K-12 and post-secondary students. It delivers training, technical assistance, program evaluation, and monitoring tools to schools and education agencies across 12 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Intervention Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD)

Keywords

• Student engagement intervention
• Dropout prevention programs
• Mentor training services
• K-12 education services
• Tier 2/3 interventions

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. In-Person National Mentor Training: Two-day, in-person professional development training for Check & Connect mentors delivered at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain in Minneapolis, MN. Price is $699 per participant. Certificate of Completion provided.
2. In-Person National Leadership/Preparation & Implementation Training: One-day, in-person professional development for administrators and leadership teams. Price is $549 per participant. Includes certificate of completion.
3. Online Self-Paced Mentor Training: Self-paced online version of mentor training including 3.5 hours of on-demand video, downloadable resources, Implementing with Fidelity Manual, Participant Guide, and Certificate of Completion. Access password expires 4 weeks from registration. Materials shipped within 2-7 business days.
4. Online Self-Paced Preparation & Implementation Training: Self-paced online version of preparation and implementation training including 2.5 hours of on-demand video. Access expires 3 weeks from registration. Materials shipped within 2-7 business days.
5. Onsite Training: Onsite training delivered by a Check & Connect Implementation Specialist at a location of the client's choice. Customized hands-on training.
6. Onsite Preparation & Implementation Training: One full day of in-person training plus 5 hours of post-training technical assistance delivered by Implementation Specialist at client's site.
7. Technical Assistance: Hourly contracted technical assistance sessions with Check & Connect National Office team members for problem-solving and implementation support. Covers exploration assessment, facilitated online training, implementation check-ins, and monitoring tool setup.
8. Program Evaluation: Contracted evaluation design, data collection, and analysis services for district, regional, or state-level organizations. Requires a contract.
9. Professional Development Sessions: Online professional development sessions led by Check & Connect National Office, tailored to varying needs, contracted at an hourly rate.
10. Online Support Modules: Complimentary self-paced online support modules available as resources to sites that have already completed training. Includes MPP, Check Data, and Weekly Connect Meeting modules.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Check & Connect® is an evidence-based student engagement and dropout prevention intervention, founded in 1990, that pairs at-risk K-12 students with trained mentors who systematically monitor attendance, behavior, and academic performance. The program is operated by the Institute on Community Integration (a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD) at the University of Minnesota, and is delivered to schools, districts, and agencies through structured training, technical assistance, and ongoing program support.

Product overview

Check & Connect® is a comprehensive student engagement intervention program developed and managed by the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration. The core program pairs trained mentors with students at-risk of dropping out, providing sustained, individualized support through structured 'Check' (monitoring) and 'Connect' (mentoring) processes. The offering is structured as a training-centric model rather than a software platform, consisting of the core Check & Connect® intervention supported by Preparation & Implementation Training and Mentor Training (available in online self-paced, in-person national, and onsite formats), plus supplementary services including Technical Assistance, Professional Development, Program Evaluation, Online Support Modules (Mentor Practice Profile, Check Data, and Connect Meeting modules), and Monitoring Tools. All training is provided by certified Check & Connect Implementation Specialists. The program has over 35 years of commitment and 12 international implementations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Check & Connect® Intervention A structured, evidence-based intervention model for K-12 students at risk of disengaging from school. Pairs students with trained mentors who conduct regular Check (data monitoring) and Connect (relationship-building, problem-solving) activities to improve attendance, behavior, and academic outcomes. Designed for schools, districts, state education agencies, alternative schools, correctional facilities, and tribal schools.
• Mentor Training Training program that prepares educational personnel to serve as Check & Connect® mentors. Delivered in multiple formats including online self-paced, in-person national training events, and onsite training at customer locations. Available for groups of 6 or more onsite.
• Preparation & Implementation Training Foundational training for administrators and leadership teams responsible for preparing their organization to implement Check & Connect®. Covers program preparation and implementation. Delivered in online self-paced, in-person national, and onsite formats.
• Technical Assistance Ongoing support services that help organizations sustain and improve Check & Connect® implementation. Includes program evaluation assistance, data monitoring and reporting tool support (such as the Check Data Module and Weekly Connect Meeting Module), and consultation services billed at $300/hour.
• Professional Development Continuing professional development services that help schools and districts deepen staff capacity to implement Check & Connect® with fidelity over time.
• Program Evaluation Evaluation services that measure the fidelity, outcomes, and impact of Check & Connect® implementation at customer sites.
• Online Support Modules On-demand web-based modules that support implementation through refreshers and guided practice. Used by existing Check & Connect® implementers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Statistically significant increases in credit accrual, school engagement, positive behavior supports, attendance, and school completion for participating students.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Graduation Alliance: Dropout prevention and credit recovery services for K-12 students, including student engagement coaching and personalized learning. Comparable to Check & Connect in mission, target customer (K-12 schools and districts), and dropout re-engagement focus, though delivered via a more digital/scaled model.
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): K-12 college readiness system delivered via structured teacher training pathways, fidelity-based implementation, and tiered student support. Comparable to Check & Connect in evidence-based approach, training-centric delivery, professional-development model, and K-12 district sales motion.
• Communities In Schools: The largest U.S. provider of school-based student support services, placing trained site coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver dropout prevention, attendance, and wraparound services. Directly comparable to Check & Connect in target customer (K-12 schools and districts), mission (dropout prevention and engagement), and structured adult-led support model.
• City Year: AmeriCorps-funded near-peer mentoring program placing young adult corps members in K-12 schools to improve attendance, behavior, and course performance. Comparable to Check & Connect in mentoring-driven dropout prevention, K-12 school deployments, and structured intervention framework tied to measurable student outcomes.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Largest U.S. youth mentoring organization with school-based mentoring programs focused on academic success and high school graduation. Comparable in mentoring-driven outcomes and K-12 partnerships, though BBBS is primarily community-based rather than fully school-embedded.
• Reading Recovery: University-housed (Ohio State University) early literacy intervention with structured training and fidelity-based implementation model. Comparable to Check & Connect in university-based program delivery, fidelity-driven teacher training approach, and intervention packaged with professional development.

Emerging players

• Panorama Education: K-12 student success platform providing districts with data analytics, SEL surveys, and intervention tracking tools. Comparable in student engagement and intervention focus, but delivered through a digital/SaaS platform rather than Check & Connect's mentor-led, training-centric model.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth services organization with academic support and dropout prevention programming in schools and community centers. Comparable in K-12 youth support and dropout prevention mission, but broader scope including recreation and out-of-school programming.

Others

• National Dropout Prevention Center: Research and advocacy clearinghouse focused on dropout prevention strategies, program evaluation, and policy. Comparable to Check & Connect in dropout prevention mission and K-12 audience, but operates as a clearinghouse/research center rather than delivering a structured intervention.
• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National advocacy and infrastructure organization supporting youth mentoring programs across the U.S. Comparable to Check & Connect in the youth mentoring ecosystem and K-12 mentoring evidence base, but operates as an umbrella/advocacy body rather than delivering the intervention directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@checkconnect2965
• Facebookfacebook.com/checkandconnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/check-&-connect-a-comprehensive-student-engagement-intervention

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Check & Connect®