Dalton International

What Dalton International does

Dalton International is a Dutch non-profit organization founded on March 30, 2001 and headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands. It operates as the sole authorized international body for promoting, certifying, and professionalizing the Dalton Plan pedagogy originally developed by Helen Parkhurst. The organization serves a global community of Dalton schools, teachers, and national associations across Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Austria), Asia (China), Oceania (Australia), and North America (USA), with more than 200 member institutions and 20 officially recognized International Dalton Schools in its network.

Its core 'product' is the certification and training infrastructure for Dalton education. Schools pursue official 'International Dalton School' designation through a training program delivered by authorized International Dalton Consultants; teachers receive the official 'International Dalton Teacher' certificate. Complementary offerings include the annual International Dalton Congress (27th edition in Wenzhou, China in 2024; 28th edition scheduled for Shenzhen in November 2026), bi-annual online International Dalton Café meetings of approximately 30 participants, a published program of books and articles (including Parkhurst's republished seminal work and a new Wenzhou Teacher's Handbook in 2025), and an online network for individual teacher membership with newsletter access.

The business model is a non-profit model funded through certification/training engagements, individual teacher membership (recurring subscription access to network events and newsletter), publication revenue with publishing partner Leonon, and partnership relationships with national Dalton associations (Dutch NDV, German Dalton Vereinigung, Czech Daltonská Asociace) and universities including Saxion and the planned Wenzhou Kean University academic centre. The organization operates with a lean team of 6 employees and a 7-person board led by President Roel Röhner and Executive Director Agata Röhner, with revenue not publicly disclosed.

Name

Dalton International

Legal name

Dalton International

Website

https://daltoninternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dalton International is a Dutch non-profit founded in 2001 that certifies International Dalton Schools and Teachers, delivers Dalton Plan training, and operates a global network of 200+ schools across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Certification and Training Services: Dalton International offers official training programs that lead to schools receiving the 'International Dalton School' designation. Schools that complete the official Dalton training program are certified, and participating teachers receive the official 'International Dalton Teacher' certificate. Dalton International is the only institution authorized to award these certificates.
2. Network Membership: Teachers at Dalton schools can register as members of the Dalton International network. Members participate in Dalton International activities including the Dalton International Café and receive the newsletter. Membership enables connection with colleagues at Dalton schools abroad.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dalton International is a non-profit organization that promotes international exchange on Dalton education based on Helen Parkhurst's Dalton Plan. It operates as the sole institution authorized to award official International Dalton School and International Dalton Teacher certifications, delivers training programs through authorized International Dalton Consultants, organizes an annual International Dalton Congress and bi-annual online International Dalton Cafés, and runs a membership network connecting teachers at Dalton schools worldwide.

Product overview

Dalton International offers a portfolio of educational services centered on the Dalton Plan methodology: International Dalton School certification and training programs delivered by authorized consultants; annual International Dalton Congresses and bi-annual Dalton Café online gatherings for professional exchange; network membership connecting teachers internationally; and publications including Helen Parkhurst's works, conference reports, and themed educational materials. The organization serves as the sole authorized body to certify International Dalton Schools and International Dalton Teachers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Dalton School Certification
• Dalton Training Program
• International Dalton Congress
• International Dalton Café

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ students educated in Dalton methodology through Dutch member schools alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LeononcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeonon is a Dutch publishing house specializing in progressive education and other educational/societal themes. They publish books and materials for the Dutch Dalton Association and the Research Group on Innovative Education at Saxion University of Applied Sciences. They published René Berends' English-language biography of Helen Parkhurst and the English-language reissue of Parkhurst's seminal work 'Education on the Dalton Plan' (December 2025 Dutch edition, January 2026 English edition).
• Dutch Dalton Association (NDV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Dalton Association (NDV) has existed since 1931 with approximately 400 member schools representing about 5% of Dutch schools and 100,000+ pupils. The association formulates quality criteria for Dalton education and has licensed various educational institutions to provide Dalton training. Experienced teachers trained as 'inspectors' periodically check quality at all Dalton schools.
• Dalton Vereinigung Deutschland e.V. (German Dalton Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Dalton Association is the national organization that supports, certifies, and further develops Dalton education in Germany.
• Česká Daltonská Asociace (Czech Dalton Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn association with a number of active Dalton schools in primary education. The association regularly organizes its own conferences and has its own publications.
• Wenzhou Dalton SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the 27th International Dalton Congress in November 2024. Published a Teacher's Handbook in December 2025 for implementing Dalton education with practical suggestions and contributions from Dalton International researchers and trainers.
• Ascham School (Sydney, Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's only Dalton School and one of the two leading Dalton schools globally. Celebrating 140 years in 2026. Deputy Head Pascale Drever contributed to well-being publications. Dalton International representatives work closely with the school.
• Dalton School New YorkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the two leading Dalton schools globally, founded by Helen Parkhurst. Dalton International representatives work closely with the school.
• Wenzhou Kean UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDalton International plans to open a Dalton academic centre at Wenzhou Kean University in 2026, which will serve as a practical laboratory for teacher learning and a resource for schools across the region.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Research Group on Innovative Education)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the biography of Helen Parkhurst in 2011. Conducts extensive research including archives at Parkhurst's hometown, University of Stevens Point, and Dalton School New York. Leonon publishes for this research group.
• Ouigangkou Experimental School (China)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas begun the important work of becoming a Dalton school. Their early steps demonstrate that the Dalton Plan is adaptable and alive in diverse cultural contexts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Baccalaureate Organization (IB): The IB is the dominant international K-12 curriculum and certification body, offering PYP, MYP, DP, and CP programmes. Like Dalton International, it certifies schools and teachers globally on a distinct pedagogical framework and charges recurring authorization fees, making it the closest large-scale analogue.
• Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (International Council for Steiner Waldorf Education): Steiner Waldorf international bodies coordinate, accredit, and certify Waldorf/Steiner schools worldwide under a shared pedagogy. They run international conferences and teacher-training programs comparable to Dalton International's congress and certification structure.
• Round Square: Round Square is an international network of schools built around a shared progressive educational philosophy (IDEALS) with member schools across multiple continents. Like Dalton International, it runs annual conferences, school membership programs, and a distinctive global identity that schools adopt for differentiation.
• Reggio Children S.r.l. Reggio Children is the institutional steward of the Reggio Emilia Approach, running international training, exhibitions, and school consultancy. It parallels Dalton International's role as custodian of a specific pedagogical method with global teacher-training and school engagement programs.
• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI): AMI is the global guardian of the Montessori method, authorized to certify Montessori schools and train teachers. It mirrors Dalton International's role as the sole authorized international certifier of a named pedagogy and operates a similar global network of affiliated schools.

Others

• Council of International Schools (CIS): CIS is a global membership and accreditation body for international schools, providing quality assurance and community rather than a specific pedagogical certification. It is thematically adjacent to Dalton International as another international education quality and community organization.

Broad incumbents

• Cambridge Assessment International Education: Cambridge International offers a suite of internationally-recognized curricula and qualifications (Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE, A Level) and certifies schools globally. It overlaps with Dalton International's school certification and international education positioning but is far broader and commercial in scope.
• Pearson Edexcel International: Pearson offers Edexcel International qualifications (IGCSE, International A Level, BTEC) and accredits schools worldwide through a large commercial framework. It competes with Dalton International for school adoption decisions and recurring fees but covers a much wider assessment portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dalton-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Dalton International