Macon-Piatt Special Education District

What Macon-Piatt Special Education District does

Macon-Piatt Special Education District (MPSED) is a public joint agreement cooperative of 12 school districts across Macon, Piatt, and Shelby counties in Central Illinois, providing special education services to approximately 3,000 students with disabilities out of a combined member-district enrollment of nearly 20,000. Decatur Public School District 61 serves as the administrative agent, handling employment, HR, and operational functions for the cooperative under an Executive Board comprising member-district representatives. MPSED is not a commercial enterprise; it is a government entity operating under Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) regulations and federal IDEA authority, with no tuition or fees charged to families.

The district delivers a comprehensive program portfolio spanning all major disability categories: Early Childhood Special Education (ages 3-5 at Pershing Early Learning Center), Social/Emotional Development (grades 7-12), Vision Program (Braille, screen readers, materials adaptation), Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Program, Life Skills (K-12 functional curriculum), Essential Skills (K-12 intensive communication support), Vocational Program (community-based work experiences via the STEP program), and the Social-Emotional Learning Academy (SELA) for alternative behavioral placements. The underlying technology stack is assistive rather than AI-native: third-party screen-reading software (Zoomtext, JAWS, Kurzweil 1000), the TouchChat AAC iPad app with an in-house trial program, EMBRACE for IEP management, and standard productivity/scheduling tools (Office 365, Frontline).

Revenue mechanics are entirely public-sector: per-pupil funding from the 12 member districts, ISBE and federal IDEA pass-through funding, and Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services. Geographic scope is strictly regional (Central Illinois), with no expansion signals beyond the existing 12-district footprint. Notable recent developments include leadership succession (Liz Lang elevated to Director on July 1, Andrea Maple promoted to Assistant Director), a 21-year assistive-technology coordinator retirement, and a 2026 Region 4 Leadership Award from IAASE.

Name

Macon-Piatt Special Education District

Legal name

Macon-Piatt Special Education District

Website

https://mpsed.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Macon-Piatt Special Education District is a public joint agreement of 12 Central Illinois school districts delivering special education services to approximately 3,000 students. Decatur Public School District 61 serves as administrative agent, coordinating programs across hearing, vision, life skills, vocational, and social-emotional specializations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Public school cooperative
• IEP program delivery
• Assistive technology services
• Vocational transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Member District Funding: Public funding through cooperative agreements with 12 member school districts. The district receives per-pupil funding and allocates special education services across the joint agreement.
2. Government/State Funding: Funding from Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and federal IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding allocated through the state
3. Medicaid Reimbursement: Medicaid coordination program allowing reimbursement for eligible services provided to students covered by Medicaid

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Macon-Piatt Special Education District (MPSED) is a joint cooperative agreement of 12 school districts in Central Illinois that delivers comprehensive special education services to approximately 3,000 students. The district operates programs including Early Childhood Special Education, Social/Emotional Development, Vision Program, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, Life Skills, Essential Skills, Vocational Program, and the Social-Emotional Learning Academy (SELA), along with assistive technology, occupational/physical/speech therapy, and behavioral support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SELA: Social-Emotional Learning Academy: Providing alternative placement options for students who experience difficulty with the traditional school setting.

Products and services

• Early Childhood Special Education Program Early intervention program available at Pershing Early Learning Center for students aged 3-5 with early developmental needs, offered in both collaborative and intensive classroom formats.
• Social/Emotional Development Program Program for students grades 7-12 teaching core academic subjects while focusing on social and emotional regulation skills, self-regulation of emotions, coping skills, and peer interaction.
• Vision Program Program teaching adaptations for the visually impaired and braille skills for the blind, available in the student's home school, with assistive technology including screen-reading software (Zoomtext, JAWS, Kurzweil 1000) and materials adaptation services.
• Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Program Program teaching skills for listening and speaking, as well as sign language, available in the student's home school with assistive technology support.
• Life Skills Program Program for students grades K-12 focusing on alternative curriculum aligned to alternate state standards, teaching functional skills in daily living, community living, recreation/leisure, and vocational training.
• Essential Skills Program Program for students grades K-12 with smaller class sizes and staff-to-student ratio than Life Skills, with communication development as a primary focus and students learning alternative ways to communicate.
• Vocational Program Vocational development program available to all high-school special education students, building and assessing skills needed to work within the community while enrolled in high school.
• Social-Emotional Learning Academy (SELA) Alternative placement program for students who experience difficulty with the traditional school setting, providing focused behavioral training within a highly structured curriculum located at the former William Harris School building.
• Summer Enrichment Program Summer program offering educational and recreational activities for students during summer break, including field trips and enrichment activities for junior high and high school students.
• Assistive Technology Services Comprehensive assistive technology support including screen-reading software (Zoomtext, JAWS, Kurzweil 1000), AAC apps (TouchChat), brailling services, and materials adaptation for students with disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 3,000 students receive quality, student-focused special education services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Decatur Public School District 61coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministrative agent district that manages employment and HR functions for MPSED. As the largest member district, DPS61 hosts most MPSED programs and staff. The district provides infrastructure and administrative support services including Applitrack for employment applications.
• Richland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCC Cafe serves as a vocational training site for MPSED STEP program students, providing real-world food service work experience. Students gain employment skills in an inclusive environment with RCC staff mentoring students.
• Troy Page ExcavatingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partnership providing vocational training in truck and heavy equipment operation for Life Skills students through the STEP work program.
• DMH (Decatur Memorial Hospital)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare facility partnership providing STEP program work experience for high school students from MacArthur and Eisenhower Life Skills programs.
• Regional Office of Education #39coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROE #39 shares facilities with MPSED for Executive Board meetings and collaborates on regional education initiatives. Both organizations serve the Macon-Piatt county area.
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState regulatory body that provides funding, policy guidance, and oversight for special education programs. MPSED operates under ISBE regulations and receives IDEA funding through this partnership.
• Illinois Department of Human Services - Division of Rehabilitation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing resources and transition services for students with disabilities. Collaborates on school-to-work transition guides and vocational rehabilitation services.
• The Autism Program (TAP) at University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity program providing support and training resources for educators and families of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• Easter Seals of Central IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization providing additional disability services and resources for families served by MPSED.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Regional Office of Education #39: ROE #39 shares facilities with MPSED, hosts Executive Board meetings, and collaborates on regional education initiatives in the Macon-Piatt area. It is an adjacent governmental partner rather than a competitor.
• Decatur Public School District 61: DPS61 is MPSED's largest member district and administrative agent, hosting most MPSED programs and serving as the employer of record. While not a direct competitor, its operational relationship makes it the most closely intertwined entity with MPSED.

Direct peers

• Eastern Illinois Area Special Education (EIA SE): EIA SE is an Illinois special education cooperative providing services to districts in eastern Illinois. It shares MPSED's joint agreement structure and comprehensive program catalog including hearing, vision, and life skills support.
• Northwest Special Education Cooperative: Northwest Special Education Cooperative is an Illinois regional cooperative providing special education services to multiple school districts. Its governance, funding mechanisms, and disability-category coverage make it a structural analog to MPSED.
• Black Hawk Area Special Education District: Black Hawk Area Special Education District is an Illinois cooperative delivering special education to member districts in the Quad Cities region. It shares MPSED's joint-agreement structure, IDEA/state funding, and cross-district service consolidation model.
• Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL): SEDOL is an Illinois special education cooperative serving multiple school districts in Lake County with a comprehensive catalog of special education programs. Like MPSED, it operates as a joint agreement providing itinerant and center-based services across disability categories under ISBE oversight.
• Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED): NSSED is an Illinois cooperative of suburban districts providing special education and related services to students across multiple disability categories. Its cooperative structure, member-district funding model, and full-spectrum program catalog closely parallel MPSED.
• Southwest Cooperative for Special Education (SWCASE): SWCASE is an Illinois regional cooperative delivering special education services to member districts in the southwestern part of the state. It shares MPSED's joint-agreement governance, multi-district funding, and comprehensive disability-category service model.
• Four Rivers Special Education District: Four Rivers is an Illinois cooperative serving districts in west-central Illinois. Like MPSED, it operates as a multi-district joint agreement providing specialized programs for hearing, vision, life skills, and behavioral needs with shared administrative infrastructure.
• Kaskaskia Special Education District (KSED): KSED is a southern Illinois special education joint agreement serving multiple districts. It mirrors MPSED's structure: multi-district cooperative, ISBE oversight, IDEA-funded programs, and itinerant special education service delivery across all disability categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mpsped
• Instagraminstagram.com/maconpiattspecialeducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macon-piatt-special-education-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Macon-Piatt Special Education District