Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind

What Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind does

Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind (MSA) is a state-operated public school district (District 0160) under the Executive Branch of Minnesota government, established by state statute and located in Faribault, Minnesota. The institution comprises two core campuses: the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB), serving students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Blind, or Visually Impaired from birth through age 22 across all regions of Minnesota. Residential options are available on both campuses, providing specialized instruction in ASL, Braille, and assistive technology alongside a comprehensive suite of related services including speech-language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, orientation and mobility, audiology, counseling, and DeafBlind intervener support. The institution also operates an Early Childhood Education program beginning at birth and an MSAD Online Academy providing synchronous online learning for 7th-12th grade D/HH students via Zoom.

The operating model is funded primarily through Minnesota state legislative appropriations, with inter-district tuition agreements covering transportation and one-to-one support services, and out-of-state reimbursements for non-Minnesota students when capacity permits. Programming is free to families, with state appropriations covering the FAPE mandate and a nominal $30 fee applied to optional ESY after-school activities. The slate's technology stack is built on standard, non-proprietary platforms: PowerSchool for student information, Finalsite for the website, Zoom for online instruction, JotForm for forms, and Google Analytics for site analytics. The institution also operates the Minnesota Resource Libraries (a statewide lending library for assistive technology and assessments) and administers the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) for D/HH licensure, established through partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education and PELSB.

Distribution is conducted through the IEP process with each student's resident school district, supplemented by family engagement events (Literacy Nights, Family Learning Weekend, Parent ASL classes), monthly newsletters, and active social media presence on Facebook and Linktree. The institution holds CEASD accreditation (MSAD, 2023), complies with FERPA and WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the governor with senate confirmation. No private ownership, venture funding, or M&A activity exists; the institution is a publicly funded state entity with a 160+ year operating history.

Name

Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind

Legal name

Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind

Website

https://msa.state.mn.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind is a state-operated public school district in Faribault, Minnesota, serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Blind, and Visually Impaired students from birth through age 22 via two residential campuses (MSAD and MSAB), an online academy, and statewide outreach services.

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), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Deaf education programs
• Blind education programs
• Residential special education
• Assistive technology lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Faribault

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: Primary funding from Minnesota State Legislature appropriations. Public school district (District 0160) receives state funding based on per-pupil formulas for special education services.
2. Inter-District Tuition Agreements: Resident school districts bear responsibility for transportation and required one-to-one services (paraprofessional or nursing support) when placing students at MSA.
3. Reimbursement for Out-of-State Students: Out-of-state students may be admitted if it does not prevent eligible Minnesota residents from being admitted. Reimbursement must be obtained from the other state for costs of out-of-state admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind operates a statewide public school system delivering Free Appropriate Public Education to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Blind, and Visually Impaired students from birth through age 22. Core instruction is delivered through two residential campuses — MSAD (Deaf) and MSAB (Blind) — supplemented by the MSAD Online Academy, Early Childhood Education, Extended School Year, a Residential Program, Minnesota Resource Libraries lending service, SLPI assessments, and a broad range of Student Support Services.

Product overview

The Minnesota State Academies operate as a unified state educational institution with two core campus programs (Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and Minnesota State Academy for the Blind) plus additional services. The MSAD and MSAB form the primary educational offerings, serving Deaf and Blind students respectively with residential options. Supporting these are the MSAD Online Academy for virtual learning, Student Support Services providing related therapies and interventions, a Residential Program for on-campus living, an Extended School Year summer program, the Minnesota Resource Libraries offering statewide lending of assistive technology and materials, the MSAD Tuck Library for on-campus literacy, and the Sign Language Proficiency Interview assessment service. The institution also provides Early Childhood Education programming beginning at birth. Together these create a comprehensive educational ecosystem serving students from birth through age 22 across Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) A statewide public school with a residential option serving students with varying degrees of hearing loss from birth through age 22, providing academic instruction in ASL-rich environments by D/HH-licensed teachers.
• Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) A statewide public school with a residential option serving students with varying degrees of vision loss from birth through age 22, providing Braille, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology instruction by BVI-licensed teachers.
• MSAD Online Academy An accredited online learning provider for 7th-12th grade Deaf/Hard of Hearing students in Minnesota, delivering synchronous instruction via Zoom in accessible, language-rich virtual classrooms staffed by licensed D/HH teachers.
• Residential Program On-campus dormitory living program serving MSAD and MSAB students with home-like environments, life-skills training, independent living preparation, and supervised evening and overnight care.
• Extended School Year (ESY) Program Summer programming for eligible Blind, Visually Impaired, DeafBlind, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing students whose IEP teams have determined ESY services are needed, providing programming opportunities alongside peers with similar needs.
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program Serves children from birth through age five on the MSAD campus with family-centered home visits for infants and toddlers and classroom-based instruction beginning at 12 months using Teaching Strategies GOLD curriculum.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive related services including ASL services, audiological services, career counseling, cochlear implant services, counseling, interpreter services, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, physical therapy, speech and language services, psychological services, school social work, and nursing services.
• Minnesota Resource Libraries (MNRL) Statewide lending library providing educational resources, assessments, assistive technology, braillers, mini light boxes, calculators, and professional materials to Minnesota educators and families serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, Visually Impaired, or DeafBlind students.
• Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) Statewide assessment service evaluating expressive and receptive American Sign Language skills for educators pursuing D/HH licensure, ASL specialists, educational interpreters, and school staff documenting ASL proficiency.
• MSAD Tuck Library School library at MSAD fostering literacy, curiosity, research skills, and lifelong learning through instruction in informational literacy, digital literacy, research skills, and responsible technology use aligned with AASL and ISTE standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 160 years of continuous operation serving Minnesota's Deaf and Blind students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Volunteers of America (VOA)coreOthersVOA provides Day Treatment Program services as part of MSA's comprehensive support services for students. This partnership integrates mental health and counseling services into the educational framework available to MSA students.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationPowerSchool provides the student information system used for parent portal access, grade tracking, attendance, and schedules. Students and parents access records through msad.powerschool.com.
• Minnesota School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident school districts collaborate with MSA through the IEP process for student placement, and are responsible for transportation and one-to-one support services when placing students at MSA for ESY or year-round programs.
• Minnesota Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDE partners with MSA for SLPI assessments required for D/HH licensure, and oversees regulatory compliance through state statutes 125A.68 and 125A.69 governing MSA operations.
• Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPELSB requires SLPI assessment through partnership with MSA for teachers pursuing Minnesota D/HH or ASL licensure, establishing competency standards for the profession.
• Faribault Public SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents may take classes at Faribault Public Schools per Procedure 5015, allowing integration with mainstream educational opportunities where appropriate.
• Minnesota Educators and Related Service ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMN Resource Libraries provides educational resources, assessments, and assistive technology to licensed Minnesota educators and related service providers statewide, including audiologists, speech-language pathologists, interpreters, and orientation and mobility specialists.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American School for the Deaf: The oldest permanent school for the Deaf in the United States (founded 1817), a Connecticut-based private residential school serving Deaf/Hard of Hearing students — directly comparable to MSAD in mission, residential model, and historical depth.
• Illinois School for the Deaf: Illinois's state-supported residential school serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from early childhood through age 22 — directly comparable to MSAD in mission, residential program, and state-funded statewide referral model.
• California School for the Deaf, Riverside: California's second state-operated residential school for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students, serving Southern California — comparable to MSAD in mission and residential model with overlapping statewide referral structure.
• Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind: Florida's state-operated residential public school serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, Visually Impaired, and DeafBlind students from birth through age 22 — the closest functional peer to MSA, combining both deaf and blind education under one state-mandated institution.
• Maryland School for the Deaf: Maryland's state-supported residential school with multiple campuses serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students birth-through-21 — directly comparable to MSAD in mission, residential model, and state-mandated service area.
• Perkins School for the Blind: One of the oldest U.S. schools serving Blind and Visually Impaired students, offering residential and day programs plus statewide/ national outreach — directly comparable to MSAB's residential BVI education and statewide resource library mission.
• California School for the Deaf, Fremont: California's state-operated bilingual (ASL-English) residential school for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students offering birth-through-22 services — directly comparable to MSAD in statutory role, residential program, and statewide referral pipeline.
• Texas School for the Deaf: Texas's state-supported residential school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, offering K–12 and early childhood programs with statewide reach — directly comparable to MSAD in mission, residential model, and statutory role.

Regional players

• Indiana School for the Deaf: Indiana's state-operated residential school for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students — comparable in mission and residential model to MSAD but serves a different state geography with its own statutory funding base.

Emerging players

• National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology: Federally funded technical college within RIT serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students — adjacent to MSA's mission but operating at the postsecondary level with a national rather than statewide scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MSABMNS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-state-academies-for-the-deaf-and-the-blind

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind