What Consortium for Public Education does

The Consortium for Public Education is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in the Pittsburgh/McKeesport, Pennsylvania region, operating as an education-to-workforce intermediary in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It connects K-12 school districts, educators, students, regional employers, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations through a portfolio of interconnected programs: professional development in Project-Based Learning, Human-Centered Design, and Pennsylvania Act 45/Act 48 continuing education; the Educator in the Workforce (EIW) immersion program that places educators in regional workplaces; the Student Sustainability Design Challenge (SSDC); Future Ready Leaders (FRL); the College & Career Knowledge (CCK) program; the year-long Building a Positive School Climate (BPSC) cohort; The Forum leadership network; and consulting offerings such as Portrait of a Graduate/Learner framework development and Elementary Future Readiness. The organization has 19 employees and is led by Executive Director Jackie Foor.

The Consortium does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its core methodology is human-centered design (HCD) applied to K-12 and workforce contexts. Its revenue model combines contract services with school districts (priced on an equitable model based on student demographics), individual educator course fees (e.g., $375 per participant for Act 45 courses), grants from regional foundations (Benedum, Buhl, Eden Hall, Grable, Hillman, Huntington), and corporate sponsorships from regional employers (PPG, UPMC, PNC, Covestro, EQT, Ebara Elliott Energy, Giant Eagle, Turner Construction, Aerotech, Premier Automation, among others). It serves K-12 school districts and schools as the primary customer segment, with educators (teachers, counselors, administrators) as the core user persona, and students and employers as adjacent beneficiary segments. Distribution is regional and relationship-driven, relying on direct contracting with districts, cohort enrollment, educator self-registration, the annual Future Ready Partnerships Conference, the Champions of Learning Awards, and an active social media and YouTube presence (275+ videos, 197,000 views).

Name

Consortium for Public Education

Legal name

The Consortium for Public Education

Website

https://tcfpe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Consortium for Public Education is a Pittsburgh-area nonprofit founded in 1986 that serves as an education-to-workforce intermediary, connecting K-12 school districts, educators, and students in Western Pennsylvania with regional employers and community partners through professional development, cohort programs, and career exploration initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education and Workforce Intermediary Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF)

Keywords

• K-12 professional development
• Career readiness programs
• Workforce intermediary services
• Project-based learning training
• Educator workforce programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Contract Services Revenue: School districts and schools contract with the Consortium for an array of customized services including professional development, curriculum and framework development, and career education support. Contracts are developed using an equitable pricing model based on the proportion of students from low-income households.
2. Professional Development Course Fees: The Consortium offers Act 48 and Act 45 professional development courses for educators and school leaders. Act 45 courses for school leaders are priced at $375 for spring 2026 sessions. Most offerings help educators fulfill Act 48 continuing education requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Consortium for Public Education is a nonprofit intermediary that delivers customized professional development for educators, career exploration programs that connect K-12 schools with regional employers, and student programs such as the Student Sustainability Design Challenge and Student Powered Solutions. Its services include Project-Based Learning and Human-Centered Design training, Act 45/Act 48 state-approved courses, Portrait of a Graduate framework development, and contract services tailored to individual school districts with equitable pricing based on student demographics. Programs are offered to school districts, individual educators, K-12 students, and employer partners primarily across Western Pennsylvania.

Product overview

The Consortium for Public Education offers a portfolio of interconnected educational programs and professional development services focused on K-12 education and workforce development. The core offerings include: Professional Development (Project-Based Learning, Human-Centered Design, Act 45/48 courses for educators and administrators); Career Exploration Programs (Educator in the Workforce, College & Career Knowledge, Future Ready Leaders); Student Programs (Student Sustainability Design Challenge, Student Powered Solutions, The Forum leadership network); and Consulting Services (Contract Services for districts, Portrait of a Graduate development, Elementary Future Readiness). These programs work together as an ecosystem—educator training informs classroom implementation, career exploration connects schools with employers, and student programs provide hands-on learning opportunities. The Consortium serves as an intermediary connecting schools with community partners, employers, and post-secondary institutions across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Development Customized professional development opportunities for K-12 educators including Project-Based Learning training, Human-Centered Design training, Act 45/Act 48 courses for school leaders, and workshops designed to help students become future ready.
• Educator in the Workforce (EIW) Program that immerses educators into local workplaces through site visits to gain first-hand knowledge about key industries, regional employers, and career pathways and how subjects connect to workforce skills.
• Student Sustainability Design Challenge (SSDC) Team-based community projects for middle and high school students focused on the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, helping students gain employment skills, agency, and career knowledge.
• Future Ready Leaders (FRL) Student leadership program where teams of high school students work alongside educators to design projects that make college and career readiness tangible.
• Building a Positive School Climate (BPSC) Cohort Year-long cohort bringing together school teams of teachers, counselors, and administrators to design, implement, and assess solutions that build a positive school climate.
• College & Career Knowledge (CCK) Career exploration program offering college visits, apprenticeship training center explorations, and hands-on projects for middle and high school students.
• The Forum Network helping educators develop leadership skills while pursuing projects that support high priority goals in their schools or districts.
• Portrait of a Graduate/Learner Collaborative process working with school leaders to develop a portrait of a graduate through Human-Centered Design, stakeholder outreach, and engagement to identify competencies valued in graduates.
• Elementary Future Readiness Resources and support for elementary schools to embed future readiness skills through video resources, career exploration activities, and teacher professional development.
• Human-Centered Design Services (HCD) Training, webinars, and facilitated sessions for educators on Human-Centered Design principles and practices for collaborative problem-solving.
• Contract Services Customized services for school districts including professional development, curriculum and framework development, and career education support tailored to specific district needs, priced using an equitable model based on student demographics.
• Act 45/Act 48 Professional Development for School Leaders Pennsylvania state-approved professional development courses for school administrators to earn Act 45 hours, including the Leadership through Design course priced at $375 for the spring 2026 session.
• Student Powered Solutions (SPS) Program that pairs classrooms with businesses to give students project-based learning opportunities applying STEAM skills to real business problems.

Quantifiable outcome

• BPSC cohort schools saw a 900% increase in family engagement and a nearly 90% reduction in student discipline referrals.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AerotechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerotech served as a corporate partner hosting Educator in the Workforce site visits, enabling educators to tour facilities and learn about careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
• Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union Local 9minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as an employer partner hosting Educator in the Workforce site visits for educators to explore careers in the building trades.
• Giant EagleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiant Eagle served as a corporate partner in the EIW program, hosting educators at its worksites to explore retail and food industry careers.
• PPGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPG is both an EIW employer partner and an SSDC corporate sponsor. The company participates in programs connecting educators and students to careers in coatings and specialty materials.
• Premier AutomationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Automation hosted EIW site visits, enabling educators to learn about automation and robotics careers in the region.
• Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #12minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheet Metal Workers Local Union #12 hosted EIW experiences, giving educators hands-on exposure to sheet metal trades careers.
• Turner ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurner Construction hosted EIW site visits for educators to explore careers in the construction industry.
• UPMCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPMC is both an EIW employer partner and an SSDC corporate sponsor. It participates in career exploration programs connecting healthcare careers with students and educators.
• CovestrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovestro is an SSDC corporate sponsor, supporting the Student Sustainability Design Challenge focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Ebara Elliott EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEbara Elliott Energy is an SSDC corporate sponsor. The company aligns its sustainability focus with the UN SDGs through its partnership with SSDC and hosts student site visits.
• EQTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEQT is an SSDC corporate sponsor supporting sustainability-focused student projects and career exploration in the energy sector.
• PITT OHIOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPITT OHIO is an SSDC corporate sponsor, supporting student sustainability projects and regional workforce development.
• PNCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNC is an SSDC corporate sponsor and participates in education-workforce initiatives that connect students with career pathways.
• Carnegie Mellon University (Green Practices & Sustainability Manager)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMU's Green Practices & Sustainability Manager hosted a site visit for Bethel Park High School's SSDC team, showcasing the university's environmental work and sustainability careers.
• Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAC Boyce Campus hosted the 2026 Future Ready Partnerships Conference. The college also participates in student programs and offers college credit opportunities for student projects.
• Rodef ShalomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRodef Shalom served as the venue for the 2025 SSDC showcase event.
• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALCOSAN partnered with school districts through the Student Powered Solutions program, giving students real-world sustainability challenges related to stormwater management.
• PANTHERx Specialty PharmacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANTHERx partnered with Blackhawk School District through Student Powered Solutions, tasking students with solving real business challenges in specialty pharmacy logistics and technology.
• Model CleanersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerModel Cleaners partnered with Albert Gallatin and Charleroi Area school districts through Student Powered Solutions, challenging students with marketing and logistics challenges.
• Sprinklerfitters Local 542minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSprinklerfitters Local 542 hosted CCK apprenticeship exploration visits for students, introducing careers in fire protection trades.
• Laborers' District Council of Western PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Laborers' District Council hosted apprenticeship training center visits for students as part of the College & Career Knowledge program.
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 12minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheet Metal Workers Local 12 in Harmarville hosted student visits as part of CCK's apprenticeship exploration activities.
• Partner4WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner4Work, one of Pennsylvania's 22 Workforce Investment Boards, collaborates with the Consortium on the Career Connections Network and Career Ready Allegheny conference.
• Pressley RidgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPressley Ridge, a non-traditional system serving students, participates in the Building a Positive School Climate cohort alongside public schools.
• Britebound (formerly American Student Assistance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritebound invited the Consortium to be featured on its Career Ready Network, a platform connecting students and educators with work-based learning organizations.
• Catalyst ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalyst Connection partners with the Consortium on the Industry 4.0 Teacher Academy, helping educators understand modern manufacturing careers.
• World Affairs Council of PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consortium collaborated with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh as a design partner to co-develop global learning training for rural PA educators.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): National membership organization delivering standards, PD, and certification for K-12 educators on edtech and modern learning practices. Broad incumbent in the K-12 PD market, with overlapping capability on technology-enabled instructional practices.
• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): Large national association providing professional development, publications, and conferences for K-12 educators and administrators. A broader incumbent in the same educator PD space as the Consortium's Professional Development and Act 45/48 offerings.
• Year Up: Large national workforce intermediary connecting young adults to corporate careers through employer partnerships, training, and coaching. Comparable intermediary model linking education and employers, though serving a postsecondary age cohort rather than K-12.

Others

• Getting Smart: Education media and advisory firm covering future of learning, career readiness, and innovation in K-12 and postsecondary education. An ecosystem participant that amplifies K-12 workforce-readiness content and partners with intermediaries like the Consortium.

Direct peers

• Learning Forward: National professional learning association focused on K-12 educator professional development standards and training. Overlaps with the Consortium's Professional Development, Act 45/48, and cohort-based PD services, including the BPSC cohort.
• Battelle for Kids: Education nonprofit that partners with districts to design future-ready frameworks (e.g., Portrait of a Graduate) and supports system-level improvement. Directly comparable to the Consortium's Portrait of a Graduate work and its intermediary role connecting schools with broader community partners.
• KnowledgeWorks: National education nonprofit focused on future of learning, career readiness, and personalized learning, with strong intermediary and policy work. Overlaps with the Consortium's future readiness, Portrait of a Graduate, and education-to-workforce bridging programs.
• Junior Achievement USA: National K-12 nonprofit delivering career exploration, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs through school and employer partnerships. Directly comparable mission and stakeholder mix (educators, students, corporate partners) to the Consortium's Educator in the Workforce and Future Ready Leaders programs.
• NAF (formerly National Academy Foundation): National nonprofit operating career academies and career-themed pathways in K-12 schools, with deep employer engagement and a focus on underrepresented students. Closely aligned with the Consortium's Portrait of a Graduate, Future Ready Leaders, and workforce-development intermediary model.
• PBLWorks (Buck Institute for Education): National provider of Project-Based Learning professional development, workshops, and certification for K-12 educators. Directly comparable to the Consortium's PBL training offering, which has now expanded coast-to-coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tcfpe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-grZdvCQs4P-92LV_BfScQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/tcfpe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tcfpe
• Instagraminstagram.com/tcfpe
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ConsortiumforPublicEducation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Consortium for Public Education