Special Education Support Center

What Special Education Support Center does

Special Education Support Center (SESC) is a Washington State nonprofit that delivers professional development, training, and resource libraries for educators, administrators, paraeducators, families, and students involved in special education. Operating as part of the Washington Education Association (WEA) and as a core member of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN), SESC functions as a state-endorsed centralized platform for inclusive education content, covering IDEA compliance, IEP development, behavior management, inclusive practices, and disability-specific instruction. Its content library addresses 13-14 disability categories as defined by IDEA, and it maintains an archive of resolved OSPI community complaints that is used in educator training.

SESC's service portfolio spans approximately 67 synchronous classes delivered via Zoom, asynchronous self-paced courses hosted on Canvas LMS, blended Extended Workshops, and customized on-site training for schools and districts with cohort sizes of 15-50 participants. A distinctive asset is the Families and Advocates Transforming Education (FATE) program, which collects video testimonials from families and disabled students and integrates them into educator training. The organization also publishes a Special Education Handbook aligned with IDEA and Washington Administrative Code, and provides role-specific resource hubs for teachers, ESAs, para professionals, administrators, families, and students. Technology is limited to off-the-shelf learning and video infrastructure (Canvas LMS, Zoom, Google Drive), with no proprietary platform, no public API, and no custom AI systems.

Commercially, SESC is a grant-funded, free-to-participant model: training and resources are provided at no cost to Washington State educators, with funding routed through OSPI to WEA. Its go-to-market is primarily driven through WEA membership communications, the OSPI IPTN network, the organization's website, direct training requests from schools and districts, and community-led outreach via the FATE program. The 2024 merger of OSPI's Inclusionary Practices Program and Special Needs Project into the WEA IPTN consolidated additional technical assistance scope onto SESC's existing infrastructure, reinforcing its position as Washington's state-sponsored hub for special education professional development.

Name

Special Education Support Center

Legal name

Special Education Support Center

Website

https://specialeducationsupportcenter.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Education Support Center is a Washington State nonprofit, operated by the Washington Education Association and funded by OSPI, that provides free professional development, training, and resource libraries on special education law, IEPs, and inclusive practices for educators, administrators, paraeducators, families, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC)

Keywords

• Special education training
• Inclusive education practices
• IEP professional development
• Educator training courses
• Special education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Federal Way

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Professional Development: SESC is funded by OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) and operated by WEA (Washington Education Association) to provide free professional development and training to educators in Washington State.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Special Education Support Center (SESC) provides free professional development courses, workshops, and resource libraries to Washington State educators, administrators, paraeducators, and families supporting students with disabilities. Offerings are delivered through synchronous Zoom classes, asynchronous Canvas LMS courses, and customized in-person workshops, covering IDEA compliance, IEP development, behavior management, inclusive practices, and disability-specific topics.

Product overview

Special Education Support Center (SESC) is a professional development organization serving as a centralized platform for special education resources and training in Washington State. The organization offers a multi-modal training portfolio comprising: Synchronous classes via Zoom (approximately 67 courses), Asynchronous courses on Canvas LMS, and Extended Workshops combining both formats. Training programs cover areas including IDEA compliance, IEP development, behavior management, inclusive practices, and specific disability categories. The organization also provides resource libraries for teachers, Educational Staff Associates (ESAs), para professionals, administrators, families, and students. A distinctive offering is the Families and Advocates Transforming Education (FATE) Team program, which collects video stories from families and students to include in educator training. SESC operates as part of OSPI's Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Synchronous Zoom Classes Real-time classes hosted via Zoom where participants gain understanding of effective instructional strategies for special education. Offered to Washington State educators.
• Asynchronous Canvas Courses Self-paced learning experiences hosted on Canvas with activities outlined in a specified time frame including classroom application and assessments of learning outcomes.
• Extended Workshops Blended learning model using interactive Zoom sessions combined with asynchronous learning via Canvas LMS, guiding cohorts through Collective Inquiry and Action Research to enrich educators' knowledge of inclusive practices.
• Custom On-Site Training Customized workshops tailored to the unique needs of schools, districts, or organizations, delivered on a limited basis with a minimum of 15 and maximum of 50 participants per session.
• Working with Students with Disabilities Resources Comprehensive resources and training aligned with disability categories as defined by IDEA, covering 13 disability categories including Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Emotional/Behavioral, and others.
• Resources for Families Resources for parents and guardians including Early Learning Benchmarks, Discipline Procedures, Special Education Parent Liaison information, IDEA Dispute Resolution guides, and transition planning documents.
• Resources for Students Resources for high school students including transition to college and careers, employment resources, and self-advocacy tips. Links to DO-IT Center, Think College, and Job Accommodation Network.
• Community Complaints Archive Resolved community complaints organized by topic including Provision of Specially Designed Instruction, Maintaining Continuum of Placement Options, Supports for Behavioral Complexities, and Lack of Student Progress.
• Families and Advocates Transforming Education (FATE) Team Program Video project creating catalog of stories from family, caregiver, and student perspectives to include in educator training, elevating voices of disabled students and their families.
• Special Education Handbook Comprehensive handbook explaining the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Washington Administrative Code for families and educators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67+ classes offered via Zoom plus asynchronous Canvas courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OSPI Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESC is a member of OSPI's Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network, composed of state-sponsored Technical Assistance providers from across Washington State. The network focuses on family and student experiences to showcase the lived impact of meaningful inclusion beyond traditional data reporting.
• And Still We Rise (ASWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA liberation-focused collective providing equity-centered consulting and trauma-informed therapy. ASWR works with individuals and systems to address impacts of systemic oppression and build toward healing, justice, and lasting change. Part of IPTN collaborative network.
• Center for Change in Transition Services, Seattle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCTS collaborated with OSPI as part of the Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project (IPP), focusing on strengthening partnerships between Special Education and Career Technical Education to increase inclusionary practices in general education through professional development.
• Washington Education Association (WEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESC is operated by WEA and leverages WEA's existing infrastructure. WEA IPTN brings together expertise to advance inclusive education practices, serving as a centralized platform for resources and professional development.
• Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESC receives support from OSPI to provide resources and training aligned with IDEA, federal regulations, and Washington State law. OSPI oversees K-12 education in Washington State and provides the regulatory framework within which SESC operates.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET): Professional membership organization for special education teachers providing resources, publications, and professional development. Comparable in its focus on professional development resources for special educators.
• PEAK Parent Center: Colorado-based nonprofit providing training and resources on inclusive education for families and educators. Directly comparable as a state-level training hub combining professional development with family advocacy and IDEA-aligned content.
• PACER Center: Minnesota-based Parent Training and Information Center providing special education resources, training, and advocacy for families and educators. Closely comparable to SESC in its dual educator/family audience, IDEA focus, and state-level parent center model.
• Wisconsin FACETS: Wisconsin's Parent Training and Information Center providing special education training and resources to families and educators statewide. Closely comparable in mission, audience, and state-level parent center service model.
• TASH: National organization advancing equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on inclusive education practices. Comparable in its focus on inclusionary practices and educator training content.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): National advocacy and resource organization for individuals with learning disabilities, providing educator resources and policy advocacy. Comparable in its special education resource and training focus, though operating at national advocacy scale.
• Understood.org: Major digital resource platform serving parents and educators of children with learning and attention issues, with extensive free content. Comparable in serving overlapping educator and family audiences with free, IDEA-aligned resources.
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): CEC is the largest international professional organization for special educators, providing professional development, standards, and certification. Comparable to SESC as a major provider of PD resources for special education teachers and administrators, but operating at national scope.

Others

• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHD/Parent Center Network): Federation of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) providing special education training and resources nationwide. Comparable as the broader network of state-level parent centers that SESC's Washington IPTN functions within.

Regional players

• IDEA Data Center (IDC): Federal technical assistance center supporting state IDEA data systems and special education compliance. Comparable as a federally-aligned TA provider in the special education space, but operating nationally rather than within a single state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wa_sped_center
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialEdSupportCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasesc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Special Education Support Center