The Southport CoLAB

What The Southport CoLAB does

The Southport CoLAB is a private nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as an extension of The Southport School, a 40+ year institution serving students with complex learning profiles. The CoLAB packages the parent school's classroom-tested methods into external professional learning products for K-12 educators, schools, and districts. Its two core product lines are the Executive Function Blueprint—a metacognitive framework delivered through tiered self-paced and cohort courses (Explore, Discover, Apply, Implement) plus a companion book—and an Orton-Gillingham Academy-accredited literacy training continuum spanning Teacher, Interventionist, and Specialist certification levels with supervised practica.

The underlying technology is content- and pedagogy-driven rather than software-driven: instructional frameworks, routines, language, and lesson structures refined through daily classroom practice, continuously evaluated through research partnerships with Vanderbilt University, Haskins Laboratories, Yale Child Study Center, and the University of Connecticut. Course delivery runs through a self-service Professional Learning Portal integrated with Google Classroom for OG coursework, but no proprietary software platform or AI capability is disclosed. The OGA-accredited pathway is a credentialed output that competitors without academy recognition cannot directly replicate.

The business model is professional services-led with a multi-tiered pricing structure. Individual educator courses range from $99 (EF Explore Part A) to $495 (EF Discover), OG courses run $1,595–$2,750 per person, and customized district cohorts span $15,480 (EF Apply) to $40,000 (OG Teacher in-person). Revenue streams include course fees, practicum fees, district-customized packages, add-on coaching, OGA Application Support ($350/hour), continuing education sessions ($125–$175), microcredentials via Credentials Unlimited, and book sales on Amazon. The organization also operates a free Community Lecture Series and a Free Reading Screening Program in partnership with EarlyBird Education, supported by philanthropic funding from The Rhimes Foundation and the Deborah J. Quinsee Educational Fund. Customer segments span K-12 schools and districts, individual educators, state education agencies, universities and research institutions, and families/caregivers.

Name

The Southport CoLAB

Legal name

The Southport CoLAB

Website

https://southportcolab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Southport CoLAB provides evidence-based professional learning on executive function and structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham) to K-12 educators, schools, and districts, packaging classroom-tested methods from parent organization The Southport School into accredited training programs and tiered courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Structured Literacy / Orton-Gillingham Intervention Services (EDAKAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Development for Educators (Dyslexia/LD Training) (EDAKAJAK), Dyslexia & Structured Literacy (Orton-Gillingham) Tutoring (EDANAFAB)

Keywords

• Professional learning services
• Executive function training
• Structured literacy instruction
• Orton-Gillingham certification
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Southport

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Learning Services: Training and coaching programs for educators, schools, and districts. Revenue is generated through course fees (individual and cohort pricing), practicum fees, and implementation support packages. Programs include Executive Function Blueprint courses at multiple tiers and Orton-Gillingham training at Teacher, Interventionist, and Specialist levels.
2. Instructional Frameworks: Scalable, research-informed models that support evidence-based teaching and learning. Delivered as part of comprehensive professional learning packages with pricing based on cohort size and service level (Discover, Apply, Implement tiers).
3. Implementation Support: Classroom-ready resources and practical guidance grounded in implementation science. Included as part of bundled packages (e.g., Implement tier) or available as add-on coaching sessions for district and school partners.
4. Book Sales: Sale of 'The Executive Function Blueprint: A Practical Framework for the Classroom' book published by The Southport CoLAB, available through Amazon and course bundles.
5. Graduate Credit Option: Educators can earn graduate credits for an additional fee through partnership arrangements, adding to course completion revenue.
6. Microcredentials: Participants can earn microcredentials through Credentials Unlimited upon successful completion of Executive Function Blueprint courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Southport CoLAB delivers evidence-based professional learning for educators, schools, and districts through two core programs: The Executive Function Blueprint (a metacognitive framework equipping educators with strategies to teach executive function skills) and Orton-Gillingham structured literacy training (an OGA-accredited continuum from foundational classroom literacy through clinical specialization in dyslexia). The organization also provides instructional frameworks, implementation support, OGA certification application support, and continuing education, delivered virtually, in-person, or blended.

Product overview

The Southport CoLAB offers a portfolio of evidence-based professional learning solutions centered on two core offerings: The Executive Function Blueprint and Orton-Gillingham Literacy Training. The Executive Function Blueprint provides metacognitive training with multiple tiers (Discover, Explore, Apply, Implement) including online courses, guided application sessions, implementation leadership support, and a companion book. The Orton-Gillingham Training offers a complete certification pathway from foundational classroom educator through clinical specialization, with OGA-accredited coursework and supervised practica. Supporting offerings include a Professional Learning Portal for online course delivery, OGA Application Support for certification guidance, and OG Continuing Education Credits. Community outreach programs include a free Community Lecture Series and Free Reading Screening Program. The organization also provides free reading screenings in partnership with EarlyBird Education and serves schools and districts through customizable cohort programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Executive Function Blueprint
• CoLAB OG Teacher Course & Practicum

Quantifiable outcome

• 671 teachers trained in FY2025, impacting approximately 14,420 students across 7 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Sacred Heart UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2023The Southport School and Southport CoLAB played an integral role in developing and executing Sacred Heart University's Dyslexia Graduate Certificate Program.
• Vanderbilt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in learning science. The Southport CoLAB partners with Vanderbilt University as part of its network of leading universities and researchers advancing evidence-based instruction.
• Haskins LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Benjamin N. Powers serves as Affiliated Research Scientist at Haskins Laboratories and as Director of Yale's and UConn's Haskins Global Literacy Hub. Ongoing research collaboration in neuroscience, cognitive science, and literacy.
• Yale Child Study CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership in child development and learning science. Dr. Powers serves as Lecturer at Yale School of Medicine and collaborates with Yale researchers.
• University of Connecticut (UConn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Powers serves as Associate Research Professor in Psychology and Educational Psychology at UConn. Partnership for research and knowledge exchange in learning science and literacy.
• The Dyslexia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Benjamin N. Powers serves as President of The Dyslexia Foundation. Co-host of The Dyslexia Foundation Conference and collaborative advocacy for evidence-based practices.
• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in reading science. FCRR Director Emeritus Dr. Don Compton featured in CoLAB materials, indicating ongoing professional exchange.
• EarlyBird EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Free Reading Program providing families with early reading screening information. EarlyBird's technology supports literacy screening aligned with CoLAB's evidence-based approach.
• Adam J. Lewis AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide professional learning for educators as well as Orton-Gillingham tutoring and reading screenings for students in Bridgeport, CT. Made possible through the Deborah J. Quinsee Educational Fund.
• The Rhimes FoundationsupportingOthersThe Rhimes Foundation has strengthened CoLAB's capacity to expand access to learning science through grants and donor investment. Support enables technology, virtual events, streaming of Community Lecture Series, and online courses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wilson Language Training: Large, established for-profit publisher of structured literacy programs (Wilson Reading System, Fundations) with broad district reach and a national salesforce. Competes with CoLAB in K–12 structured literacy professional learning but operates at much greater scale.
• Landmark School: Long-established Massachusetts private school for students with language-based learning differences that also runs a summer professional training institute. Comparable hybrid school-plus-training model operating at greater scale.

Others

• Understood.org: Nonprofit serving families and educators of children with learning and attention issues. CoLAB Senior Advisor Bob Cunningham was previously Executive Director for Learning Development there — adjacent ecosystem player rather than direct competitor.
• Orton-Gillingham Academy (AOGPE): Accrediting body whose standards and Fellow network define the structured literacy training market CoLAB serves. Not a competitor per se, but the central institution whose credentialing powers CoLAB's accreditation claim.

Emerging players

• The Reading League: Nonprofit focused on advancing the science of reading through educator professional development, conferences, and educator chapters. CoLAB COO Dawn Brookhart is a Co-Founder/Vice President of the Pennsylvania chapter — making it a partial peer on structured literacy advocacy and PD.
• Really Great Reading: Provider of structured literacy intervention programs and professional learning to schools and districts. Competes with CoLAB's OG training and EF/reading PD in K–12 literacy professional services.

Direct peers

• Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE): National Orton-Gillingham training provider delivering structured literacy coursework and practica to K–12 educators. Direct competitor on OG teacher/interventionist certification with comparable tiered program offerings.
• Kildonan Teacher Training Institute: OG/structured literacy teacher training program at the Dunrae Spiegler Center (formerly Kildonan). CoLAB consultant Laurie Cousseau previously served as Director of this institute — directly comparable OG training capability.
• Groves Academy: Minnesota-based learning differences school that also runs a structured literacy teacher training program. Comparable hybrid model of operating a school plus external professional learning services.
• AIM Institute for Learning & Research: Pennsylvania-based institute providing Orton-Gillingham teacher training, structured literacy professional development, and dyslexia intervention resources. Closely comparable to CoLAB's OG pathway; CoLAB COO Dawn Brookhart previously held leadership there.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSouthportCoLAB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-southport-colab
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesouthportcolab
• Xx.com/SouthportCoLab

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Southport CoLAB