West Central's Illinois Special Education Cooperative

What West Central's Illinois Special Education Cooperative does

West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative (WCISEC) is a non-profit special education joint agreement founded in 1974 and headquartered at 130 S. Lafayette, Suite 201, Macomb, Illinois. The cooperative delivers a full continuum of special education services to nineteen public school districts across five west-central Illinois counties: Hancock, Henderson, Fulton, Schuyler, and McDonough. Its service portfolio includes direct programs such as audiology and hearing impaired services, autism consultative services, physical and occupational therapy, speech/language pathology, school social work, and self-contained alternative and multiple-disabilities classrooms (e.g., New Horizons, Project Insight, Macomb SOAR, S.P.A.R.K.S., Bright Starts, Cruisers, Navigators, Stars, Sunrays, Comets, Macomb Jetz, Warriors). It also provides indirect services including ASSET autism team support, behavior interventions, IEP consultation and development, nursing/medical reviews, professional development (CPI and IEP writing workshops), referrals, and transition planning support through the Western Regional Transition Planning Committee.

WCISEC's underlying technology stack is built on commodity SaaS rather than proprietary platforms. It uses Google Workspace for Education for staff communication and document management, Public School Works for required online staff training, and a catalog of third-party classroom tools including Bookshare, Book Creator, Newsela, Read&Write, EquatIO, Grammarly, Kami, and TestNav. The cooperative maintains WCAG 2.1 website accessibility (monitored by AAAtraq) and SOPPA compliance for student data privacy. No proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The cooperative's business model is cost-recovery, funded through member district contributions and Illinois state and federal special education financing mechanisms under public-sector procurement rules. It is governed by an Executive Committee of seven superintendents and a Board of Control comprising all member district superintendents, with operations directed by Director Betsy Wujek and Assistant Director Tricia Kinnamon. Go-to-market is direct service provision embedded inside member schools plus itinerant specialists traveling across the region; the cooperative also coordinates with a network of 14+ external agencies (Bridgeway, Goodwill, CISA, Arc of Illinois, WIRC, Regional Office of Education #26, and others) to deliver wraparound supports. Employee compensation signals (paraprofessionals at $17.65/hour with fully paid medical/dental) confirm a public-sector compensation model rather than a discretionary commercial pricing model.

Name

West Central's Illinois Special Education Cooperative

Legal name

West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative

Website

https://wcisec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WCISEC is a non-profit special education joint agreement founded in 1974 that delivers a full continuum of direct and indirect special education services to nineteen public school districts across five west-central Illinois counties, governed by an Executive Committee of member superintendents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services (K-12 Cooperative)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

OT Evaluations, Assessments & IEP/504 Planning Support (EDAKAFAM), Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL)

Keywords

• Special education services
• School district cooperative
• Special needs programs
• IEP support services
• Educational therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Macomb

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Special Education Services to Member Districts: WCISEC provides a full continuum of special education services to nineteen school districts in five west central Illinois counties. Funding is derived from member district contributions and state/federal special education funding allocated through Illinois school financing mechanisms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WCISEC is a special education joint agreement that provides a full continuum of direct and indirect services to 19 member school districts across five west central Illinois counties. Direct services include audiology, autism consulting, behavioral/emotional programs, multiple disabilities programs, physical/occupational therapy, school social work, and speech/language pathology, supplemented by indirect services such as IEP consultation, professional development, and outside agency coordination.

Product overview

WCISEC is a special education joint agreement providing a full continuum of services to nineteen school districts across five west central Illinois counties (Hancock, Henderson, Fulton, Schuyler, and McDonough). The cooperative offers direct services including audiometry and hearing impaired services, autism consultative services, social/emotional/behavioral programming through self-contained programs and alternative schools (New Horizons, Project Insight, Macomb SOAR, Warriors, Macomb Jetz), and multiple disabilities programs (S.P.A.R.K.S., Bright Starts, Cruisers, Navigators, Stars, Sunrays, Comets). Additional direct services include physical/occupational therapy, school social work, and speech/language pathology. Indirect services include ASSET (Autism Team), behavior interventions, IEP development, professional development, and referral coordination. The cooperative also supports the Western Regional Transition Planning Committee and coordinates with outside agencies for comprehensive student support. Professional development is offered through CPI courses and IEP writing workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audiology and Hearing Impaired Services Hearing impaired certified teachers provide direct and consultative services to students with hearing difficulties across member districts, with a licensed audiologist performing impedance screenings and audiological evaluations.
• Autism Consultative Services WCISEC consultants serve children with autism spectrum disabilities by visiting classrooms and developing techniques with teachers, administrators, and families to address specific concerns.
• Speech/Language Pathology Services Speech and language services for students with communication difficulties affecting academic and social interactions, including treatment for speech sound production, language, voice, and fluency (stuttering).
• Physical and Occupational Therapy PT/OT services provided by therapists to determine whether motor problems hinder educational performance, assessing fine motor, gross motor, daily living, visual motor, sensory integration, ambulation, mobility, and equipment needs.
• School Social Work Services Assessment, counseling, consultation and coordination services provided by school social workers to identify and prevent social, emotional, physical or environmental difficulties affecting school adjustment and achievement.
• Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs Programming (ED Programs) Self-contained programs and alternative schools including New Horizons, Project Insight, Macomb SOAR, Warriors, and Macomb Jetz that serve students with behavioral and emotional needs with the goal of skill development and return to home district.
• Multiple Disabilities Programs (MD Programs) Self-contained programs including S.P.A.R.K.S., Bright Starts, Cruisers, Navigators, Stars, Sunrays, Comets, and Jetz that serve children ages 5-21 with moderate to severe Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and/or Physical Impairments, focusing on pre-academic, life, functional, and vocational skills.
• Indirect Services Includes ASSET (Autism Team), behavior interventions and supports, IEP consultation and development, licensed school nurse for medical reviews, outside evaluations, parent conferences, professional development, program planning, referrals, special education problem solving, and support for out-of-district placements.
• Professional Development Workshops CPI Full Courses (7 CPDUs), CPI Refresher Courses (3.5 CPDUs), and Virtual IEP Writing Workshops providing continuing education for staff.
• Western Regional Transition Planning Committee Public resource providing information on services for individuals with disabilities, promoting movement from school to post-school activities including education, employment, and independent living.
• Outside Agency Coordination Coordination with external agencies including Bridgeway, Center for Youth & Family Solutions, CISA, Goodwill Industries, Illinois Life Span, Worknet Center, MCSRA, and others to support students with disabilities.

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supportive and core.

• BridgewaysupportiveOthersBridgeway provides vocational training and employment services to persons over 16 years old who have a physical or mental disability, adults recovering from substance abuse, or adults with disabilities limiting employment.
• Center for Youth & Family SolutionssupportiveOthersComprehensive not-for-profit social service agency providing strength-based, family-centered services to youth and families in Central Illinois and Eastern Iowa.
• Central Illinois Service Coordination (CISA)supportiveOthersPrivate nonprofit agency providing service coordination and advocacy services to children and adults with developmental delays and/or disabilities. Also provides case coordination for Brain Injury program through Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services.
• Goodwill Industries Quincy Career CentersupportiveOthersProvides people with skills and resources to become self-sufficient through the power of work, offering career development services.
• Illinois Life Span (Arc of Illinois)supportiveOthersStatewide advocacy organization providing information and resources on advocacy, supports and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Illinois Worknet CentersupportiveOthersWorkforce development promoting development of workforce education strategies for high-growth occupations, providing job search assistance, vocational training, and supportive services.
• McDonough County Special Recreation Association (MCSRA)supportiveOthersCommunity therapeutic recreation organization serving McDonough County residents with disabilities since 1991, providing recreational experiences and family-centered activities.
• North Central Behavioral HealthsupportiveOthersProvides mental health and substance use education, counseling, and specialty behavioral health services for children, adults, and families.
• Prairieland Service CoordinationsupportiveOthersNot-for-profit corporation providing service coordination for persons with developmental disabilities.
• Stone-Hayes Center for Independent LivingsupportiveOthersConsumer-driven agency made up of individuals with cross disabilities serving all ages and disabilities, focused on helping consumers achieve independent living goals.
• West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living (WCICIL)supportiveOthersSocial service agency where each consumer is encouraged to decide their own goals, with staff supporting consumers in taking necessary steps to reach those goals.
• The Arc of IllinoissupportiveOthersStatewide organization empowering persons with disabilities to achieve full participation in community life, including Family Support Network, Family to Family Health Information Center, and other programs.
• Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC)supportiveOthersProvides technical assistance to local governments and communities in Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties, including human services through WIRC-Community Action Agency.
• Regional Office of Education #26coreOthersThe Regional Superintendent of Schools is the chief administrative educational officer providing coordination and delivery of state and local services, advocating for education and disseminating information for educators and school districts.
• BlueCross BlueShieldcoreOthersIn-network insurance provider for WCISEC staff, with insurance information sheets available through the cooperative.
• ROE #26supportiveOthersRegional Office of Education providing support for parent educators working with families in McDonough and Schuyler Counties.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• LessonPix: Provider of visual learning and special education resources, picture symbols, and customizable learning materials used by SpEd teachers. Adjacent ecosystem participant serving the same special educator and student population as WCISEC.
• Soliant Health: National staffing company placing school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other special education professionals in K-12 districts. Competes with WCISEC for the same credentialed SpEd talent pool that the cooperative relies on to serve member districts.
• Procare Therapy: School-based therapy staffing firm providing speech, occupational, and physical therapists to K-12 districts nationwide. Represents an outsourced alternative to the in-house itinerant PT/OT and speech services that WCISEC provides to its 19 member districts.

Emerging players

• TeachTown: Special education curriculum and technology provider serving students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral needs. Represents an alternative delivery model for the same student populations served by WCISEC's self-contained programs.
• RethinkEd: EdTech platform providing behavior, social-emotional, and academic interventions for students with special needs, including professional development for special educators. Competes for a share of district SpEd budgets that historically funded cooperative-provided programming and PD.

Direct peers

• Special Education District of McHenry County (SEDOM): Regional Illinois special education cooperative serving multiple school districts in McHenry County with a joint-agreement model analogous to WCISEC. Both entities operate as multi-district cooperatives providing specialized SpEd staffing and programming under Illinois education law.
• LaSalle County Special Education Cooperative: Regional Illinois special education cooperative serving multiple school districts in LaSalle County under a joint-agreement structure comparable to WCISEC. Provides coordinated SpEd programs and related services to small and mid-sized districts.
• Tri-County Special Education Cooperative: Illinois-based multi-district special education cooperative delivering shared SpEd programming and related services across a multi-county service area, structurally analogous to WCISEC's five-county joint agreement.
• Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO): Illinois special education joint agreement serving member districts in the northwest suburban Chicago area. Operates the same regional cooperative model as WCISEC, providing shared specialized SpEd services, itinerant staff, and self-contained classrooms across districts.

Broad incumbents

• Presence (formerly PresenceLearning): National provider of online special education services, including teletherapy, evaluations, and direct services to K-12 districts. Operates at significantly larger scale than WCISEC and serves districts that may otherwise rely on regional cooperatives for specialized SpEd staffing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 West Central's Illinois Special Education Cooperative