CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION

What CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION does

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) is a private, nonprofit membership association founded in 1906 and headquartered in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It provides advocacy, training, consulting, and governance services to local and regional boards of education across the state, serving approximately 90% of Connecticut's 166 school districts, over 1,450 local school board members, and over 550,000 students. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from member boards and is led by Executive Director and General Counsel Patrice McCarthy, with a small professional staff (estimated 11-50 employees) that includes in-house legal counsel and dedicated policy, government relations, field services, and technology functions.

CABE's product portfolio is organized around three pillars — Education, Advocacy, and Support — and includes the CABE Journal (published 11 times per year), Policy Services (six tiers anchored by the Connecticut Online Policy Service / COPS platform), CABE Search Services for superintendent recruitment, Labor Relations Services, Unemployment Insurance Cost Control, BoardBook administrative tools, the CABE Administrator Option, and the Connecticut Lighthouse Project. Technology infrastructure consists of the Finalsite CMS for web presence and a custom Database Portal for membership, event registration, and contact management. Delivery channels include the annual CABE/CAPSS Convention, nine area legislative breakfasts, the Day on the Hill advocacy event at the State Capitol, on-demand webinars, and the Board Member Academy.

The business model is a hybrid of subscription membership dues from school boards, tiered Business Affiliate Memberships (Scholar through Valedictorian, $650-$11,550 annually) monetizing access to district decision-makers, Educational Affiliate Memberships for regional service centers and higher education institutions, and fee-for-service revenue from superintendent searches, customized policy audits, and unemployment insurance cost control. Marketing and member engagement run through the Journal, conventions, social media, and structured professional development programming. CABE holds formal representation on Connecticut state education commissions and the State Board of Education, reinforcing its regulatory position, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION

Legal name

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education

Website

https://cabe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education is a 119-year-old nonprofit membership association serving approximately 90% of Connecticut's 166 school boards with advocacy, policy services, training, legal counsel, and superintendent search services, generating revenue through member dues, tiered business affiliate sponsorships, and fee-for-service programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wethersfield

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CABE generates revenue through membership dues from local and regional boards of education across Connecticut. Member benefits include unlimited telephone consultation on policy issues, sample policies, legal consultation, tailored workshops, advocacy support, the CABE Journal, webinars, and discounted access to fee-based services.
2. Business Affiliate Memberships: CABE offers tiered Business Affiliate Memberships (Scholar, Honor Roll, High Honors, Salutatorian, Valedictorian levels) ranging from $650 to $11,550 per year, providing companies visibility and access to Connecticut school district decision-makers.
3. Educational Affiliate Memberships: Annual membership fees for regional educational service centers, community colleges, higher education institutions, and other education-related organizations, including subscriptions to CABE Journal and Convention discounts.
4. Fee-for-Service Programs: Revenue from services including customized policy service, policy audit service, CABE Search Services for superintendent searches, unemployment insurance cost control, and BoardBook administrative tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CABE is a membership-based professional association that sells advocacy, governance support, policy services, labor relations, superintendent search, unemployment insurance administration, and professional development services directly to Connecticut's local and regional boards of education. Members receive legal consultation, sample policies, the CABE Journal, workshops, webinars, and access to the member Database Portal. CABE also operates tiered Business Affiliate and Educational Affiliate memberships that give partner organizations access to school district decision-makers.

Product overview

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) offers a comprehensive suite of member services organized around three core pillars: Education, Advocacy, and Support. The primary products include The CABE Journal (11-times yearly publication), Policy Services (six service levels including Connecticut Online Policy Service/COPS), CABE Search Services for superintendent recruitment, Labor Relations Services, Unemployment Insurance Cost Control, and Individualized Board Workshops. CABE also operates the annual CABE/CAPSS Convention and provides a Database Portal for member management. Additional programs include Board Member Academy, CABE Express Program, Connecticut Lighthouse Project, and awards programs (Board of Education Leadership Awards, Student Leadership Awards). Advocacy initiatives include Day on the Hill and the Delegate Assembly. The organization serves approximately 90% of Connecticut's boards of education through these integrated services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CABE Membership Annual subscription membership sold to Connecticut local and regional boards of education, providing unlimited policy/legal phone consultation, sample policies, advocacy representation, the CABE Journal, webinars, and discounted add-on services.
• The CABE Journal CABE's primary publication covering Connecticut education topics, legislative updates, and best practices for board members, superintendents, business managers, and education leaders; published 11 times per year in print and digital.
• Policy Services Six-tier policy service for boards of education covering the Connecticut Reference Manual, Connecticut Online Policy Service (COPS), Customized Policy Service, Policy Audit Service, Policy Update Service, and Basic Policy Information for developing and maintaining board policies, administrative regulations, and bylaws.
• CABE Search Services Superintendent recruitment and retention service for local boards of education, combining CABE resources with experienced HR search consultants to help districts hire qualified chief executive officers.
• Labor Relations Services Labor and employee relations data service providing comparative bargaining data for negotiations, plus tracking and recording of school board labor agreements and arbitration outcomes across Connecticut.
• Unemployment Insurance Cost Control Service Unemployment insurance cost-control service for member districts, including supervisory training on warnings/terminations/voluntary quits, claims processing, administration, and unemployment appeals hearings.
• Individualized Board Workshops Customized in-person workshops for member boards covering roles and responsibilities, superintendent evaluation, self-evaluation, goal setting, strategic planning, efficient meetings, and board-superintendent relations.
• CABE/CAPSS Convention Annual in-person convention bringing Connecticut school board members, superintendents, and affiliates together for keynote sessions, workshops, networking, and student recognition.
• Business Affiliate Memberships Tiered annual sponsorship program (Scholar $650, Honor Roll $1,200, High Honors $2,775, Salutatorian $5,400, Valedictorian $11,550) giving partner companies visibility and access to Connecticut school district decision-makers via advertising, exhibit booths, mailing labels, and presentations.
• Educational Affiliate Memberships Annual membership for regional educational service centers, community colleges, higher education institutions, and education-related organizations, including CABE Journal subscriptions and Convention discounts.
• CABE Database Portal Online self-serve portal for member board staff to manage contacts, school district information, memberships, services, and event registration.
• BoardBook Administrative tool sold to boards of education for organizing board materials, agendas, and meeting workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• Represents approximately 90% of Connecticut's boards of education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACES is a Regional Educational Service Agency in Connecticut offering specialized services like special education, professional development, and therapy. ACES operates special education schools and magnet schools, partnering with districts to meet diverse student needs.
• CREC (Capitol Region Education Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREC is a non-profit, regional educational service center serving 35 Greater Hartford, CT public school districts, founded in 1966. It administers over 100 programs and services spanning the entire educational spectrum.
• EASTCONNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEASTCONN is one of six non-profit Regional Educational Service Centers in Connecticut, providing high-quality, cost-effective education programs and services for northeastern Connecticut's schools, including early childhood programs, special education schools, magnet schools, and professional learning.
• LEARNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEARN, a Regional Educational Service Center (RESC) established in 1967, serves 24 school districts in southeastern Connecticut with a student population of nearly 53,000, promoting regional and statewide cooperation.
• EdAdvancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdAdvance is one of Connecticut's six Regional Educational Service Centers with a mission to promote the success of school districts and their communities through educational and related services.
• FinalsitemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinalsite is the official web provider of CABE, offering affordable web solutions for Connecticut districts including eRate Compliant web hosting. Based in Glastonbury, CT, Finalsite has been working with Connecticut schools since 1998.
• CT Business SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCT Business Systems provides audio-visual products and solutions as well as Xerox copiers and copier solutions for school districts. Valedictorian-level Business Affiliate of CABE.
• Berchem Moses PCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerchem Moses PC provides cost-effective, high-quality legal representation to school districts for over 40 years. Salutatorian-level Business Affiliate offering services in school law.
• Pullman & Comley, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWell-established law firm since 1919 representing local and regional boards of education on matters including collective bargaining, special education, student discipline, and general education law. Salutatorian-level Business Affiliate.
• Shipman & Goodwin LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm with over 175 attorneys and five Connecticut offices, recognized nationally for education practice. Represents over 126 local and regional public school districts. Salutatorian-level Business Affiliate.
• Capital Region Education Council (CREC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrice McCarthy, CABE Executive Director and General Counsel, serves as representative on the CREC and Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Board of Directors.
• CT Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrice McCarthy serves as representative on the CCJEF Steering Committee, advocating for equitable school funding in Connecticut.
• New England Secondary School ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrice McCarthy serves as representative on the New England Secondary School Consortium Council, supporting regional secondary education initiatives.
• National School Boards Association (NSBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCABE participates in NSBA through board representation. Leonard Lockhart served as NSBA 2026-27 President. CABE receives NSPRA Communications Awards and participates in national advocacy initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGCVt1WuXJR1h2B0GaIzh1A/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnecticutAssociationBoardsEducation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ctboardseducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-association-of-boards-of-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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