What Kentucky Student Voice Team does

Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT), founded in 2012 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates across the state of Kentucky. Its mission is to enable young people to co-create more just, democratic Kentucky schools and communities by serving as education research, policy, and storytelling partners. KSVT's primary participants are Kentucky middle and high school students, with college-age alumni continuing on as senior advisors and board members under an intergenerational governance model in which high school students lead the organization's work annually.

KSVT delivers its work through three pillars: research, storytelling, and policy advocacy. Research outputs include the 2022 Race to Learn Study (10,000+ student survey responses), the 2024 Time to Talk qualitative report (60 student-led peer interviews, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, Fayette County Public Schools, and the University of Kentucky), the Beyond the Ballot civic education report, and the 2025 Empowering Learners CTE pilot report with Advance CTE. Storytelling is delivered through The New Edu, Kentucky's only statewide, independent, student-run newsroom, and the Get Schooled Podcast distributed on major podcast platforms. Policy work includes Frankfort-based rallies, legislative testimony, op-eds, press conferences, and a landmark ongoing lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Kentucky documented in the 2026 book 'Why Kentucky Students Are Suing the State.'

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its technology footprint consists of standard website, podcast hosting, and social media channels (Instagram, X/Twitter). Revenue is generated primarily through donations and grants from foundations such as the Gates Foundation, supplemented by speaking fees from presentations to audiences including the Aspen Institute, National Geographic, SXSW EDU, AERA, and the Education Trust. There are no publicly disclosed revenue figures or pricing for services, consistent with its nonprofit donation-funded model.

Name

Kentucky Student Voice Team

Legal name

Kentucky Student Voice Team, Inc.

Website

https://ksvt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT) is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that empowers Kentucky middle and high school students to conduct education research, publish statewide journalism, and advocate for education policy through intergenerational student leadership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Advocacy and Research

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Youth education advocacy
• Student-led research
• Education policy research
• Student journalism newsroom
• Nonprofit civic engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

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. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, KSVT operates primarily through donations and grants. The website mentions a donor page and opportunities to support the organization financially. The organization has received support from foundations including the Gates Foundation.
2. Speaking Fees: KSVT conducts presentations to various groups and organizations, potentially generating revenue through speaking fees or program support from hosting organizations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kentucky Student Voice Team is a youth-led nonprofit that conducts student-driven education research, journalism, and policy advocacy in Kentucky. Its core offerings include The New Edu (a statewide independent student-run newsroom), the Get Schooled podcast, original research reports on education issues, policy advocacy in Frankfort and local communities, and speaking engagements. The organization is supported by donations and grants and provides its services at no cost to student participants.

Product overview

Kentucky Student Voice Team is a youth-led nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on student advocacy, journalism, and research. The core offerings include The New Edu (a statewide independent student-run newsroom), the Get Schooled Podcast, and various research publications including the Race to Learn Study, Time to Talk report, Beyond the Ballot civic education report, and Empowering Learners CTE report. The organization also publishes the book 'Why Kentucky Students Are Suing the State' and provides presentation/speaking services. These products work together to advance KSVT's mission of co-creating more just, democratic Kentucky schools through youth voice in research, policy, and storytelling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The New Edu: Kentucky's only statewide, independent, student-run newsroom publishing stories from Kentucky classrooms.
• Get Schooled

Products and services

• The New Edu Kentucky's only statewide, independent, student-run newsroom publishing stories about education from student perspectives, featuring articles, features, op-eds, roundtables, and investigations on topics including policy, classroom experiences, school culture, and current events.
• Get Schooled Podcast A podcast platform featuring student stories from across Kentucky, covering topics such as education policy, school climate, standardized testing, book bans, civic education, and student experiences. Distributed on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Stitcher.
• Race to Learn Study A student-led research study analyzing responses from over 10,000 Kentucky middle and high school students about how race and ethnicity affect their school experience.
• Time to Talk: A Qualitative Study of Students' Experiences with Race, Culture, and Ethnicities A qualitative research report based on 60 peer interviews led by KSVT student researchers, examining classroom challenges faced by Kentucky students of racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Developed in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, Fayette County Public Schools, and University of Kentucky.
• Beyond the Ballot: The State of Civic Education in Kentucky A research report highlighting the state of civic education in Kentucky, covering digital media interactions, voter registration, life skills, and recommendations for improvement.
• Empowering Learners: Kentucky's Learner-Led CTE Program Improvement Pilot A collaborative report with Advance CTE, the Kentucky Department of Education, and Fayette County Public Schools providing guiding principles for engaging youth in the design and evaluation of CTE programs and policies.
• Why Kentucky Students Are Suing the State: Classrooms, Courts, and the Constitution A book published by KSVT documenting the landmark lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Kentucky over public education, written from the perspective of student plaintiffs.
• KSVT Presentations Speaking engagements and presentations on topics including student voice, education equity, civic engagement, and youth-led advocacy, delivered to schools, conferences, and professional gatherings including the Gates Foundation, National Geographic Explorers Festival, SXSW EDU, Aspen Institute, AERA, and Education Trust.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced original research on 10,000+ student responses about race and education equity
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Advance CTEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025KSVT collaborated with Advance CTE, KY Department of Ed, and FCPS on the 'Empowering Learners: Kentucky's Learner-Led CTE Program Improvement Pilot' report. This partnership developed guiding principles for engaging youth in the design and evaluation of CTE programs and policies.
• Kentucky Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2024Partnered with KY Dept. of Ed on the Time to Talk research report about students' experiences with race, culture, and ethnicities in classrooms. The department collaborated on efforts to improve inclusive educational spaces.
• Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2024Collaborated with FCPS on the Time to Talk research report examining racial dynamics and school climate. FCPS participated in youth-led research initiatives.
• University of KentuckycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Kentucky Assistant Professor Daniela Di Giacomo served as the team's research partner for the Time to Talk qualitative study, providing academic expertise and validating youth-led research methodology.
• National GeographicminorOthersKSVT has presented at the National Geographic Explorers Festival, showcasing their student-led research and advocacy work to a national audience.
• SXSW EDUminorOthersKSVT has presented at SXSW EDU, a major education conference, demonstrating their work to a national/international professional audience.
• Aspen InstituteminorOthersThe Aspen Institute logo appears among KSVT's presentation audiences, indicating they have presented at Aspen Institute events.
• American Educational Research Association (AERA)minorOthersAERA logo appears on the presentations page, indicating KSVT has presented to this major educational research organization.
• Education TrustminorOthersEducation Trust logo appears among presentation audiences, indicating KSVT has presented to this national education advocacy organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DoSomething.org: A much larger national youth-led social change nonprofit that mobilizes millions of young volunteers on campaigns including education equity - a broader incumbent in the youth-activism space that overlaps with KSVT's advocacy mission but at greater scale and scope.
• Children's Defense Fund: A larger national child advocacy organization that conducts research and policy advocacy on children's education and well-being - overlapping with KSVT's advocacy and research mission but with much broader scope.
• Education Trust: A national education advocacy and research organization focused on equity and opportunity gaps; KSVT has presented at Education Trust events. Operates at significantly larger scale but shares the equity-focused education advocacy mission.

Direct peers

• Generation Citizen: A nonprofit that brings civic education and student-led action research into schools nationwide, partnering with districts to amplify student voice in local policy - closely comparable to KSVT's school-based research and civic education work.
• National Youth Leadership Council: A nonprofit dedicated to youth voice and service-learning, working with K-12 schools to integrate student-led research and civic action into curricula - directly comparable to KSVT's research and advocacy pillars.
• Youth on Board: A youth-adult partnership organization that embeds student voice into school governance and policy decisions - closely comparable to KSVT's mission of inserting student voice into education policy.
• YouthTruth: A national nonprofit that conducts student surveys on school climate, equity, and engagement to inform school improvement - directly comparable to KSVT's Race to Learn survey methodology and school improvement research focus.
• Mikva Challenge: A Chicago-based youth civic engagement nonprofit that empowers young people to research policy issues, conduct community advocacy, and engage in local government - directly comparable to KSVT's youth-led research and policy advocacy model in a different state.
• What Kids Can Do (WKCD): A nonprofit that documents youth voice, student-led research, and adolescent perspectives on education issues through publications and partnerships with schools - directly aligned with KSVT's storytelling and research mission.

Emerging players

• Civics Unplugged: A youth civic leadership nonprofit that trains and connects student civic leaders; incoming KSVT Board Chair Zoë Jenkins previously affiliated with Civics Unplugged. Overlaps with KSVT's civic education and student leadership development focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kystuvoiceteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kystuvoiceteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Student Voice Team