What Michigan Education Corps does

Michigan Education Corps (MEC) is a nonprofit AmeriCorps program and initiative of Hope Network, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. MEC delivers evidence-based, scripted reading and math tutoring interventions to Michigan students ages 3 through grade 8, serving over 26,000 children cumulatively across 649 schools over twelve years and currently operating in more than 90 active partner schools statewide. The core product portfolio comprises Reading Corps (K-3 literacy intervention focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension), MEC Math Corps (K-8 math intervention), Early Learning Corps (ages 3-5 early literacy and math), and the newer MEC Scholars program (a CTE Educator Preparation pathway for high school students). Tutoring is delivered one-on-one or in small groups (up to four students) in 20-30 minute daily sessions by trained, full-time or part-time AmeriCorps members referred to as interventionists, supported by an expert coaching staff and a multi-layer fidelity monitoring system that has achieved a documented 97-98.2% cumulative fidelity score since 2012.

MEC's business model is non-transactional: the organization does not charge schools directly for tutoring services. Instead, it operates as an AmeriCorps initiative under Hope Network, drawing on federal AmeriCorps resources for member living stipends and education awards (up to $5,176.50 Segal Education Award), while partner schools and districts fund their participation through existing federal and state education funding streams including Section 35p, Title I, 31a at-risk funding, and the MI Kids Back on Track (23g) program for which MEC is an approved vendor. Go-to-market combines a direct school/district partnership application process with AmeriCorps member recruitment through an online portal and campus recruiter. The organization leverages MAISA's vetted programs listing, statewide media coverage, and educational research partnerships (including evaluations by Michigan State University and the Accelerate research group) to support adoption. Documented outcomes include 95% of students exceeding target growth rates, 97% of teachers reporting positive impact, and external ROI estimates of $5.47-$6.99 per $1 invested for Reading Corps and $3.83 per $1 for Math Corps.

Name

Michigan Education Corps

Legal name

Michigan Education Corps

Website

https://mieducationcorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Michigan Education Corps is a nonprofit AmeriCorps program, housed within Hope Network, that delivers evidence-based reading and math tutoring to Michigan students ages 3 through grade 8 through trained interventionists placed in 90+ partner schools statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Grand

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

Revenue model

1. AmeriCorps Program Funding: MEC is an AmeriCorps program that operates as an initiative of Hope Network. Funding comes from federal AmeriCorps resources and state/federal education funding streams including Section 35p, Title I, 31a, and MI Kids Back on Track (23g). Schools can use these funding sources to partner with MEC for tutoring services.
2. Education Award & Stipend Disbursement: AmeriCorps members receive a living stipend (bi-weekly payments) and upon successful completion become eligible for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $5,176.50. These are funded through AmeriCorps national service resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michigan Education Corps is an AmeriCorps state service program that delivers evidence-based reading and math tutoring to K-8 students in Michigan schools. The program recruits, trains, and places AmeriCorps members as tutors who deliver scripted literacy and math interventions in partner schools, with services funded by AmeriCorps grants, state/federal education funds, and private donations rather than direct school fees.

Product overview

Michigan Education Corps is an AmeriCorps program offering a portfolio of evidence-based tutoring interventions for Michigan students ages 3 through grade 8. The core offerings include Reading Corps (K-3 literacy intervention), MEC Math Corps (K-8 math intervention), and Early Learning Corps (ages 3-5 early childhood). The organization also operates MEC Scholars, a high school CTE pathway program, and provides a Tutoring Funding Finder tool to help schools identify funding sources. All programs utilize scripted, evidence-based interventions with trained AmeriCorps members delivering daily tutoring sessions in partnership with Michigan schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reading Corps: AmeriCorps program providing K-3 reading intervention services focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension through evidence-based tutoring.
• MEC Math Corps
• Early Learning Corps
• MEC Scholars

Products and services

• Reading Corps

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% of students exceeded target growth rates
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Beam (formerly Edquity)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to create a member support fund providing emergency financial assistance to AmeriCorps members for housing, healthcare, transport, food, and childcare. The fund launched in January 2023 and has awarded $5,000 to qualifying members.
• Hope NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Network is the parent nonprofit organization that houses Michigan Education Corps as an initiative. Hope Network helps people overcome amazing odds and provides organizational infrastructure, HR support, and strategic direction for MEC programs.
• Claremont Lincoln UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership offering eligible MEC volunteers, alumni and qualifying family members a 10% tuition discount on CLU's online degree and certificate programs. Additional scholarship opportunities may also be available.
• University of Michigan School of InformationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate education partnership offering MEC members and alumni opportunities in fields such as information and data analysis, user experience research and design, product management, libraries and archives, and health informatics. UMSI accepts the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and offers matching funds opportunities.
• MAISA (Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMEC is listed as a vetted program on MAISA's website as part of the MI Kids Back on Track initiative, making it easier for districts to identify and partner with MEC for evidence-based tutoring.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program that provides the federal framework and funding for MEC. AmeriCorps members serve with MEC in exchange for living stipends and education awards. Reading Corps and Math Corps are nationally recognized AmeriCorps programs under this partnership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Literacy, Inc. (LINC): Literacy, Inc. (LINC) is a nonprofit that mobilizes community volunteers and AmeriCorps members to deliver literacy intervention in high-need elementary schools. Comparable as an AmeriCorps-enabled literacy tutoring provider targeting K-5 students in underserved communities.
• Reading Partners: Reading Partners is a national nonprofit providing evidence-based one-on-one literacy tutoring to K-4 students using trained volunteer tutors. Closely comparable as a nonprofit K-3 reading intervention with structured curricula and school-partnership model.
• City Year: City Year is a national AmeriCorps program that places near-peer tutors in K-12 schools to support attendance, behavior, and academic skills. Comparable as a school-embedded AmeriCorps service program delivering academic intervention with structured member training and coaching.
• BellXcel: BellXcel is a national education nonprofit that partners with schools and districts to deliver out-of-school-time and academic enrichment programs. Comparable as a nonprofit intermediary operating school-partnered academic interventions with structured curricula and coaching models.
• Saga Education: Saga Education is a national high-impact tutoring nonprofit focused on math instruction for high school students. Comparable as an evidence-based, school-partnered tutoring model with documented outcomes and a workforce-of-tutors approach, though serving older students than MEC.
• Minnesota Reading Corps: Minnesota Reading Corps is the original Reading Corps state affiliate and MEC's sister program under the national Reading Corps umbrella. Operates the same AmeriCorps-delivered K-3 reading intervention model with scripted curricula and fidelity monitoring, serving Minnesota schools.

Emerging players

• 826 National: 826 National is a network of nonprofit writing and literacy tutoring centers supporting K-12 students. Comparable as a nonprofit literacy support organization serving schools and districts with structured writing/tutoring interventions.
• MIND Research Institute: MIND Research Institute is a math education nonprofit that delivers visual, game-based math instruction through school partnerships. Comparable as an evidence-based math intervention provider focused on foundational numeracy in K-8, though via a different pedagogical approach.
• Tennessee Tutoring Corps: Tennessee Tutoring Corps is a state-level AmeriCorps tutoring initiative providing reading and math intervention to K-8 students. Directly analogous to MEC in mission, structure, and delivery mechanism, but serving Tennessee schools instead of Michigan.

Others

• AmeriCorps (Serve America): AmeriCorps is the federal agency funding MEC's service model and member stipends. Relevant as the upstream ecosystem participant whose grant and policy decisions directly shape MEC's operating capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MI_EdCorps
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC47JlrCbRGOzWhVoB0xYUIw
• Facebookfacebook.com/mieducationcorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-education-corps
• Instagraminstagram.com/mieducationcorps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Michigan Education Corps