Special Education Service Agency a Public Agency
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SESA provides consultation and training to support the unique educational needs of individuals and the Alaskan communities that serve them.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $189,102, technologist
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $2.0 million spent. Low Incidence Disabilities Service: SESA's core service, funded through the AlaskaDepartment of Education and Early Development, is a low incidence disability outreach program. The purpose of the program is to provide consultation, technical assistance, and support, primarily to rural and remote school district personnel who work with students experiencing low incidence (severe and occurring infrequently) disabilities: Vision impairment, autism impairment, hearing impairment, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities.
- $262,102 spent. Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC): The Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) serves the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families, caregivers, and service providers throughout the state of Alaska.
- $230,000 spent. Discretionary Special Education: SESA provides consultation, technical assistance, and support, primarily to rural and remote school district personnel who work with students experiencing low incidence disabilities: Vision Impairment, Autism Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Emotional Disturbance, and Multiple Disabilities.
- $121,635 spent. Deaf and Blind: The Alaska Deaf Blind Project is a federally funded five-year grant, providing technical assistance services to students with deafblindness from birth to twentyone years of age. Grant outcomes include professional development training to educational teams, networking and training for parents and communities, and liaison with the National Center for Deafblindness.
- $66,105 spent. Early Intervention: Census surveys for the purpose of reporting on the health of Alaska's special education system to the Federal Office of Special Education Program.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.