IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

GTY Enters K-12 Education Software Market With Merger

The company, fresh off a private equity buyout last year, is merging with a business that offers both public-sector procurement tools and software for administering special education programs.

teacher and girl with down syndrome at a computer
GTY Technology, a company that sells a variety of software products to government, is expanding into K-12 education with its most recent acquisition.

GTY, which exited the stock market via private equity last year, has bought out Ion Wave, a company that sells both procurement technology and tools to help schools manage special education. The education component operates under the brand SpedTrack.

The procurement component of Ion Wave fits in with GTY’s existing procurement work under the name Bonfire. GTY recently merged Bonfire with DemandStar, another government procurement software firm.

When Bonfire merged with DemandStar, the company said the combined organization would serve more than 1,900 government agencies and work with 500,000 suppliers. After the Ion Wave merger, the company said it will reach 2,200 agencies and 700,000 suppliers.

“Under GTY, we’re bringing together Ion Wave and Bonfire, two of the best e-procurement companies in North America to create greater value and selection for our customers,” said TJ Parass, GTY’s CEO, in a press release. “This addition both complements and enhances GTY’s platform of products for the public sector.”

Under SpedTrack, Ion Wave offers school administrators tools to track services provided, keep student records, bill Medicaid, monitor progress and ensure regulatory compliance.

GTY’s other software encompasses a range of government work including permitting, budgeting, grant management and digital services.