For nearly 30 years, K–12 districts have trusted i3 Verticals, Education Market (and the brands behind it) to support their daily operations — from nutrition programs to payments, applications, events, and school-based commerce.
Over that time, one truth has become clear:
K–12 isn’t a restaurant or a retail store — and your software shouldn’t behave like it. Districts deserve systems built for schools, not repurposed tools from other industries.
Yet many technology providers treat K–12 as just another “market segment,” offering repackaged retail POS systems that fail to meet critical school requirements.
It’s time to raise expectations.
K–12 Needs Purpose-Built Technology — Not Workarounds
No district would run a federal nutrition program on a restaurant POS. The same principle applies to:
- Athletics departments
- Booster clubs
- Game-day concessions
- School stores
- Ticketing and event operations
These teams handle public money, student interactions, and highly visible community events. They require systems built around K–12 governance, transparency, reporting, and turnover — not tools designed for coffee shops or boutiques.
Retail systems were never created for:
- Seasonal staff and volunteer turnover
- FERPA and student-data protections
- Audit trails and public fund oversight
- District-wide reconciliation
- Role-based permissions across departments
K–12 workflows are unique — and the technology running them must be too.
What Today’s School Leaders Should Expect
A true K–12 technology partner brings more than hardware — they bring understanding. Athletics, activities, and school stores should expect:
- Solutions Built for Schools — Not Adapted for Them
- Role-based permissions, Inventory, and safe, and volunteer-friendly game-day workflows.
2. Transparency for Every Dollar
- Centralized reporting, real-time visibility, and built-in accountability that reduces manual counting and cash shrink.
3. Training Built for Turnover
- Quick onboarding, simple volunteer modes, and ongoing support that reflects the reality of new coaches and changes each season.
4. A Proven Commitment to K–12
With 30 years dedicated exclusively to school operations, we understand your governance, funding models, compliance requirements, and daily challenges.
We’re not learning K–12 — we’re built for it.
Why This Matters Now
Athletics and booster operations are more complex and visible than ever before. Expectations for accountability, transparency, and operational consistency continue to rise.
Retail POS might work for a café.
But K–12 needs technology designed for schools — today, tomorrow, and every season in between.
Discover how i3 Verticals, Education Market is modernizing game-day operations with i3 Store: www.i3verticals.com/i3store