named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Pathfinder
A personalized assessment system that provides real-time data to help teachers adjust instruction, support diverse learning levels, and implement next-day interventions to close achievement gaps.
RAISE Model (Rochester Arts Impact Study Enhancement)
An arts integration initiative that embeds standards-based arts education into elementary and middle school curricula, supported by professional development and teaching artist partnerships to improve student learning and teacher capacity.
Versatile Learning Plan (VLP)
A universal learning framework based on Versatile Intelligence and Assessment (VIA) theory, designed to support the academic, social, and emotional development of all students through differentiated instruction and whole-child approaches.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 2 activities
- Advocates for versatile learning and assessment practicesPromotes a philosophy of assessment focused on understanding how students learn rather than classifying them, advocating for the adoption of versatile learning plans as an alternative to traditional IEPs. This includes advancing ongoing inquiry-based assessment models to inform instruction and improve student outcomes.
- Develops and implements the Pathfinder Student Success PlatformDesigns, launches, and operates Pathfinder, a comprehensive Educational Intelligence System that integrates multiple assessment measures—including classroom observations, student work, and literacy diagnostics—into dynamic Learning Genome profiles to support personalized instruction and ongoing instructional decision-making. The platform is implemented in classrooms and designed to reduce data fragmentation by integrating with existing school systems.
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Education Policy Research and Analysis 1 activity
- Conducts research on school reform and arts integrationProduces and disseminates research on school reform, arts integration, teacher development, and performance assessment to inform educational practice and policy. Research includes multi-year evaluations of arts integration programs in high-poverty schools, analysis of creative mindset assessments, and studies on literacy and academic achievement, with findings presented at national conferences and published in reports and white papers.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Provides professional development for teachers in arts integrationDesigns and delivers job-embedded and traditional professional development programs for elementary teachers, including hands-on training, observation of teaching artists, and curriculum materials for immediate classroom use. Conducted in locations such as Rochester, NY, these sessions focus on integrating the arts into core subjects and are supported by survey data indicating high demand among educators.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operates The Foundations School and Northwood AcademyFounded and runs The Foundations School, a K–3 school in Northwood, FL, using arts-integrated, literacy-based curriculum to improve reading proficiency. Also developed and launched Northwood Academy, a summer program that increased the percentage of students reading at grade level from 16% to 49% in eight weeks. Activities include hiring staff, implementing curricula, and developing creativity rubrics.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
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4 years on record · 2021–2025
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 1
- ROBERT A SOUTHWORTH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- American Educational Research Association Network — Presented peer-reviewed research at AERA annual conferences in 2015 and 2017.
- Brooklyn Philharmonic Education Department Partner — Partnered on Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) grants to implement and evaluate arts integration programs.
- Center for Creative Education Partner — Collaborated on multiple research reports including evaluations of arts integration and literacy programs in Palm Beach County, FL.
- Center for Creative Education Partner — Collaborated with CCE to design and implement a creative mindset assessment at The Foundations School.
- Center for Creative Education Partner — Conducted a three-year evaluation of arts integration programs in high-poverty schools.
- EdSpeak Network — Platform where The SchoolWorks Lab publishes public thinking on education, assessment, and learning.
- NH Department of Education Government — Referenced the New Hampshire Arts Model Graduation Competencies as a policy framework for performance assessment in the arts.
- New York State Council for the Arts Government — Collaborated as evaluator for grants supporting arts organizations to improve research data collection and analysis in K-12 education.
- Pathfinder Assessments, LLC Partner — Collaborates with Pathfinder Assessments, LLC, whose CEO contributed to the development and articulation of the Learning Genome concept.
- Queens, New York Government — Jurisdiction and venue for legal matters related to the organization's operations.
- RCSD Partner — Collaborated with the Rochester City School District (RCSD) on arts integration initiatives, including professional development and assessment programs.
- Robert A. Southworth, Jr., Ed.D. Partner — Lead figure in designing the arts-integrated literacy curriculum and driving the school reform initiative.
- Rochester City School District Partner — Partnered on Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) grant projects to study arts integration and its impact on student achievement.
- Rochester City School District Partner — Partnered with schools in Rochester, NY to implement the RAISE program, delivering arts integration professional development and classroom residencies.
- Stanford Accelerator for Learning Partner — Collaborated on or referenced a white paper about AI and learners with disabilities.
- Studio WAC LLC Partner — Receives customer inquiries on behalf of The SchoolWorks Lab, Inc. and uses the email hello@studiowac.com for communication.
- The Foundations School Partner — Partnered on research related to FSA administration, reading proficiency, creative mindset assessment, and teacher quality in Palm Beach County, FL.
- USDOE Government — Received funding and operated under the US Department of Education's Arts in Education Model Demonstration and Dissemination (AEMDD) grant.
- countries Partner — Partners with countries to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- international organizations Partner — Partners with international organizations to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- organizations Partner — Partners with organizations to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- school districts Partner — Partners with school districts to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- schoools Partner — Partners with schools to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- states Partner — Partners with states to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- students Partner — Partners with students to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
- teachers Partner — Partners with teachers to improve education and restore hope to teaching and learning.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts-Integrated Educationmethodology: arts_integrationBy integrating the arts into core instruction, we increase student engagement and improve academic outcomes, because creative expression deepens cognitive processing and emotional connection to content.
- Job-Embedded Peer-to-Peer Professional Developmentmethodology: job-embedded_peer_learningBy situating teacher learning in real classrooms through peer observation and modeling, we improve instructional practice more effectively than through external training, because authentic context and relational trust accelerate adoption of new methods.
- Learning-Centered Assessmentmethodology: process-oriented_assessmentBy designing assessments that emphasize the learning process rather than final products or rankings, we inform instruction and support growth, because understanding how students think leads to more responsive teaching.
- Personalized Learning Through Evidence-Based Researchmethodology: evidence_based_researchBy generating and applying evidence-based research on school reform and student learning, we align stakeholders and reduce achievement gaps, because data-informed strategies lead to more equitable and effective educational practices.
- Versatile Intelligence and Assessment (VIA)methodology: VIABy using a continuous diagnostic loop—observe, model, evaluate, act, reflect—we understand multidimensional student intelligence and inform instruction, because dynamic assessment yields deeper insight into learning processes than static measures.