named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Agile Learning Facilitation
Students co-create their daily schedules and learning experiences with support from trained facilitators who offer workshops, mentorship, and access to resources in areas like math, art, technology, and conflict resolution.
Community Meetings and Conflict Resolution
Daily and weekly community gatherings include planning, reflection, budget discussions, and restorative circles to build collaboration, accountability, and democratic decision-making skills.
Graduation Capstone Process
Students prepare for graduation by completing state-mandated academic units, creating a transcript and portfolio, designing a capstone project, and presenting their plans to a panel including community members and mentors.
Makerspace and Digital Literacy Program
Students engage with technology, 3D printing, coding, and digital tools in a supported environment that emphasizes responsible use, critical thinking, and creative exploration.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Structured Student Enrollment Process 1 activity
- Conduct outreach and enrollment activities for prospective familiesHosts information sessions, Parent Interest Nights, and visiting weeks for prospective families, and schedules individual calls or events based on interest, with an open enrollment process and online applications for the 2026–2027 academic year.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Facilitate experiential and off-site learning activitiesOrganizes regular off-site experiential learning including museum visits, neighborhood walks, Central Park outings, community garden work, park and museum trips, and outdoor adventures to support real-world engagement and learning.
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Recreational Game Programming 1 activity
- Host games and recreational activities for community engagementFacilitates table-top games, live action role-playing games, online gaming sessions, and outdoor adventures to foster community building and engagement among learners.
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Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
- Implement sliding-scale tuition and financial accessibility programsOperates a tiered tuition system with annual fees ranging from $9,000 to $27,000 on a sliding scale, offers a Pay-It-Forward tier at $32,000 to fund scholarships, and ensures accessibility for families facing financial hardship.
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
- Lead professional development and organizational consulting in self-directed educationCo-directs the school, leads administrative and community-building efforts, organizes trainings, consults for other organizations as vice president of the ALC Network, and hosted a 10-part webinar series introducing self-directed education and Agile Learning Centers.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offer workshops and community gatherings for learners and educatorsHosts workshops, skill-sharing sessions, community gatherings, photography classes, and subject-specific classes in history, geography, astronomy, AI interaction, and philosophy, and manages a community Minecraft server.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Operate family and community co-working and recreational programsOperates CO:WORK:PLAY, a family-friendly co-working space during summer months, and organizes family co-working days, online peer-support sessions, and community gatherings such as a welcome picnic in Central Park and an event at Rockaway Beach.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Produce publications and contribute to self-directed education discourseContributes articles to Tipping Points, a publication by the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, and produces annual reports documenting organizational activities and reflections.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Provide access to makerspace and hands-on learning resourcesFacilitates access to a Makerspace for young people to experiment and build, leads hands-on math groups exploring patterns and logic, and supports teens in goal-setting and connecting with city resources.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Provide self-directed K-12 education in a microschool settingOperates an accredited microschool in New York City for 25 students, offering self-directed learning from kindergarten through 12th grade during the September–June academic year, with a physical location at 1325 Fifth Avenue and extended access until 4 pm for independent students.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Deliver project-based and capstone learning programsSupports students in completing New York State-mandated units of study and designing capstone projects through a two-year graduation preparation process, and guides development of multimedia portfolios to document learning and competencies.
- Support student-led learning and community governanceFacilitates daily and weekly student-led meetings for planning, reflection, conflict resolution, budget discussions, and field trip coordination, and guides students in developing executive function, resilience, and meta-cognition through co-creation in a small community.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$275K
Contributions & grants$60K22%
Program service revenue$216K78%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$245K
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$171K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$98K
Cash$83K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$98K
Liquid reserves4.1 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +10.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RYAN SHOLLENBERGER | DIRECTOR | 0 | $46K |
| ABIGAIL OULTON | DIRECTOR | 0 | $32K |
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- ALC Network Network — AGILE LEARNING SCHOOL is part of the ALC Network, with staff serving in leadership and consulting roles.
- Agile Learning Center Network — Part of a global network of Agile Learning Centers, with ALC-NYC serving as the flagship location.
- Agile Learning Centers Network — Member of the Agile Learning Centers network and follows its educational model.
- Agile Learning Centers Network — Member of the Agile Learning Centers network, participating in collaborative programming and knowledge sharing.
- Agile Learning Centers Network — Member of the Agile Learning Centers network, participating in shared practices, conferences, and collaborative development of self-directed education models.
- Agile Learning Centers Network Network — Member of the Agile Learning Centers Network, as indicated by reference to the network website.
- Alliance for Self-Directed Education Network — Contributes articles to Tipping Points, a publication run by the Alliance for Self-Directed Education.
- Educambiando Partner — Collaborative relationship with Educambiando, an Agile Learning Center in Veracruz, Mexico, involving shared experiences and cross-ALC representation at international events.
- WASC Government — Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Government — Preliminary accreditation partner
- Worts and Cunning Partner — Grateful for the framing work of Alexis J. Cunningfolk on sliding-scale models, referenced to inform tuition design.
- state of New York Government — Follows New York State requirements for graduation, including completion of mandated units of study.
strategies · 4
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.
- Agile Learning Cycle as Structured Facilitation Frameworkmethodology: agile_cycleBy using a repeating cycle of Intention, Creation, Reflection, and Sharing, the school deepens engagement and learning retention; because structured rhythms support self-directed learners in setting goals, iterating on work, and integrating feedback in a socially meaningful way.
- Co-Designed and Iterative Learning Environmentmethodology: co_design_and_iterationBy co-designing schedules, tools, and culture with students and staff and using continuous feedback loops, the school creates a responsive and adaptive learning community; because shared ownership and iterative improvement lead to higher engagement and relevance in education.
- Relational Facilitation and Culture Buildingmethodology: relational_facilitationBy prioritizing high-quality relationships and intentional culture practices—such as weekly check-ins and reflection—the school nurtures trust, belonging, and transparency; because strong relational foundations enable risk-taking, growth, and effective self-direction.
- Self-Directed Learning with Community Accountabilitymethodology: self_directed_learning_with_community_accountabilityBy allowing students to direct their own learning while embedding them in a community with shared responsibilities, the school fosters intrinsic motivation, personal agency, and social accountability; because learning is most sustainable when autonomy is balanced with mutual respect and participatory rule-making.