named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Extended School Day and Year
Longer school days and a trimester-based academic calendar with summer intervention sessions for students needing additional support
Project-Based Learning
Integrated into Science and Social Studies curricula to promote authentic investigation and skill acquisition through real-world challenges
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum
Program designed to support students’ social and emotional growth, build self-advocacy skills, and foster confidence and resilience
Structured Literacy Program
Instruction based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and Science of Reading, delivered through a multisensory, systematic curriculum across all subjects
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Structured Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support 3 activities
- Advocating for improved educational outcomes for students with learning disabilitiesParticipated in a state-level team to develop guidance for school districts to improve outcomes for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
- Delivering multisensory, research-based literacy and academic instructionImplements the Orton-Gillingham approach as the foundation of literacy instruction, supplemented by a research-based writing program and daily reinforcement of literacy skills across all subjects, including art, music, and physical education. Uses Project-Based Learning in Science and Social Studies to promote higher-order thinking and cross-curricular connections.
- Operating a public charter school for students with dyslexia and related learning disabilitiesProvides a free, public school option specifically designed for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, using structured, multisensory programming. Serves students from Staten Island and the broader New York City area, offering an alternative to relocation for families seeking specialized education.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Hosting school community engagement eventsHosts annual Back to School Night events to engage the school community.
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Individualized Academic Support 1 activity
- Maintaining an extended school day and academic year with small class sizesOperates on a longer school day and a trimester-based academic year to provide additional instructional time, targeted interventions, and enrichment. Maintains small class sizes (10–24 students) with multiple instructional staff per classroom to ensure low teacher-student ratios.
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Charter School Admissions Lottery Management 1 activity
- Managing student admissions through a public lottery and waitlist systemAccepts student applications on a rolling basis, conducts an annual public electronic admissions lottery in compliance with state law, and maintains active, grade-specific waitlists for the current school year with no carryover. Publicly hosts lottery events in-person and via Zoom, with recordings made available.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
- Providing social-emotional learning and behavioral supportDedicates weekly class time to Social Emotional Learning focused on attention and behavior regulation. Conducts daily interactive discussions between staff and students to set instructional and behavioral goals.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Requiring summer intervention for students not meeting academic promotion criteriaRequires students who have not met promotional criteria to attend a summer intervention session to support academic progress.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.32M
Contributions & grants$377K5%
Program service revenue$7.70M93%
Investment income$237K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$7.31M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$5.61M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.37M
Cash$6.52M
Investments$2.11M
Liabilities$784K
Net assets$8.59M
Liquid reserves14.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +10.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIM CASTANZA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $160K |
| FAHRON EBANKS | DOO | 40 | $151K |
board members · 9
- AMANDA WOLKOWITZ — BOARD MEMBER
- DEIRDRE MEDINA — BOARD MEMBER
- GEENA KURIAKOSE — SECRETARY
- JENNIFER SAMMARTINO-MALLEN — BOARD MEMBER -JOINED APRIL 2025
- MARK HARMON-VAUGHT — BOARD CO-CHAIR
- NICOLE DESTEFANO — BOARD MEMBER
- REBECCA PETERS — TREASURER
- TARA GORE — BOARD MEMBER
- TRACI FREY — BOARD CO-CHAIR
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- BoardOnTrack Partner — Platform used to publish board meeting agendas and minutes.
- Calendly Partner — Used to schedule informational school tours with the enrollment team.
- Orton-Gillingham Partner — Implements the Orton-Gillingham approach as part of its structured literacy curriculum.
- SchoolMint Partner — Platform used for student registration and admissions management
- Staten Island Partner — Primary community location where Bridge Prep serves students and families.
- Staten Island Business Outreach Center (SIBOC) Partner — Tim Castanza serves on the Board of Trustees, indicating organizational affiliation and governance involvement.
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.
- Family-School Trust Partnership Modelmethodology: family-school_partnershipBy fostering trusting, collaborative relationships between the school and families, the school increases student achievement because strong home-school alignment enhances support for learning, consistency of interventions, and student motivation.
- Inclusive Admissions and School Communitymethodology: inclusive_admissionsBy admitting students without entrance exams or barriers through a lottery-based, non-discriminatory process and cultivating a caring, inclusive school community, the school promotes equity and belonging, which supports academic and social success for students with and without learning differences.
- Structured Literacy for Learning Differencesmethodology: structured_literacyBy using a Science of Reading-based, structured literacy approach grounded in Orton-Gillingham and delivered through multisensory instruction, the school improves literacy outcomes for students with dyslexia, other reading-related disabilities, and English Language Learners, because this method systematically builds decoding and comprehension skills through multiple sensory pathways.
- Student Empowerment Through Self-Advocacy and Strength-Based Developmentmethodology: self-advocacy-developmentBy helping students identify their strengths and develop lifelong self-advocacy strategies within a supportive, inclusive culture, the school builds confidence and self-esteem, which in turn enables sustained academic engagement and leadership development, particularly for students with learning differences.
- Time-Optimized Instructional Modelmethodology: time_maximization_for_literacy_developmentBy extending the school day and maximizing instructional time—particularly for literacy—the school enables students to complete academic work during school hours and receive targeted, ability-grouped instruction, which improves academic outcomes for struggling learners by increasing exposure and reducing cognitive load at home.