irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $8.16MSPECIAL EDUCATION - PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS BY PROVIDING 12:1:1 CLASSROOM SETTINGS, INTEGRATED CO-TEACHING CLASSROOMS IN EVERY GRADE LEVEL, SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES, AND COUNSELING.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Enrichment Program
Offers weekly classes in art, music, dance, theater, physical education, and technology across all schools.
Extended Learning Day
Provides 25% more instructional time than traditional public schools through an extended school day and year at lower schools.
High School Placement Support
Individualized counseling and support for 8th graders to enroll in college-preparatory high schools aligned with their interests and needs.
Special Education Program
Provides 12:1:1 classroom settings, integrated co-teaching classrooms at every grade level, special education support services, and counseling for students with special needs.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Independent and Charter K-12 Schools 1 activity
- Deliver extended instructional time through a longer school day and yearProvides 25% more instructional time than traditional public schools via an extended school day and academic year across all campuses, supporting deeper learning and academic gains.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Deliver weekly enrichment programs in arts, physical education, and technologyOffers regular enrichment activities for all students, including dance, music, theater, visual arts, band, physical education, and technology, with specific offerings varying by campus and grade band.
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
- Drive measurable academic gains in English Language Arts and mathematicsStudents outperform NYC public school averages by 5 percentage points in ELA and 9 in math; long-term enrollees (2+ years) outperform peers by nearly 20 points in ELA and over 20 in math. At Explore Excel, ELA and math proficiency increased by 43 and 42 percentage points respectively.
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Training and Capacity Building for Trauma-Informed Student Support 1 activity
- Ensure staff cultural competence and trauma-informed practicesTrains all teachers and staff on trauma manifestations and triggers in students and ensures staff are culturally competent to serve students holistically across academic, social, and emotional domains.
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Comprehensive K–8 Academic Curriculum 1 activity
- Implement rigorous, standards-aligned academic curriculaUses Common Core-aligned curricula across subjects, with Expeditionary Learning in grades 3–8 and Core Knowledge in K–2 for English Language Arts, and AF Navigators and Math Stories (K–3) for math instruction to build critical thinking, number fluency, and academic rigor.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Operate a network of six public charter schools serving kindergarten through 8th gradeRuns six K–8 charter schools in Central Brooklyn, serving over 1,600 students annually across multiple campuses in Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Canarsie (CSD 17). The network includes schools with grade configurations including K–4, K–5, and 6–8, offering a unified yet site-adapted educational model.
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Individualized Academic Support 1 activity
- Provide individualized academic support and small group instructionOffers targeted small group instruction in math and English Language Arts to meet students’ individual learning needs and support academic growth.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Provide special education services and inclusive classroom modelsOffers a range of special education supports including 12:1:1 classrooms, integrated co-teaching (ICT) from kindergarten through 8th grade, SETSS, counseling, and services for students with IEPs to ensure inclusive, individualized learning environments.
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Universal In-School Meal Service 1 activity
- Provide student support services including meals and transportationOffers free breakfast and lunch to all students at every school and provides transportation via school buses for K–5 students and half-fare metro cards for eligible 6–8 students.
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High School Placement Support 1 activity
- Support high school placement for 8th-grade studentsProvides individualized high school placement counseling to all 8th-grade students across campuses, helping them enroll in college-preparatory high schools aligned with their interests, strengths, and needs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$38.61M
Contributions & grants$1.43M4%
Program service revenue$36.89M96%
Investment income$214K1%
Other revenue$76K
expenses
Total expenses$38.41M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$27.76M
Grants paid out$188K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.73M
Cash$2.74M
Investments$4.71M
Liabilities$3.60M
Net assets$7.14M
Liquid reserves2.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -12.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 12
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA BEAR DALLIS | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $235K |
| JONATHAN CARRINGTON | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $220K |
| JANELLE SAMUEL | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $210K |
| MARCUS FINDLAY | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $198K |
| KAREN HICKS | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $188K |
| CASEY KEAN | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $181K |
| AISHA LUBIN | PRINCIPAL | 50 | $174K |
| MARISA FORBES-INGRAM | ACADEMIC DIRECTOR | 50 | $155K |
| KRISTIN JEFFERSON | ACADEMIC DIRECTOR | 50 | $149K |
| GODWINA TITUS | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 50 | $149K |
| ALAIN BRICE-BALAN | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 50 | $143K |
| TONI HINDS | ACADEMIC DIRECTOR | 50 | $142K |
board members · 11
- ANGIE BRICE THOMAS — CHAIR
- ANNA D JOHNSON — TRUSTEE
- AVNI GUPTA-KAGAN — TRUSTEE
- HANK MANNIX — TRUSTEE
- KAREN ANNETTE FRANCOIS — TRUSTEE
- KEVIN BRYANT — TRUSTEE
- LINDSAY DANNON — TRUSTEE
- LISA LURIE — TREASURER
- ORISSA PEREIRA-HAMLER — TRUSTEE
- SHAKEEMA GRIFFIN — TRUSTEE
- SHAWN JENKINS — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- American Express Partner — Employer of board director Anna D. Johnson
- Anita Henry-Cabellero Partner — Academic Coordinator at Explore Upper School
- Anthony Ricketts Partner — Dean of Culture at Explore Upper School
- Braven Partner — Employer of board chair Angie Brice Thomas
- Crown Heights, Brooklyn (CSD 17) Government — Operates a public charter school within Community School District 17 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
- Dina Elhadidy Partner — Academic Coordinator at Excel Upper School, supporting academic programming.
- Einhorn Collaborative Partner — Employer of board vice chair Shawn Jenkins
- Explore Excel Charter School Partner — School where Karen Annette Francois served as Principal and drove student achievement growth.
- Explore Schools Network — Empower Upper School is part of the Explore Schools network.
- Flatbush, Brooklyn (CSD 17) Government — Operates within Community School District 17 in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
- Global School Leaders Partner — Employer of board director Avni Gupta-Kagan
- Kahleel Hamilton Partner — Special Populations Director at Excel Upper School, supporting student needs.
- Kelso & Company Partner — Employer of board director Hank Mannix
- Lindsay Nixon Partner — Director of Operations at Explore Upper School
- NYC Employee Retirement System Partner — Employer of parent representative Orissa Pereira-Hamler
- New York Foundling Partner — Employer of parent representative Sha-Keema Griffin
- New York State Department of Education Government — Authorized as a public charter school network by the state of New York
- ONPA Solutions Partner — Employer of board treasurer Lisa Lurie
- Oluwaseun Animashaun Partner — Academic Coordinator at Excel Upper School, supporting academic programming.
- Ople Partner — Employer of board director Lindsay Danon
- Samantha James Partner — Director of Operations at Excel Upper School, involved in school leadership and operations.
- The College Board Partner — Employer of board director Kevin Bryant
- Toni Hinds Partner — Principal Resident at Excel Upper School, part of school leadership team.
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.
- College-Preparatory Academic Preparationmethodology: college-preparatory-preparationBy using a Common Core-aligned curriculum emphasizing critical thinking and academic rigor, we prepare students for success in college-preparatory high schools, because early exposure to rigorous, inquiry-based academics builds long-term readiness.
- Curriculum as a Lever for Equitymethodology: curriculum-as-equityBy using high-quality, rigorous curriculum and instruction, we advance educational equity and close the opportunity gap, because effective teaching rooted in equity directly disrupts systemic barriers to student success.
- High-Expectations Learning Environmentmethodology: high-expectations learning environmentBy creating a learning environment grounded in the belief that all students can meet high academic expectations when given appropriate support, we eliminate predictability of failure linked to social or cultural factors, because belief and structure drive achievement.
- Personalized, Needs-Based Instruction in Inclusive Settingsmethodology: inclusive-special-educationBy customizing instruction and using integrated co-teaching in small-group settings, we support diverse learners—especially special education students—within inclusive classrooms, because individualized support within a rigorous environment eliminates achievement gaps.
- Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Instructionmethodology: culturally_responsive_teachingBy integrating trauma-informed practices and culturally responsive teaching, we connect students’ identities and lived experiences to learning, thereby increasing engagement and academic outcomes in inclusive environments.