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BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 135562167 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B500 · Education · Very Large (>$50M) · bankstreet.edu
revenue
$90.8M
expenses
$91.7M
net assets
$63.0M
employees
697
volunteers
950
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

An independent coeducational institution offering an elementary school, a graduate teachers' college, a family and childcare center, and professional development and education in accordance with grants and contracts.

profile · synthesized from sources

Independent educational institution in New York City offering a progressive elementary school, graduate programs in education, and professional development initiatives. Focuses on child-centered, experiential learning approaches for children from birth through middle school and prepares educators through its graduate school. Engages in research, policy work, and advocacy to advance equitable teaching practices nationwide.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $26.15M
    SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN - BANK STREET HAS BEEN SERVING STUDENTS FOR 100 YEARS BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE AN INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN, AN ONSITE FAMILY CENTER AND AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS. THE FAMILY CENTER, THE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP ARE REFERRED TO AS CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AT BANK STREET, AND ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEAN OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS.
  2. #2 $12.63M
    BSEC - THE BANK STREET EDUCATION CENTER PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, STATES, AND COMMUNITIES TO FOSTER POSITIVE LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AND TO ADVANCE PRACTICE AND POLICY IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION NATIONWIDE. OUR WORK AIMS TO IMPROVE THE CARE AND EDUCATION OF STUDENTS FROM BIRTH THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION BY STRENGTHENING AND ENABLING THE SUCCESS OF THE ADULTS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THROUGH A DISTINCT SET OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, THE BANK STREET EDUCATION CENTER IS BUILDING AN EVIDENCE BASE TO INFORM LOCAL PRACTICE AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE NATION'S DEEPEST ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES CURRENTLY HINDERING EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR ALL.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Bank Street Education Center (BSEC)
Partners with schools, school systems, and communities nationwide to improve teaching and learning through professional development, policy work, and implementation support.
Center for Children’s Literature
Administers the Children’s Book Committee and presents annual awards including the Best Children’s Books of the Year list, Irma Black Award, Cook Prize, and Spanish Language Picture Book Award.
EdPrepLab
Network of teacher and principal preparation programs creating models for effective educator preparation focused on equity and meaningful learning experiences.
Graduate School of Education
Offers master's programs integrating theory and practice in early childhood, elementary, and special education, educational leadership, museum education, child life, and literacy.
National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)
Conducts research and makes policy recommendations to improve the lives of low-income families and address systemic inequities in child welfare and education.
School for Children
Progressive independent school for children from infancy through middle school, including on-site family center, after-school, and summer camp programs.
Straus Center for Young Children & Families
Produces research-based recommendations for practitioners and policymakers working with children ages 0 to 8 and their families.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 2 activities
    • Deliver comprehensive early childhood and family support services
      Provides free preschool education and comprehensive services—including nutritional, mental health, and social support—to 68 families annually. Offers special education and early intervention services for young children, including SEIT services and playgroups.
    • Operate progressive education programs for children from birth through eighth grade
      Provides progressive education focusing on curiosity, critical thinking, and social responsibility for children from preschool through eighth grade, including full-day, year-round child care, special education evaluation, SEIT services, and playgroups for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Includes academic, social, and emotional development support through the School for Children and onsite family center programs.
  • Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 2 activities
    • Host annual Summer Math Conference
      Organizes an annual Summer Math Conference focused on making mathematical connections in education, providing a platform for educators and practitioners to explore innovative teaching approaches.
    • Host professional development conferences and institutes
      Hosts an annual three-day conference for teachers, caregivers, and early intervention specialists to reflect on practice and learn tools for working with young children. Includes facilitated processing groups to support application of content. Also operates the Infancy Institute, which has educated thousands of infant and toddler specialists globally since 1987.
  • Education Policy Research and Analysis 1 activity
    • Advance education practice through research and policy
      Conducts high-impact, evidence-based research and develops policy recommendations to improve outcomes for young children and families affected by poverty, racism, and systemic injustices. Focuses on advancing equitable teaching and learning from birth through higher education as part of the Institute for Thriving Children & Families.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Build capacity of educators and education systems
      Partners with schools, districts, states, teacher preparation programs, and communities to advance system-wide change and improve instructional practice. Leads EdPrepLab and provides research, policy analysis, strategic guidance, and implementation services to strengthen the capabilities of adults supporting students from birth through higher education.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Host public events and community dialogues on education and democracy
      Hosts public events such as the Building for Education and Democracy (BEAD) series, including a Juneteenth discussion with Nikole Hannah-Jones, and facilitates community-building dialogues on topics like hurt, hope, and shared values to strengthen civic engagement.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Operate after-school and summer programs for children
      Provides an after-school program for School for Children students with hands-on activities supporting creative, intellectual, physical, and social development. Operates a summer camp with developmentally appropriate, recreation-based learning programs staffed primarily by educational professionals and alumni.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Organize sociopolitical and cultural learning experiences for students and educators
      Conducts annual Long Trips and international travel programs—such as to Guatemala—to deepen understanding of sociopolitical issues, indigenous education, and cultural engagement through direct interaction with local educators and communities.
  • Higher Education Degree Programs 1 activity
    • Prepare educators through graduate degree programs
      Offers master's degree programs in education that integrate direct experience with children, teachers, and families, along with theory, observation, and reflection. Prepares educators for careers in early childhood, elementary education, educational leadership, museum education, child life, and literacy.
  • Student Milestone Ceremonies & Events 1 activity
    • Recognize academic achievement through commencement ceremonies
      Graduated 35 eighth-grade students in the Class of 2026, each of whom delivered a personal speech during the commencement ceremony.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Support college access for middle and high school students in New York City
      Has served over 1,500 middle and high school students since 1989 through a college access program that supports academic and personal development, including guidance through high school placement and transition.
  • High School Placement Support 1 activity
    • Support student transitions through high school placement guidance
      Provides guided support to students and families during the high school placement process, ensuring informed decision-making and successful transitions.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Promote progressive education through publications and awards
      Produces and disseminates research-based resources including the annual Best Children's Books of the Year (in English and Spanish), Occasional Paper Series, and children's literature awards such as the Josette Frank Award, Irma Black Award, Cook Prize, and Robie Harris Youth Choice Award to recognize excellence in children's literature.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$90.81M
Contributions & grants$24.81M27%
Program service revenue$63.32M70%
Investment income$2.20M2%
Other revenue$475K
expenses
Total expenses$91.74M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$44.88M
Grants paid out$26.42M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$100.92M
Cash$10.11M
Investments$52.25M
Liabilities$37.96M
Net assets$62.96M
Liquid reserves8.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +3.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 14
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SHAEL POLAKOW- SURANSKY PRESIDENT 35 $908K
DOUGLAS KNECHT DEAN, SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN (end 6/30/25) 35 $475K
APARNA MURALIDHARAN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 35 $363K
TRACY FRAY- OLIVER VP, BANK STREET EDUCATION CENTER 35 $313K
JUSTIN TYACK SENIOR ADVISOR (END 8/9/24) 35 $291K
MARCELA HAHN VP, DEVELOPMENT 35 $271K
AMY WELLS CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER 35 $269K
KATHERINE CONNELLY VP, PLANNING & COMMUNICATIONS 35 $236K
EMILY LINSAY LOWER SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD 35 $224K
JUDITH JOHNSON CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 35 $220K
ELYSE MATTHEWS CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER 35 $207K
SULEYNI ABREU DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 35 $201K
CAROLINA GONZALEZ CHIEF OF STAFF & SEN. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 35 $183K
JESSICA CHARLES ASSOCIATE DEAN, GRAD SCHOOL (END 6/30/25) 35 $174K
board members · 11
  • ADAM LITKE — TRUSTEE
  • ANNE v SHUTKIN — TRUSTEE
  • ANTHONY ASNES — TRUSTEE
  • Alexis Armistead — Trustee
  • BARBARA SCHATZ — TRUSTEE
  • CARLOS VELAZQUEZ — TRUSTEE
  • CHARLES R BENDIT — TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTOPHER KELLEN — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID OFFENSEND — TRUSTEE
  • DEBBIE ZLOTOWITZ — TRUSTEE
  • FERN KHAN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • Bank Street Education Center Partner — Co-leads partnerships and programs to build evidence and support educational change.
  • Bank Street Education Center Partner — Collaborates with schools and communities to support positive learning outcomes.
  • Bank Street Family Center Partner — Feeder program for children who begin at younger ages and transition into the School for Children.
  • Bank Street Family Center Partner — Local partner site involved in the Infancy Institute conference.
  • Bank Street Graduate School of Education Partner — Collaborates with the School for Children, providing faculty with advanced training and degrees in progressive education.
  • Bank Street School for Children Partner — Collaborates with the Center for Children’s Literature by involving third- and fourth-grade students in selecting finalists for the Irma Black Award.
  • Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Partner — Former institutional home of the National Center for Children in Poverty prior to joining Bank Street College of Education.
  • Communities Partner — Engages with communities to support positive learning outcomes for students and educators.
  • Continuing Professional Studies Partner — Administrative unit at Bank Street College of Education coordinating the Long Trip program.
  • Enough is Enough Partner — Hosts information on Title IX policies through the Enough is Enough initiative for the Graduate School of Education.
  • Graduate School of Education Partner — Co-leads partnerships and programs to build evidence and support educational change.
  • Graduate School of Education Partner — Collaborates with the Center for Children’s Literature through educators and alumni who serve on panels selecting finalists for the Cook Prize.
  • Institute for Thriving Children & Families Network — Founding program within the Institute for Thriving Children & Families at Bank Street College of Education.
  • National Center for Children in Poverty Partner — Collaborates under the Institute for Thriving Children & Families to conduct research and promote policies that support low-income families and children affected by systemic injustice.
  • Nikole Hannah-Jones Partner — Invited speaker and discussion participant in the Building for Education and Democracy Juneteenth event.
  • School systems Partner — Collaborates with school systems to strengthen educator effectiveness and support equitable teaching and learning.
  • Schools Partner — Partners with schools to improve learning outcomes and advance education practice and policy.
  • States Partner — Works with state-level entities to advance education policy and practice.
  • Straus Center for Young Children & Families Partner — Collaborates under the Institute for Thriving Children & Families to produce research and recommendations for early childhood education settings serving children ages 0 to 8.
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.

  • Developmentally Meaningful and Culturally Responsive Practice
    methodology: developmentally_meaningful_practice
    By shifting from standardized "developmentally appropriate" norms to developmentally meaningful practices that center children’s and families’ lived experiences, and by supporting caregivers to reflect on their own cultural narratives, Bank Street improves educational equity because culturally self-aware adults are better equipped to recognize and respond to diverse developmental pathways.
  • Education for Democratic Participation and Social Justice
    methodology: education_for_democracy
    By engaging students and educators in honest history education, sociopolitical empathy development, and youth participatory practices—while treating children as change agents—Bank Street fosters democratic participation because confronting complex truths and modeling justice in everyday routines cultivates agency, empathy, and civic responsibility.
  • Equity-Informed Research and Policy Advocacy
    methodology: equity_informed_research_and_policy
    By conducting research and advancing policy advocacy focused on systemic inequities affecting young children and low-income families, Bank Street reduces hardship and promotes educational equity because evidence-based, equity-centered policies create structural conditions that support child development and family well-being.
  • Experiential-Reflective Educator Preparation
    methodology: experiential_reflective_education
    By integrating direct experience with children, teachers, and families with theoretical study, observation, and reflective practice, Bank Street prepares educators who can apply knowledge in real-world contexts because this cyclical process deepens professional judgment and adaptive expertise.
  • Strengths-Based, Learner-Centered Systems Change
    methodology: strengths_based_learner_centered_education
    By tailoring capacity-building efforts to the distinct strengths and needs of learners and partner organizations, and by grounding all practice in a strengths-based, learner-centered approach, Bank Street improves student outcomes because this alignment increases relevance, engagement, and sustainability of educational change.