Relay Graduate School of Education

“The organization's form 990 was provided to and made available to its audit committee for review prior to filing with the internal revenue service (irs). Subsequent to the audit committee review, the organization made its form 990 available to all members of its board of trustees for their review. The audit committee is responsible for overseeing and approving the form 990, including the preparation, review and filing process. As part of its annual audit and tax return preparation process, the organization hired a professional cpa firm with expertise in not for-profit tax return preparation to prepare the form 990. The cpa firm's tax professionals worked closely with the organization's finance personnel and various other individuals to obtain information needed to prepare a complete and accurate tax return. The cpa firm prepared a draft form 990 to be reviewed by and discussed with the organization's finance personnel and other individuals. Any questions are addressed by the finance personnel and revisions were made to the draft form 990 where necessary. The cpa firm provided a final draft to the organization's finance personnel and various other individuals for final review and approval prior to presentation to the organization's audit committee and thereafter provision to all members of the board of trustees.”

“The organization regularly monitors and enforces compliance with its conflict of interest policy. Annually, all trustees, officers and key employees are required to complete a questionnaire in accordance with the organization's conflict of interest policy. The completed questionnaires are returned to the organization's chief financial officer, who reviews the questionnaires with the president and chief external affairs officer to surface any potential conflicts that may need to be discussed at a subsequent board meeting. After exercising due diligence, the board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested members present whether a conflict of interest exists and whether the transaction or arrangement involving a possible conflict of interest is in relay's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement. If the transaction or arrangement involving a possible conflict of interest constitutes a related party transaction, then such transaction shall be subject to the board's, or an authorized committee of the board's, determination, by majority in attendance, that such transaction is fair, reasonable and in the corporation's best interest. If a related party has a substantial financial interest in a related party transaction, then the board, or an authorized committee of the board, shall also consider alternative transactions, to the extent any alternative transactions are available. In the event relay enters into a transaction or arrangement that constitutes a related party transaction that did not receive the board's determination that it was fair, reasonable and in relay's best interest at the time it was entered into, the board shall, upon learning of the transaction or arrangement, follow the above procedures and consider whether the transaction or arrangement was fair, reasonable and in relay's best interest at that time, and if so (a) ratify the transaction or arrangement in good faith that it was fair, reasonable and in relay's best interest at that time, and that, if appropriate, that alternative transactions were considered; (b) document the board's basis for the ratification; and (c) put in place additional procedures to help to ensure that board consideration and approval is obtained in the future. Any interested person seeking the approval of a conflict or a determination that no actual conflict exists shall abstain from the consideration of, and voting on, the transaction, arrangement, or opportunity presented to the board, except to disclose the transaction, arrangement, or opportunity and answer questions about it. Any trustee so abstaining may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum. If the board of trustees has reasonable cause to believe an interested person has failed to disclose an actual or potential conflict, the board shall inform the interested person of the basis for such belief and afford the interested person an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose. If, after hearing the interested person's response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the board determines that the interested person has failed to disclose an actual or potential conflict, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.”

“COMPENSATION FOR THE PRESIDENT IS DISCUSSED AND DETERMINED BY THE AUDIT AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT COMPENSATION PACKAGES OF COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS (E.G., HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER EDUCATION RELATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY). THE BOARD DISCUSSES THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION AND APPLICABLE COMPARABLE SALARY DATA. THE INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS THEN DETERMINE THE COMPENSATION WITHOUT THE NON-INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. THE OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PRESIDENT IS FORMALLY EXTENDED BY THE BOARD CHAIR. The process was last completed in 2023.”

“The organization makes its 990 and financial statements available to the public upon written request.”

“Relay graduate school of education (the organization) was organized under the education law of the state of new york in february organized under provide high-quality training and support for teachers and school leaders. The organization commenced operations on july 1, 2011 and received its public charity determination from the internal revenue service in september 2011. The organization's mission is to teach teachers and school leaders to develop in all students the academic skills and strength of character needed to succeed in college and life. It aims to play an instrumental role in addressing the urgent need for more diverse, effective teachers and principals in public schools located in low-income communities. To that end, the organization operates a graduate school of education that offers innovative teacher preparation programs that lead toward teacher certification and/or a master's degree. In addition, the organization provides professional development programs.”

“Relay graduate school of education (the organization) was organized under the education law of the state of new york in february 2011, to improve the training and preparation of teachers. The organization received its public charity determination from the internal revenue service in september 2011. The organization commenced operations in july 2011, at which point the programs previously operated by together education (te), a related not-for-profit organization, were transferred to the organization. Te supports the organization and its development and delivery of teacher and school leader training programs. In july 2011, the organization opened its doors to an inaugural class of graduate students. In the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 academic years the organization offered two programs, a master of arts in teaching graduate degree program in new york, ny, and a teacher certification program in newark, nj. By the 2016-2017 academic year, the organization offered master of arts in teaching graduate degrees and/or teacher certification programs in new york, new jersey, louisiana, illinois, texas, delaware, pennsylvania, tennessee, connecticut, and colorado. The organization also offers a master of education in instructional school leadership graduate degree in new york, ny, and runs a national instructional school leadership program. Since launching in 2011, over 3,000 teachers and school leaders have completed the organization's teacher and school leader training programs. In april 2012, the organization was approved by the u.s. Department of education as a title iv eligible institution, allowing it to offer title iv federal student aid programs to its students starting in the 2012-2013 academic year.”