Childrens Aid College Prep Charter School

“The form 990 was prepared by a national accounting firm in conjunction with the organization's management. A copy of the draft form 990 was presented to the finance and audit committee for discussion and comment. Once approved, a copy is then circulated to the full board. Each board member is provided opportunity to comment on the information contained in the form 990 prior to its filing with the internal revenue service.”

“Each officer and trustee is required to annually disclose any conflicts that arise by virtue of employment, board service or position with the organization. The organization monitors compliance with its conflict of interest policy through an annual questionnaire/disclosure statement that is distributed to these individuals. Potential conflicts are investigated immediately. Form 990, part vi, section b, line 14: the children's aid charter school operates under the document retention policy of its affiliated organization, the children's aid society.”

“The charter school undertakes a thorough process to ensure that the compensation it pays to the head of school is reasonable, given the market in which the school operates. The board of trustees reviews the compensation for all charter school employees and makes recommendations on salary and bonuses based on their having achieved certain performance criteria. Compensation decisions are documented in the appropriate committee minutes. Compensation reported for the head of school, drema brown, was paid by an unrelated affiliated organization, the children's aid society. Form 990 requirements necessitate that ms. Brown's compensation is reported in part vii, column d (as though paid by the charter school).”

“The organization makes its form 990 and financial statements available to the public on its website and by retaining a copy at its place of business. The organization's governing documents and conflict of interest policy are available upon request and at management's discretion.”

“Children's aid college prep charter school is a children's aid community school whose mission is to prepare elementary and middle school students for success in high school, college, and life by providing them with a rigorous instructional experience; addressing their physical, emotional, and social needs while, fostering a sense of pride and hope; and serving as a safe and engaging community hub.”

“The vision of children's aid college prep charter school is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to achieve the american dream. We believe that college graduation will provide our students the best opportunities to live the life of their dreams. By fostering each child's holistic development early in their academic careers, through promoting learning and cognitive development, social and emotional skills development, and health and wellness supported by meaningful parent or caregiver engagement, children's aid college prep charter school will put its students on the path to college success. We use a research-based comprehensive approach designed to improve student outcomes and foster high academic achievement, which underpins our whole child approach to education. Our framework: strategic teachers and professional development: our school's professional culture is one of collaborative learning and support, which facilitates the development of our teachers' expertise in strategic instruction as they work together to master new strategies and refine their practice. Cacpcs prioritizes a rigorous classroom environment, co-teaching, an extended school day and school year, afterschool, summer camp, enrichment opportunities, and comprehensive student supports such as mental and social-emotional well-being services, parent engagement, support for families, and medical, dental and vision services through children's aid or other community-based organizations. Deeper learning: curriculum and assessment our rigorous curriculum is aligned with new york state's next generation learning standards, and is designed to promote higher-order thinking, content mastery, and the transference of learning. Teachers, with the guidance of school leadership and support of their colleagues, reflect on and identify the key concepts they want students to understand and determine the evidence they will use to measure the extent to which students are mastering the desired knowledge and skills. Lesson plans incorporate five episodes of effective instruction: 1) preparing students for new learning; 2) presenting new learning; 3) deepening and reinforcing new learning; 4) applying learning; and 5) reflecting on and celebrating new learning. Co-teaching: cacpcs leverages the strengths of the thoughtful classroom instructional framework with a co-teaching staffing structure consisting of two teachers assigned to each class. Co-teaching provides our students with numerous opportunities for small group and individual support during the school day which is particularly supportive of very young students, students with disabilities and english language learners. Comprehensive student supports: life coaching: the goal of life coaching is to provide students, staff, and parents with the coordinated and whole-school supports needed to address key barriers to learning. The life coach is the central staff member delivering a set of programmatic prevention, intervention, and enrichment strategies designed to support the holistic development of the students. Children's aid-linked health and mental health services: children's aid community school staff help families connect to medical, vision, dental, or mental health services provided at children's aid's nearby licensed medical clinic or at other local providers. Children's aid health and wellness division also provides students and their caregivers with workshops and trainings focused on healthy living (e.g. Nutrition education, family life and sex education, asthma workshops). In addition, cacpcs's new elementary school building at 1232 southern boulevard, bronx, new york, includes a medical suite for a nurse and visiting practitioners (e.g., vision and dental screening) while also providing a dedicated space for therapeutic activities. Community and parent engagement and support for families: cacpcs is a place where families and the larger community are embraced as pivotal players in the success of their childre”

“The full board of trustees assumes oversight of the audit review, compilation of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant.”