Early Childhood Academy Public Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

Educational approach eca has a strong curricular focus on language and literacy, given the tremendous impact of early language development on nearly all other aspects of academic growth. Instruction is based on the early learning standards for prekindergarten and on the english language arts and math common core state standards for kindergarten through grade three. Early childhood academy public charter school has selected the appletree institute for education innovations every child ready program as its instructional tool for pre-kindergarten and the hmh into reading, into math, and into science programs for kindergarten to grade three. Social studies instruction is provided based on the district of columbia social studies standards. Every child ready is an evidence-based, comprehensive, preschool instructional model that drives what to teach, how to teach, and how to tell children are learning. Every child ready is currently implemented in 4 states or districts across the u.s. Appletree institute implements a research-to-practice model to inform revisions to the model to support children, teachers and leaders. Hmh into reading instruction is implemented in accordance with the evidence-based science of reading research. It is differentiated by design to offer literacy instruction, support teachers in developing a culture of learning and growth, and help all learners believe in the power of "i can." hmh supports teachers in transitioning students beyond explicit instruction and into self-actualized learning. Hmh into math uses an approach focused on a growth mindset for students and real feedback from teachers to drive growth for each learner. Hmh into science delivers a manageable, streamlined, engaging curriculum that combines hands-on learning with ela-based science instruction. The district of columbia social studies standards for kindergarten through grade 3 include focus on myself and my community, working and building together, this wide world, and geography, history, and cultures of the district of columbia. The standards provide students with a personal connection to social studies learning. Assessment eca believes that the purpose of assessment is to inform instruction and assess student progress. Through implementation of a variety of formal and informal assessments, teachers obtain useful information about each childs knowledge, skills, and progress by observing, documenting, analyzing, and reviewing work samples over time. Teachers at early childhood academy public charter school meet in professional learning communities weekly, to analyze data and use it to inform instructional planning. Baseline and benchmark formative and summative assessments for prekindergarten include the every child ready assessment provided by the appletree institute for education innovation. Prekindergarten classroom environments are also evaluated using the classroom assessment scoring system (class). Formative and summative assessments for kindergarten through grade three students are administered using the northwest evaluation association measures of academic progress (nwea map)and the dynamic indicators of basic early literacy skills (dibels). In the spring, third grade students also complete the dc comprehensive assessments of progress in education (cape), which is the required statewide assessment. Data from these assessments inform planning and instruction for all students and serve as a critical part of the schools evaluation of its educational programs. Discipline eca seeks to create and maintain a learning environment that is nurturing, child-centered, and culturally sensitive through the use of the district of columbia standards for social/emotional learning (dc sel). The dc sel includes essential social and emotional knowledge and skills, including how to manage emotions, achieve goals, maintain supportive relationships and make responsible and caring decisions. Dc sel provides teachers with strategies that enable them to de-e

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.6%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 90.6%; rating input score 91
• Fundraising efficiency: $15.82 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 88.9%; rating input score 89; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.4%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.12; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.64; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.2%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings