Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

At the inspired teaching demonstration public charter school (the "school"), a professional learning community of master teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of students achieve their potential as accomplished learners, thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum. The defining characteristic of the school is a professional learning community focused on a progressive, constructivist approach to teaching and learning based on the research on how the brain works and how children learn. The school is organized to meet two related, mutually reinforcing primary goals: to provide an excellent education for students, and to provide excellent teacher preparation and professional development for new teachers and teacher leaders. The school implements the philosophy and instructional methodology of center for inspired teaching. Center for inspired teaching is a district of columbia based educational organization that has served dc's teachers and students since 1995, with the goal of ensuring that teachers make the most of children's innate desire to learn. The school is a leader in improving the way teachers are trained and students are educated in dc and beyond. As a demonstration school, the school invites and receives visitors from around the globe. Annually, the school welcomes dozens of visitors from the dc education community, as well as those influential in education policy nationwide. Dominant methods of instruction include inquiry-based methods and active learning approaches, where the teacher serves as facilitator and coach to support student learning. Instruction includes an emphasis on social-emotional learning, and classrooms are characterized by student-centered organizational styles such as differentiated instruction, collaborative groups, and child-initiated play. The standards-based curriculum and student goals are centered on the 4 i's: intellect, inquiry, imagination, and integrity.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.8%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 87.2%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.56 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 5.1%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.53; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.6; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.3%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.7% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.1% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.4% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings