Early Childhood Academy Public Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO FOSTER THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EACH STUDENT IN A SAFE AND HOLISTIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL EQUIP ALL STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO BECOME HIGH ACHIEVERS, PROFICIENT READERS, AND CRITICAL THINKERS WHO WILL THRIVE FOR A LIFETIME AS PRODUCTIVE AND CARING CITIZENS.
- Income
- $10.0 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $231,816, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $8.1 million spent. 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-ESCALATE SITUATIONS IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE HAVING CONFLICTS AND TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS STUDENTS IN CRISIS. DC SEL SUPPORTS TEACHERS IN PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY ARE TAUGHT TO USE WORDS RATHER THAN ACTIONS TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND TO UNDERSTAND RULES AND LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES. ECA DOES NOT BELIEVE IN OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND IMPOSES THEM ONLY IN RARE SITUATIONS OF EGREGIOUS STUDENT BEHAVIOR. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ECA BELIEVES THAT HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT FROM ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO PROMOTE CHILDRENS LEARNING. THEREFORE, EACH YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL, LITERACY SPECIALIST, AND COACHES DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR BASED ON THE ASSESSED NEEDS AND EXPLICIT FEEDBACK OF TEACHERS. THE PLAN ARTICULATES GOALS, ACTIVITIES, RESOURCES, AND EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS. EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS ARE CONTRACTED TO SUPPORT HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN ELA AND MATH. THIS YEAR, ECA IS RECEIVING CONTRACTED COACHING SUPPORT FROM APPLETREE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION AND ONGOING TRAINING ON THE SCIENCE OF READING WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOLS LITERACY COACH AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION. PARENT INVOLVEMENT ECA IS DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGING STRONG AND CONSISTENT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ORIENTATION MEETINGS ARE HELD EACH SUMMER, DURING WHICH PARENTS RECEIVE PARENT HANDBOOKS AND SIGN A SCHOOL-PARENT COMPACT OUTLINING THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE TEACHING/LEARNING PROCESS. PARENT COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING WRITTEN PROGRESS REPORTS AND INDIVIDUAL PARENT MEETINGS ARE HELD AT LEAST QUARTERLY TO DISCUSS EACH STUDENTS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND PLAN FOR CONTINUED LEARNING. PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MEET WITH THE SCHOO
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.