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School Justice Project Inc

EIN 46-1625412 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHOOL JUSTICE PROJECT (SJP) IS A LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SERVING OLDER STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN DC'S JUSTICE SYSTEMS. SJP'S MISSION IS TO USE SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW TO ENSURE THAT OLDER, COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN ACCESS A QUALITY EDUCATION. WE ENVISION A COUNTRY WHERE ALL STUDENTS HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION. SJP'S EDUCATION ATTORNEYS WORK WITH THEIR CLIENTS TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
11
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$136,574, executive director & co-founder

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $711,194 spent. DIRECT REPRESENTATION PROGRAM: SJP PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTERS TO OLDER, COURT-INVOLVED DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LEGAL COUNSEL, SJP AIMS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF EACH STUDENT. SJP ATTORNEYS WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH CLIENTS TO SET AND ACCOMPLISH INDIVIDUAL CLIENT GOALS AND ENFORCE EDUCATIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS, WORKING TO ENSURE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH CLIENT.
  2. $123,087 spent. SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY & POLICY PROGRAM: SJP WORKS TO CHANGE THE POLICY FRAMEWORK IN WHICH STUDENTS' EDUCATION SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. THROUGH ADVOCACY, HIGH IMPACT LITIGATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COALITION BUILDING, SJP WORKS TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PUSH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FROM SCHOOL TO PRISON. THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM SJP'S DIRECT REPRESENTATION PROGRAM, SJP WORKS TO IDENTIFY AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS TO DISMANTLE KEY BARRIERS TO EDUCATION ATTAINMENT. THIS PROGRAM STRIVES TO ADDRESS LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS FOR OLDER, COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS THE SYSTEM-WIDE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE: 1) HIGHLIGHTING INTERAGENCY GAPS; 2) FRAMING THE PROBLEM AND DISSEMINATING SOLUTIONS; 3) COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS; AND 4) IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES THROUGH BROAD-BASED POLICY AND LEGAL REFORM.
  3. $60,505 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH & LEGAL TRAINING PROGRAM (COLT): SJP WORKS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION FOR OLDER, COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. SJP ALSO ADMINISTERS A TRAINING PROGRAM ON INTEGRATING SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW IN THE JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL CONTEXTS. WITH A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS IN D.C. AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS REQUESTING TRAININGS, SJP HAS BUILT VAST KNOWLEDGE AROUND THE CORE COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND AND ADVOCATE WITHIN THE INTERSECTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CRIMINAL LAW.
  4. $250,836 spent. GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.