Aseltine School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES, AUTISM, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (MILD TO MODERATE) AND OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 9.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $156,089, executive director
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $2.1 million spent. STUDENTS COME TO ASELTINE SCHOOL WITH LONG HISTORIES OF SCHOOL FAILURE DUE TO SERIOUS BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, DEFICITS IN ACADEMIC SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE, AND/OR POOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. THEY HAVE TRIED MOST OF THE PROGRAMMATIC INTERVENTIONS AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS. OUR GOAL IS TO BRING ABOUT DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN ALL OF THESE AREAS LEADING/TRANSITIONING TO A LESS RESTRICTIVE EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL SETTING.WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF OF 28 WHO WORK TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF 36 STUDENTS.ASELTINE SCHOOL PROGRAM OVERVIEW (DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES)INTRODUCTIONASELTINE SCHOOL EMBRACES A PHILOSOPHY OF UNCOMMON COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS CAN BECOME AWARE OF, LEARN TO COPE WITH, & EVENTUALLY OVERCOME THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR BARRIERS THAT HAVE LIMITED THEIR PROGRESS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE BELIEF THAT THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING A FOUNDATION OF NURTURING SUPPORT & GUIDANCE, COMBINED WITH IMAGINATION, DISCIPLINE, & CHALLENGE. ASELTINE SCHOOL'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BECOME CRITICAL THINKERS OF THE WORLD.ASELTINE SCHOOL STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF CULTURAL PLURALISM & CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURES & COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY. WE ARE GROUNDED IN THE FUNDAMENTAL RESPECT FOR THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH STUDENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE OR SHE BRINGS TO OUR SETTING. WE BELIEVE THAT WHILE LEARNING IS A SERIOUS MATTER, IT CAN ALSO BE FUN AND RELEVANT TO THE STUDENTS' INTERESTS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING STUDENTS AS THINKERS, PROBLEM-SOLVERS, & PARTNERS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.THE PROGRAM:THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED TO OFFER A CONTINUUM OF ACADEMIC SETTINGS, RANGING FROM A ONE-TO-ONE STRUCTURE TO SELF CONTAINED CLASSES.SCHOOL-WIDE CONFLICT RESOLUTION BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:ASELTINE SCHOOL PRIDES ITSELF ON PROGRAMS WHICH WORK CREATIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONFLICT. WE STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND, SUPPORT, & VALIDATE OUR STUDENTS' ATTEMPTS AT COPING WITH LIFE'S/SCHOOLING'S DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES & DEMANDS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT FACING UP TO LIFE'S DEMANDS IS NOT AN EASY TASK AT ANY AGE.OUR PROGRAM CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND, & OVERCOME THE VARIOUS CONFLICTS THEY HAVE WITH PEOPLE, CIRCUMSTANCES AND/OR WITHIN THEMSELVES. WE HAVE A STRONG BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EACH STUDENT. WE BELIEVE THAT EACH STUDENT HAS IT WITHIN HIM OR HERSELF TO RESPOND TO LIFE'S MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN A THOUGHTFUL, SELF-DISCIPLINED, & RESPONSIBLE MANNER.THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION, STUDENTS DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS, PERSONAL & SOCIAL COPING SKILLS. AS SCHOOL PERFORMANCE IMPROVES, STUDENTS DEVELOP ENHANCED SELF-ESTEEM, WHICH LEADS TO PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT. WE SEEK TO WORK WITH EMPOWERED STUDENTS--STUDENTS WHO WORK WITH US AS FULL PARTNERS WHILE THEY BEGIN TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE CONTROL OVER THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES & THEIR EDUCATION.
- TRANSITION SERVICE:WHEN A STUDENT HAS MET THE CRITERIA FOR A TRANSITION TO A LESS RESTRICTIVE SETTING, HE OR SHE MAY CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF OPTIONS. THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC SCHOOL, COLLEGE, EMPLOYMENT & VOCATIONAL TRAINING. WE WORK WITH STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES & EMPLOYERS, TO SUPPORT A STUDENT'S TRANSITION TO A LESS RESTRICTIVE EDUCATIONAL/COMMUNITY-BASED SETTING.SUPPORT SERVICES:A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES:COUNSELING:STUDENT-CENTERED COUNSELING IS SITUATIONAL--BASED ON EMERGENT STUDENT NEEDS & CIRCUMSTANCES. SELF-AWARENESS, RESPONSIBILITY, EMPOWERMENT, PROBLEM-SOLVING & THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL & SOCIAL SKILLS ARE EMPHASIZED.SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPYOCCUPATIONAL THERAPYAFTER SCHOOL/OUTREACH PROGRAMTRANSPORTATION:TRANSPORTATION IS GENERALLY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ASELTINE SCHOOL MAY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS WHO MISS THEIR BUSES, FOR STUDENTS IN TRANSITION & FOR SOME STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE ONTREACH PROGRAM.ACTIVITIES:ASELTINE SCHOOL OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO MEET INDIVIDUAL STUDENT INTERESTS & TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES IN TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY & SOCIAL SKILLS.COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION:WE ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE & PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE OUTINGS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM.ALL-SCHOOL EVENTS:THE CELEBRATION OF STUDENT INTERESTS, GROWTH & PROGRESS BRING US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.PROBLEM-SOLVING EVENTS:SCIENCE-BASED PROBLEM SOLVING COMPETITIONS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP TEAMWORK, SELF-DISCIPLINE, ORGANIZATIONAL & SOCIAL SKILLS.FINE ARTS:ART, CULINARY ART, AND MUSIC OFFER DYNAMIC WAYS TO COMMUNICATE CONCEPTS STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE CURRICULUM.STUDENT STORE:STUDENTS LEARN IMPORTANT VOCATIONAL SKILLS WHILE OPERATING A STUDENT STORE.EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (SUMMER SCHOOL):PRE-VOCATIONAL & CONSUMER SKILLS ARE EMPHASIZED IN OUR CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARNING MONEY.SPORTS/ATHLETICS:STUDENTS MAY PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.OUTDOOR EDUCATION
- OUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT LISTS 36 EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED STUDENTS WHO WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AT THEIR FORMER PLACEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC ARENA.THE STAFF IS COMPRISED OF:2 ADMINISTRATORS3 TEACHERS12 TEACHERS AIDES5 SUPPORT PERSONNEL (4 OF WHOM INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS)2 PART-TIME SPEECH/LANGUAGE THERAPISTS1 PART-TIME O.T.1 COUNSELOR1 PART-TIME MARKETING/DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR1 CUSTODIAN
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1968.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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