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Early School

EIN 99-0155064 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE YOUNG CHILDREN IN HAWAI'I EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLAY, EXPLORATION, AND CONNECTION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
34
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$88,415, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $794,514 spent. THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM (FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5 YEARS OLD) UTILIZES AN EMERGENT CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS AS SET FORTH BY THE HAWAII EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. IT EMPHASIZES EXPLORATION, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND EMBRACING THE NATURAL AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT. WITH A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 45 STUDENTS AND MAINTAINING A TOTAL OF 10 STAFF MEMBERS, THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VERY LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS. THE PROGRAM USES A COLLABORATIVE STYLE OF MANAGEMENT WHICH ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION AT MONTHS OF A CALENDAR YEAR WITH DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS. THROUGH TUITION AND FEES REVENUE (APPROXIMATELY 18,480 PER STUDENT ANNUALLY) THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND RECRUIT A QUALIFIED TEACHING STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION.
  2. $418,833 spent. THE YOUNG CHILDREN'S PROGRAM (FOR CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS OLD) UTILIZES AN EMERGENT CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS AS SET FORTH BY THE HAWAII EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. IT EMPHASIZES EXPLORATION, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND EMBRACING THE NATURAL AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT. WITH A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 20 STUDENTS AND MAINTAINING A TOTAL OF 8 STAFF MEMBERS, THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VERY LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS. THE PROGRAM USES A COLLABORATIVE STYLE OF MANAGEMENT WHICH ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION AT VARIOUS LEVELS FROM FAMILIES, STAFF MEMBERS, AND INTERESTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LARGER COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OPERATES ALL 12-MONTHS OF A CALENDAR YEAR WITH DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS. THROUGH TUITION AND FEES REVENUE (APPROXIMATELY 21,516 PER STUDENT ANNUALLY), THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND RECRUIT A QUALIFIED TEACHING STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION. THE YOUNG CHILDREN'S PROGRAM (FOR CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS OLD) UTILIZES AN EMERGENT CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS AS SET FORTH BY THE HAWAII EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. IT EMPHASIZES EXPLORATION, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND EMBRACING THE NATURAL AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT. WITH A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 20 STUDENTS AND MAINTAINING A TOTAL OF 8 STAFF MEMBERS, THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VERY LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS. THE PROGRAM USES A COLLABORATIVE STYLE OF MANAGEMENT WHICH ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION AT VARIOUS LEVELS FROM FAMILIES, STAFF MEMBERS, AND INTERESTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LARGER COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OPERATES ALL 12-MONTHS OF A CALENDAR YEAR WITH DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS. THROUGH TUITION AND FEES REVENUE (APPROXIMATELY 21,516 PER STUDENT ANNUALLY), THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND RECRUIT A QUALIFIED TEACHING STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.