2017-11-07T15:22:54-06:00 2016-12-31 251031405 MCGILL POWER BELL & ASSOCIATES LLP 10 Woodland Center Drive Grove City PA 16127 990 2016-01-01 300254325 A Schools Pittsburgh's Community Alliance for Public Education ASCH 4126971298 1901 Centre Avenue No 302 Pittsburgh PA 15219 James Fogarty Executive Director 4126971298 2017-11-07 1 Susan M Cyphert P00073864 7244587490 24.239.59.10 2017-11-07 15:06:05 ES P DA39A3EE5E6B4B0D3255BFEF95601890AFD80709 C373598616133323C8D28968F11F98C223D0FE99 2016 2018-03-14 21:41:22Z James Fogarty 1901 Centre Avenue No 302 Pittsburgh PA 15219 585084 0 X www.aplusschools.org X 2004 PA To focus our community's energy on improving student performance in the Pittsburgh public schools. 18 18 13 236 0 0 2002084 582232 0 0 828 723 1932 2129 2004844 585084 0 0 0 0 801058 785623 0 0 97794 695837 774509 1496895 1560132 507949 -975048 2915227 1918026 75551 99914 2839676 1818112 X To focus our community's energy on improving student performance in the Pittsburgh public schools. 0 0 700689 4a. Engagement: A+ Schools sustains three key networks - students (Teen Bloc), Parents (Parent Nation), and community organizations (Partners for Equity and Excellence). These networks are integral to working for equitable and excellent public schools. 4a-a. Teen Bloc: Teen Bloc is a youth leadership development and organizing program that supports a core group of local high school students from across the City. Teen Bloc led a Student Bill of Rights Campaign in 2013-14 that resulted in the successful adoption of the Bill of Rights into the District's Student Code of Conduct. Since that time, the youth program has become a more central piece to the work of the Organization spurring the focus on advocating for alternatives to exclusionary discipline such as restorative practices. 4a-b. Parent Nation & School Teams: Parent Nation is a city wide network of parent leaders from more than 27 schools and who are committed to educational equity and excellence. Parent Nation meets monthly to share the work at individual schools, to learn skills and knowledge and has coalesced around an agenda to improve school climates in support of great teaching. A+ Schools builds and supports school teams at high needs schools. Parent leaders are identified, supported and coached to lead a parent team that works on issues that improve teaching and learning environments in the schools. In 2016, A+ Schools supported nine school teams and a Latino Parents United for Action group that made important improvements in schools and across the district. For example, PPS now has a multilingual parent hotline and website, kindergarteners and first graders in Homewood have needed teachers, Sheridan students have bus transportation, and Brighton Heights students have a crossing guard and a safe route to school because A+ Schools organized and supported parents to advocate for their children and secure these changes. 4a-c. Parent Led Programs: In a subset of Parent Nation School Teams, parents have designed a program aimed at improving a specific indicator of school climate. Parent led programs have resources to support parent volunteer stipends and program costs associated with the intervention that parents have designed. 4a-d. Partners for Equity & Excellence and General Engagement: A+ Schools convenes organizations committed to educational equity and excellence on a monthly basis to discuss and engage with issues important for students in Pittsburgh Public Schools.4a-e. Restorative Practices: In 2016, A+ Schools engaged parents and students at six sites in trainings and workshops to educate them about a set of tools, beliefs, and exercises collectively known as "restorative practices." Through this work, over 250 people received introductory training on restorative practices, 32 parents and students received intense training, and parents and students participated in meaningful ways in their school's implementation of restorative practices at five schools. 242500 4b. Communications & Publications4b-a. Report to the Community: The organization publishes an annual Report to the Community on Public School progress that details progress on key indicators of academic performance for the Pittsburgh Public Schools as a whole as well as individual schools within the district. Copies of the report are distributed to more than 60,000, including 30,000 mailed directly to Pittsburgh Public School households and households with children under five. The Organization's staff presents workshops on using the report to schools, parent groups and community groups. The Report to the Community has become a trusted source of information about Pittsburgh Public Schools for parents, school staff and policy makers. 4b-b. Research Briefs: Periodically, the Organization will publish issue specific information to provide the public with greater understanding of a critical issue in education. In 2016, A+ Schools published a brief related to the rollout of training and support for Restorative Practices in Pittsburgh Public Schools. 191095 Public Affairs/Mobilization: In 2016, the Organizations' public affairs and mobilization priorities included the Campaign for Fair Education Funding and great teaching reforms. S.R. Wojdak and Associates was engaged to help the Organization build relationships with key legislators and departments in State government as well as to monitor budget and teaching priorities. 163756 Excellent Schools Pittsburgh: In 2015 and 2016, A+ Schools hosted this independent project focused on creating a broad education ecosystem in Pittsburgh and examining what is needed to increase the number of excellent schools, especially for low-income students of color. 30266 Programa. Board Watch: The Organization's signature Board Watch program is a grassroots effort involving trained volunteers who observe the Pittsburgh School Board meetings using standards of good governance. The program was piloted in 2008 and launched in January 2009. Since then over 150 volunteers have been trained and mobilized to observe and evaluate Pittsburgh Public School Board meetings. Twenty one Board Watch report cards have been released, each with a set of recommendations about how the board can improve its governance. The School Board has implemented or addressed nine out of twelve recommendations (75%) resulting in slightly improved volunteer evaluations of school board governance.b. School Works: Through School Works community action research, A+ Schools has trained and mobilized more than 500 volunteers over the past six years to interview principals, guidance counselors, teachers and voters. The information has been collected and analyzed and used to engage more than 750 community members in developing and monitoring our equity priorities teaching, resources, opportunities, and supports for students. In late 2016, A+ Schools began interviewing/polling city voters to determine their opinions and priorities regarding Pittsburgh Public Schools in order to establish school board election education efforts to be conducted before the May 2017 election. 194022 1328306 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 34 0 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 18 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 PA X James Fogarty 4126971298 1901 CENTRE AVENUE PITTSBURGH PA 15219 Tracey Reed Armant Chair 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Dewitt Walton Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Chelsa Wagner Treasurer 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Allyson Lowe Secretary 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Gregg Behr Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Kenya Boswell Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Jackie Dandridge Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Amanda Godley Vice-Chair 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Brenda Gregg Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Robert James Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Ron Lawrence Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Dan Mahon Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 McCrae Martino Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Cate Reed Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Sabrina Saunders Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Fred Thieman Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Tom Vankirk Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 LEIGH HALVERSON BOARd Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 JAMES FOGARTY Executive Director 40.00 X 40436 0 2272 CAREY HARRIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 66946 0 11515 107382 0 13787 0 0 0 0 BRIAN SMITH 5302 WESTMINSTER PLACE PITTSBURGH PA 15232 CONSULTING SERVICES 150000 1 582232 582232 723 723 Other Income 561300 2129 2129 2129 585084 2129 0 723 X 107382 96644 7517 3221 523659 430490 65219 27950 21719 19131 1811 777 73735 50635 16170 6930 59128 49196 6952 2980 9945 8354 1114 477 20162 17038 2187 937 292905 247797 16072 29036 2804 2417 271 116 53403 43051 7059 3293 8539 7247 904 388 46448 39016 5202 2230 54040 53105 632 303 6230 5233 698 299 2972 2080 892 Parent Led 100290 100290 Communications and publ 72083 72083 Events 31568 14153 17415 hospitality 29879 29777 71 31 43241 42649 73 519 1560132 1328306 134032 97794 1604860 1098248 351533 351645 932172 452502 12013 7212 60734 52315 14649 8419 2915227 1918026 75551 99914 75551 99914 X 681898 1050556 2157778 767556 2839676 1818112 2915227 1918026 X -975048 -46516 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 948110 2602189 1295202 2002084 582232 7429817 948110 2602189 1295202 2002084 582232 7429817 7429817 274 472 723 828 723 3020 5270 2823 1932 2129 12154 7444991 0.99800 0.99830 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28368 21331 7037 32366 30984 1382 8419 X 585084 0 585084 0 585084 1606648 46516 46516 1560132 0 1560132 Part X, Line 2: The Organization qualifies as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, income tax expense is limited to activities that are deemed by the Internal Revenue Service to be unrelated to their exempt purpose. Interest and penalties related to income tax reporting are recognized when incurred and are included in administrative and general expenses on the Statement of Activities. Management has determined the Organization had no activities subject to unrelated business income tax (UBIT) during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Organization has not been subject to any income tax penalties or interest for all open years. The open tax periods for the Organization are 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 fiscal year ends. ears ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: RETURN OF GRANT MONIES 46,516. PART X, LINE 2 The Organization qualifies as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, income tax expense is limited to activities that are deemed by the Internal Revenue Service to be unrelated to their exempt purpose. Interest and penalties related to income tax reporting are recognized when incurred and are included in administrative and general expenses on the Statement of Activities. Management has determined the Organization had no activities subject to unrelated business income tax (UBIT) during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Organization has not been subject to any income tax penalties or interest for all open years. The open tax periods for the Organization are 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 fiscal year ends. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The independent auditors will present the Form 990 in progress to the Board of Directors for their review and approval. The Board of Directors will review the Form 990 in progress as well as final draft for approval. The final Form 990 is provided to the Board of Directors before filing the return. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Each member of the board of directors, each officer and each member of senior management must complete an annual disclosure statement reflecting his or her interests. The executive director (in consultation with board leadership, as appropriate) is responsible for reviewing the disclosure statements so that he or she is familiar with and can report actual or potential conflicts of interest. In addition, each Individual board member, officer or member of senior management is personally responsible for disclosing his/her actual or potential conflicts, and for bringing attention to actual or potential conflicts of other officers, members of senior management or other board members at the time the Corporation is considering a transaction that may involve a conflict or appearance of a conflict. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a The salary recommendation of the executive director was prepared by the search committee in September 2016. It was presented and approved by the executive committee of the board of directors in October 2016. The executive director's salary recommendation was based on the following four items: 1) Superb job performance, 2) A review of the 2015 Wage and Benefit Survey of Southwestern Pennsylvania Nonprofit Organizations conducted by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University for the United Way of Allegheny County, 3) It is in the organization's best interest to keep James at a reasonable salary level, and 4) This salary level is affordable for the organization. No changes have been made since James was appointed as Executive Director on October 4, 2016. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 Governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available for public inspection upon request by contacting the organization. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Consulting Fees - Planning & Analysis: Program service expenses 217,987. Management and general expenses 16,072. Fundraising expenses 25,388. Total expenses 259,447. Consulting Fees - Communications: Program service expenses 29,810. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 29,810. Consulting Fees - Fundraising: Program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 3,648. Total expenses 3,648. Form 990, Part XI, line 9: Return of Grant monies -46,516. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c: THE PROCESS DID NOT CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR