2011-08-15T10:27:42-05:00 2011-06-30 KENDALL PREBOLA AND JONES CPAS PO BOX 259 BEDFORD PA 155220259 990 2010-07-01 522085368 LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE LEAR 2022965220 4455 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW NO 310 WASHINGTON DC 20008 CHERYL WILLIAMS 2022965220 2011-08-15 1 RICHARD M JONES CPA 8146231880 2011-08-15 X 2010 2016-02-24 21:20:13Z CHERYL WILLIAMS 4455 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW NO 310 WASHINGTON DC 20008 354458 0 X WWW.LEARNINGFIRST.ORG X 1997 DC THE LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE (LFA) AND ITS 17 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS COMMIT TO ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT EXHIBIT WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS AND PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS A PATH TO SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP. 17 17 5 40 0 0 292647 352182 667 798 1181 1478 0 0 294495 354458 0 0 0 0 264829 246927 0 0 6114 68666 100202 333495 347129 -39000 7329 587827 564392 179155 148391 408672 416001 X THE LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE (LFA) AND ITS 17 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS COMMIT TO ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT EXHIBIT WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS AND PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS A PATH TO SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.LFA HARNESSES THE INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC CAPACITIES OF 17 NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY AND STATE LEADERS TO ENGAGE DIVERSE ADVOCATES READY TO AFFIRM, FUND AND IMPLEMENT EFFORTS THAT PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE, SYSTEMIC EDUCATION CHANGE. 0 0 222600 798 PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVESSTUDENT ACHIEVEMENTOVER THE PAST DECADE, THE ALLIANCE HAS DEVELOPED A SERIES OF IMPORTANT CONSENSUS DOCUMENTS INTENDED TO RALLY LFAS CONSTITUENCIES AROUND COMMON STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING: EVERY CHILD READING: AN ACTION PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR AN END TO THE READING WARS; EVERY CHILD READING: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDE, WHICH LAYS OUT WHAT TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW AND BE ABLE TO DO IN EARLY READING; EVERY CHILD MATHEMATICALLY PROFICIENT: AN ACTION PLAN, WHICH CALL FOR EVERY CHILD TO MASTER INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY BY THE END OF 9TH GRADE; EVERY CHILD LEARNING: SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS, WHICH OUTLINES THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF BUILDING POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS; BEYOND ISLANDS OF EXCELLENCE, A MAJOR STUDY OF DISTRICT-WIDE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES; AND A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: STAFFING ALL HIGH-POVERTY, LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS WITH EFFECTIVE TEACHERS AND LEADERS, WHICH OFFERS A COMMON FRAMEWORK FOR ENSURING POOR AND MINORITY STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE BEST TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS. THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE INFLUENCED THE POLICIES, TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES OF LFAS STATE ALLIANCES, ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AFFILIATES, AND BEEN USED BY STATE AND DISTRICT COALITIONS AND COLLABORATIVES IN THEIR EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS. FEDERAL POLICYWHILE LFA RARELY ENGAGES IN ANY LOBBYING OR ADVOCACY RELATING TO SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES EFFORTS TO CONNECT ITSELF AND ITS MEMBERS TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. LFA HAS ALSO BEGUN TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. OUR TIES TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO GROW. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE LFA BOARD HAS MET WITH THE OBAMA TRANSITION TEAM; SECRETARY DUNCAN; DUNCANS EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVISOR BARBARA BOWMAN; ASSISTANT DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE OFFICE OF SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS KEVIN JENNINGS; ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION THELMA MELNDEZ DE SANTA ANA; DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES JOHN Q. EASTON AND OTHER DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS. THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HAS HELD A CANDID DISCUSSION WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, EVALUATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT CARMEL MARTIN. STATE ALLIANCE LEADERS HELD A CANDID DISCUSSION WITH DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MICHAEL YUDIN.COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTSBUILDING ON INPUT FROM LFAS NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERSHIP AND THE RESULTS OF THE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH LFA UNDERTOOK BETWEEN 2003 AND 2005, IN FY2007 LFA LAUNCHED A COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO HELP ITS LEADERS PROMOTE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE NATIONAL DEBATE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM. THE ALLIANCE CREATED A WEBSITE, WWW.PUBLICSCHOOLINSIGHTS.ORG, AS A MAJOR COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE TO PROMOTE THIS STRATEGY. WITHOUT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO CURRENT PROBLEMS IN THE NATIONS EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE ALLIANCE WORKED WITH ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, STATE ALLIANCES AND OTHER EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS TO GATHER AND DISSEMINATE COMPELLING STORIES ABOUT INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS.STATE ALLIANCESLFA MAINTAINS A NETWORK OF STATE-LEVEL ALLIANCES THAT ROUGHLY MIRROR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE IN COMPOSITION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY THIRTEEN STATE ALLIANCES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, KANSAS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, WEST VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON. THESE ALLIANCES OF MAJOR EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN STATES PUT ASIDE ISSUES THAT DIVIDE THEIR MEMBERS AND FOCUS INSTEAD ON SHARED GOALS FOR IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING. THEY FIND COMMON GROUND AND DEVELOP COMMON MESSAGES. THEY COMBINE THEIR RESOURCES AND EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. THEY KEEP LFA ABREAST OF STATE-LEVEL ISSUES WHILE ENSURING THE RESONANCE OF LFAS WORK BEYOND THE BELTWAY. THEY CAN ALSO BOTH CREATE AND DISSEMINATE MATERIALS THAT EMERGE FROM LFAS COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE.PARTNERING WITH NON-LFA ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE LFA PRIORITIESPARTNERING WITH NON-LFA ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE LFA PRIORITIES HAS BECOME AN AREA OF HIGH PRIORITY. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF A JUNE 2010 JOINT LFA/KNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE FORUM ON THE CHALLENGES OF USING EVIDENCE IN EDUCATION PRACTICE AND POLICYMAKING HELD ON CAPITOL HILL, LFA AND THE KNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE HOSTED A JOINT BOARD DINNER IN WASHINGTON, DC, ALLOWING THE BOARDS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT WITH NEW ORGANIZATIONS AND DISCUSS HOW THEY MIGHT WORK TOGETHER. LFA AND THE KNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES FOR JOINT WORK IN AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROFESSIONAL LEARNING HAS ALSO EMERGED AS A HIGH-PRIORITY AREA FOR LFA. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE BOARD MEETINGS, WHICH FEATURE INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PROMINENT OUTSIDE SPEAKERS WHO CAN ADDRESS BIG PICTURE MATTERS, OR WHO CAN ADDRESS EDUCATION ISSUES FROM NEW PERSPECTIVES. THEY ALSO FEATURE FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS IN WHICH BOARD EXECUTIVES SHARE INSIGHTS ON, AND STRATEGIES FOR, ADDRESSING SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF LEADING THEIR MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION. 21575 GOVERNANCETHE OPERATIONS OF THE ALLIANCE ARE GOVERNED BY ITS BOARD, COMPOSED OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SELECT SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS OF EACH ORGANIZATION, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST 6 TIMES EACH YEAR. ADVICE ON ITS STRATEGIC DIRECTION IS PROVIDED BY A LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, COMPOSED OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PRESIDENT AND UP TO 5 OTHER LEADERS OF EACH ORGANIZATION, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST ONCE EACH FISCAL YEAR. BOARD MEETINGS GIVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS PROJECTS THE ALLIANCE MIGHT UNDERTAKE, HEAR UPDATES ON PROJECTS ALREADY UNDERWAY, OVERSEE THE GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE ALLIANCE, AND SHARE INFORMATION ON THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS. THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETINGS ALLOW FOR INPUT INTO ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES FROM MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OFFICERS, WHO ARE PRACTITIONERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETINGS ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERT PRESENTATIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO THE ALLIANCE GOALS. IN ADDITION, THESE MEETINGS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISHING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG LEADERS OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, RELATIONSHIPS THAT ENABLE THE ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE BETTER COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION AMONG ITS MEMBERS. 244175 1 0 0 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 0 1 6 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 17 17 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X THE CORPORATION 2022965220 4455 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW SUITE WASHINGTON DC 20008 CLAUS E VON ZASTROW 40.00 X 68046 0 0 CHERYL SCOTT WILLIAMS 40.00 X 9503 0 0 MR RICHARD BAGIN APR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 DR WILLIAM BUSHAW 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MR DANIEL DOMENECH 2.00 X X 0 0 0 DR SHARON ROBINSON 2.00 X 0 0 0 MR DOUG GEPHART 2.00 X 0 0 0 MS ANTONIA CORTESE 2.00 X 0 0 0 MR JOHN MUSSO 2.00 X 0 0 0 MR RICHARD WONG 2.00 X 0 0 0 DON KNEZEK 2.00 X 0 0 0 MS STEPHANIE HIRSH 2.00 X 0 0 0 MS GAIL CONNELLY 2.00 X 0 0 0 MS BRENDA LILIENTHAL WELBURN 2.00 X 0 0 0 DR GERALD TIROZZI 2.00 X 0 0 0 MR JOHN WILSON 2.00 X 0 0 0 BETTY GREENE-BRYANT 2.00 X 0 0 0 DR ANNE BRYANT 2.00 X 0 0 0 MISHAELA DURAN 2.00 X 0 0 0 77549 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 349682 2500 352182 PUBLICATION SALES 900099 798 798 798 1478 1478 354458 798 0 1478 82569 73489 4128 4952 138767 79365 58978 424 5514 3153 2344 17 3382 1934 1438 10 16695 9549 7095 51 11333 967 10339 27 27302 27302 6490 5637 783 70 9605 8299 1199 107 19021 14187 4438 396 5198 4898 300 12868 12577 291 577 577 3108 3108 POSTAGE AND TELPHONE 3024 2293 671 60 BOOKS AND DUES 749 0 749 0 PRINTING 525 525 0 0 TEMPORARY HELP 250 0 250 0 BANK SERVICE CHARGES 152 0 152 0 347129 244175 96840 6114 579661 550376 292 3948 7874 7677 15842 13451 0 2391 587827 564392 16578 15657 162577 132734 179155 148391 X 408672 416001 408672 416001 587827 564392 7329 X 0 1 1 X 0 X 432430 431084 386930 292647 352182 1895273 116683 671 1094 667 798 119913 549113 431755 388024 293314 352980 2015186 0 0 0 2015186 31821 27056 11112 1181 1478 72648 31821 27056 11112 1181 1478 72648 580934 458811 399136 294495 354458 2087834 0.96520 0.95730 0.03480 0.04270 X 15842 13451 2391 2391 354458 347129 7329 0 7329 354458 0 354458 0 354458 347129 0 347129 0 347129 DESCRIPTION OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS UNDER FIN 48: PART X: IN JUNE 2006, THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) ISSUED FASB ASC NO. 740-10 [FORMERLY INTERPRETATION NO. 48 (FIN 48)], ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES, WHICH IS AN INTERPRETATION OF ASC 740'S (FORMERLY SFAS NO. 109), ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES. FASB ASC NO. 740-10 CLARIFIES THE ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES RECOGNIZED IN AN ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ASC 740'S AND PRESCRIBES A RECOGNITION THRESHOLD AND MEASUREMENT ATTRIBUTE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION AND MEASUREMENT OF A TAX POSITION TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN A TAX RETURN. FASB ASC NO. 740-10 REQUIRES THE EVALUATION OF TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN THE COURSE OF PREPARING THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX RETURN TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE TAX POSITIONS HAVE A "MORE-LIKELY-THAN-NOT" PROBABILITY OF BEING SUSTAINED BY THE APPLICABLE TAX AUTHORITY. TAX POSITIONS DEEMED TO MEET THE "MORE-LIKELY-THAN-NOT" THRESHOLD WOULD BE RECORDED AS A TAX BENEFIT OR EXPENSE IN THE CURRENT YEAR. FASB ASC NO. 740-10 ALSO PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON DE-RECOGNITION, CLASSIFICATION, INTEREST AND PENALTIES, ACCOUNTING IN INTERIM PERIODS, DISCLOSURE, AND TRANSITION. ANY CUMULATIVE EFFECT FROM THE CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE RESULTING FROM THE APPLICATION OF FASB ASC NO. 740-10 IS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADJUSTMENT TO OPENING NET ASSETS. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN, AND AS SUCH, DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 THE LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE IS AN UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP OF 17 LEADING EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING IN AMERICA'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. LFA LEVERAGES THE POWER OF ITS MEMBERS TO ELEVATE ALL AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS, AND TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP. THE 17 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ALLIANCE REPRESENT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO WORK IN AND FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVERY DAY - INCLUDING OUR NATION'S TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, PARENTS, TEACHER EDUCATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF. THE ALLIANCE REPRESENTS A SELF-INITIATED COMMITMENT BY ITS MEMBERS TO WORK IN CONCERT TO DELIVER COMMON MESSAGES TO ALL PARTS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND BEYOND, ALIGN PRIORITIES, SHARE AND DISSEMINATE SUCCESS STORIES, ARTICULATE THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AT EVERY LEVEL, AND WORK TOWARDS LONG-TERM SYSTEM CHANGE BASED ON SOLID RESEARCH. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 AFTER APPROVAL BY THE LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE (LFA) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE FORM 990 IS SUBMITTED TO THE LFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR ITS APPROVAL. AFTER RECEIVING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVAL, LFA'S FORM 990 IS FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY, EVERY LFA BOARD MEMBER SIGNS A FEDERAL FORM 990 BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE AS WELL AS A STATEMENT AFFIRMING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LFA CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND ADHERENCE TO THAT POLICY. A COPY OF THE POLICY AND BOARD MEMBER FORM ARE ATTACHED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE LFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT, MICHAEL USDAN, TO DIRECT THE PROCESS FOR SELECTION OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. MR. USDAN HAS A LONG CAREER IN EDUCATION NONPROFIT AND COMPILED INFORMATION ON SALARY DATA FOR SMALL EDUCATION NONPROFITS OF SIMILAR BUDGET SIZE. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION LEVEL WAS DETERMINED BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE BOARD AND LFA SEARCH COMMITTEE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. IN ADDITION, LFA WILL MAINTAIN ITS FORM 990 IN GUIDESTARS DATABASE OF INFORMATION ON NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.