IT Takes A Village Family of Schools

What IT Takes A Village Family of Schools does

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAV) is a Chicago-based non-profit operating one of the few independent birth-to-career educational pathways in the United States. Founded in 2004 in Western Humboldt Park to serve 47 at-risk children, the organization now spans four locations — the original West Side Early Learning Center and Child Care Services, ITAV River City in the South Loop, and the newly opened ITAV Leadership Academy (VLA) campus in Bronzeville — providing infant/toddler care, preschool, K-8 social-justice education, and a workforce program for ages 16-24, with a planned high-school extension.

The organization's core academic product is Village Leadership Academy, a K-8 independent school built on proprietary social-justice curriculum frameworks (GRAPES, GrassRoots Campaigns, the World Scholars Program with international travel, and the Tabura Leadership Discipline), layered on conventional K-8 SIS infrastructure (Gradelink) and parent-communication tooling (Tadpoles). Adjacent products include Head Start / Early Head Start, Chicago Explorers Summer Camp, the PEL Prep Course, Illinois College Options, Liberated Voices literacy initiative, and The Village Votes civic engagement program. Technical differentiation is concentrated in curriculum IP rather than software; there is no proprietary AI/ML capability, and the technology stack is conventional educational SaaS.

ITAV's revenue model blends tuition (for K-8 and early-childhood care), government grants and contracts (DFSS Head Start, IDHS, Illinois State Board of Education, IYIP workforce funding), philanthropy (McCormick Foundation, Chicago Beyond, Allstate, individual donors), and capital from mission-driven lenders (IFF, Chicago Community Loan Fund) and tax-credit programs ($2.1M New Market Tax Credits). Go-to-market is community-driven: virtual info sessions twice weekly, monthly open houses, and word-of-mouth among a 20+ year parent community that includes more than 1,000 early-learning alumni. Strategic positioning targets low-to-moderate-income families in Chicago (92% of VLA students are low-income), with a differentiated value proposition built on culturally responsive education, family wraparound services, and long-horizon student outcomes.

Name

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools

Legal name

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools

Website

https://itavschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools is a Chicago non-profit operating a birth-to-career educational pathway with infant/toddler care, preschool, K-8 social-justice schooling, and youth workforce programs across four locations serving low-to-moderate-income Chicago families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Education

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Family Engagement & Home–School Partnership Programs (EDACALAB), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• K-8 private school
• Social justice curriculum
• Youth workforce training
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: ITAV LA charges tuition for kindergarten through 8th grade education, which includes before/after care, meals, field trips, supplies, and enrichment activities. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants are available to eligible families.
2. Early Childhood Care Fees: Fees for infant, toddler, and preschool programs at Early Learning Center and Child Care Services locations. Child care assistance applications available through state programs.
3. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from Chicago Department of Family Support Services (DFSS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education, and Head Start/Early Head Start programs for early childhood education services.
4. Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to support programs including Liberated Voices literacy initiatives and general operations.
5. Workforce Program Funding: Funding through Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) administered by IDHS for youth apprenticeship and workforce development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools operates a network of early childhood education programs (infant through preschool) and K-8 social-justice-centered elementary schools, alongside youth workforce development, college access, and family/community support services across multiple Chicago campuses serving children from birth through eighth grade.

Product overview

IT Takes A Village Family of Schools is a birth to eighth grade educational organization providing one of the few independent learning pathways in the country. The core offerings include ITAV Early Childhood (infant/toddler care at Early Learning Center, preschool at Child Care Services) and Village Leadership Academy (K-8 social justice school). Key programs include Chicago Explorers Summer Camp, Head Start/Early Head Start, World Scholars Program, GrassRoots Campaigns, and Family Services. Workforce development offerings include Early Childhood Workforce Program, Illinois College Options, and PEL Prep Course. The organization also runs civic engagement through The Village Votes and literacy initiatives through Liberated Voices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• World Scholars Program: A culturally immersive educational experience that expands students' education through critical examination and exploration of international communities, including educational trips to countries of study.
• GrassRoots Campaigns
• Liberated Voices: Reading is My Revolution
• The Village Votes
• Illinois College Options

Products and services

• Village Leadership Academy (VLA) An independent K-8 social-justice elementary school providing a culturally responsive, liberatory curriculum for Chicago-area families.
• ITAV Early Childhood Education (Infant & Toddler) Year-round infant and toddler care and early learning for children birth through age 3, offered across multiple Chicago locations.
• ITAV Child Care Services (Preschool) Preschool-age child care and early learning programs for 3-5 year olds using Creative Curriculum and other developmentally appropriate frameworks.
• ITAV River City A community-based campus providing early childhood education and family support programming on Chicago's South Side.
• ITAV Early Learning Center A dedicated early learning facility delivering preschool and pre-kindergarten programming to Chicago families.
• Head Start & Early Head Start Federally funded early childhood programming for income-eligible families, delivered through ITAV's licensed centers.
• Chicago Explorers Summer Camp School-year and summer enrichment programming that extends ITAV's social-justice curriculum into out-of-school time for K-8 students.
• World Scholars Program A college-access and global leadership preparation program supporting ITAV high school and post-secondary scholars.
• GrassRoots Campaigns An ITAV-developed social-action and community organizing curriculum taught to scholars at Village Leadership Academy.
• Tabura Leadership Discipline A culturally responsive leadership and discipline framework implemented across ITAV schools to support scholar behavior and social-emotional development.
• Early Childhood Workforce Program Career-pathway training placing Chicago residents into early-childhood educator roles within ITAV and partner sites.
• ITAV PEL Prep Course Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) preparation coursework supporting aspiring teachers in earning state certification.
• Illinois College Options College advising and selection support helping ITAV families and scholars identify and apply to Illinois post-secondary institutions.
• Family Services Wraparound supports including case management, resource navigation, and parent engagement for ITAV-enrolled families.
• The Village Votes Nonpartisan civic engagement programming that registers and mobilizes ITAV families and community members in local elections.
• Liberated Voices: Reading is My Revolution An ITAV literacy initiative and book resource program designed to center culturally affirming texts for scholars and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of VLA students are from low-income families, demonstrating reach to underserved communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DePaul University Speech & Language CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2021Partnership provides speech and language assessment and services for ITAV early learning students including preventive screenings, comprehensive evaluations, and therapy (individual and small group sessions). ITAV CEO Nakisha Hobbs serves on the DePaul SLP Community Advisory Board.
• Urban Tech AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides IT workforce training with certifications including Cisco, Google UX, and Google AI for ITAV youth workforce program participants.
• Deborah's PlaceminorOthersPartner in ITAV's Virtual Housing Summit, providing information about affordable housing programs for ITAV families seeking housing assistance.
• Here to Stay Community Land TrustminorOthersPartner in ITAV's Virtual Housing Summit addressing affordable housing including homeownership opportunities for ITAV families.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)minorOthersPartner in ITAV's Virtual Housing Summit providing federal housing resources and information for ITAV families.
• National Homebuyer AllianceminorOthersPartner in ITAV's Virtual Housing Summit helping families understand homeownership options and programs.
• Center for Education ReformminorOthersOrganization supporting educational reform and innovation in education, providing resources and advocacy for ITAV's educational approach.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KIPP Chicago Schools: KIPP Chicago operates a network of public charter schools serving primarily low-income Black and Latino students in Chicago's South and West Sides. It is a direct peer because both organizations serve similar demographics in the same neighborhoods with culturally responsive K-8 education models and outcome-driven college preparation missions.
• Noble Schools: Noble Schools operates 18+ charter campuses across Chicago serving a similar low-income, minority student population with a college-prep focus. It is comparable in scale, geography, and mission to ITAV's VLA K-8 program and represents direct competition for tuition-paying families in the Chicago private/charter market.
• Acero Schools: Acero Schools (formerly UNO Charter Schools) is a Chicago-based charter network serving predominantly Latino students on the West Side with bilingual K-12 education. Comparable to ITAV in geographic focus, student demographics, and cultural responsiveness mission, though with a stronger bilingual education emphasis.
• Legacy Charter School: Legacy Charter School operates a K-12 public charter in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood serving predominantly low-income Black and Latino students. Comparable to ITAV's VLA in mission, demographic focus, and culturally responsive pedagogy, operating in the same Chicago market.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Schools: Chicago Public Schools is the third-largest school district in the U.S. and ITAV's largest structural competitor. Although it serves a much broader student base and lacks ITAV's selective enrollment model, it competes for the same families seeking K-8 options in Bronzeville, South Loop, and Humboldt Park.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Bright Horizons is the largest U.S. provider of employer-sponsored childcare and early education, operating thousands of centers nationally. Comparable to ITAV's early childhood division in service offering, though at vastly greater scale and as a public company with employer-channel GTM rather than community-based enrollment.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: KinderCare operates the largest private early childhood education network in the U.S. with ~1,500 centers. Comparable to ITAV's preschool/child care services in offering and customer segment, but operates nationally at much larger scale with a corporate (PE-backed) ownership structure versus ITAV's non-profit model.
• Guidepost Montessori: Guidepost Montessori operates a large network of Montessori early childhood and elementary schools across the U.S. and internationally. Comparable to ITAV's private early childhood and elementary programming in customer profile and tuition-based model, though with a different pedagogical framework and broader geographic footprint.
• Primrose Schools Franchising Company: Primrose Schools is a national franchise system of ~470 private early childhood and elementary schools. Comparable to ITAV in offering premium, tuition-based early childhood and elementary education, though franchise-based versus non-profit and serving more affluent demographics nationally.

Emerging players

• Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development non-profit providing career training and credentialing to young adults ages 18-24. Comparable to ITAV's Pathways to Power youth workforce programs in mission (paid apprenticeships, credentialing, job placement) and target demographic (low-income youth of color), though operating at much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/itavschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/itavschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itavschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IT Takes A Village Family of Schools