Institute for the Redesign of Learning

What Institute for the Redesign of Learning does

The Institute for the Redesign of Learning (IRL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in South Pasadena, California, founded in 1974 by Nancy J. Lavelle, Ph.D. IRL operates a continuum of six programs serving individuals from infancy through adulthood—primarily children, youth, and adults with special needs in the greater Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley communities. The six programs are Almansor Academy (California Department of Education-certified non-public special education day school for grades K-22 with disabilities), Westmoreland Academy (WASC-accredited specialty school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders), Clinical Services (mental health services for ages 2-21 delivered at two clinics and 120+ public schools), Transition & Adult Services (CARF-accredited day and employment services for adults with developmental disabilities), Community Outreach Services (training, professional development, and research), and Early Childhood Education (infant through pre-kindergarten at the Almansor Center in South Pasadena). The organization serves over 2,300 clients annually (one source references over 3,700), operates with 251-500 employees, and reports service capacity in seven languages (English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Armenian, Tagalog).

IRL's revenue model is a hybrid composed of three primary streams: (1) managed services contracts with government payors—Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), Medi-Cal, and County General Funds via the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, plus California Department of Rehabilitation and Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center contracts for adult and employment services; (2) tiered monthly tuition for Early Childhood Education programs (e.g., $1,652-$2,152/month full-time, plus registration/waiting list fees); and (3) charitable donations and corporate sponsorships, including the annual Empowering All Abilities Run/Walk fundraiser. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization's principal intellectual property is the registered Taking Charge® methodology, an authored linguistic coaching and life-planning framework for educators working with special needs and at-risk youth, offered in part through UCLA Extension. Distribution is direct service delivery across schools, clinics, and community sites.

Headquartered at 99 Pasadena Ave., Suite 10C, South Pasadena, IRL maintains six physical locations across South Pasadena, Pasadena, and Commerce, California. The organization faces material continuity risk from the January 2025 Close Fire in Altadena, which forced full closure of Pasadena and South Pasadena sites including Almansor Academy, Westmoreland Academy, and South Pasadena Clinical Services. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the entity holds California non-profit status under EIN 95-2904053, is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by the founder, with Meaghan Donahue serving as President/CEO.

Name

Institute for the Redesign of Learning

Legal name

The Institute for the Redesign of Learning

Website

https://redesignlearning.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Institute for the Redesign of Learning is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in South Pasadena, California, operating six programs that deliver a continuum of special education, mental health, early childhood, and adult transition services to individuals with disabilities across the greater Los Angeles region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Disability Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Mental health services
• Autism education programs
• Early childhood education
• Vocational rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts - Mental Health Services: IRL is a contract provider within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Funding sources include Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), Medi-Cal, and County General Funds for clinical mental health services.
2. Department of Rehabilitation Contracts: Transition & Adult Services (TAS) contracts with the California Department of Rehabilitation and is vendored through the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center for employment services and day programs.
3. Educational Services Contracts: Almansor Academy partners with local districts, SELPAs, and charter schools to provide customized education and services as a California Department of Education certified non-public special education day school.
4. Early Childhood Education Tuition: Early Childhood Education Programs charge tuition for infant support, toddler, preschool, and pre-kindergarten programs with tiered pricing based on attendance days and full-time or part-time schedules.
5. Donations and Fundraising: The organization receives charitable donations from individuals and corporate sponsors, evidenced by events like the Empowering All Abilities Run/Walk fundraiser and corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Institute for the Redesign of Learning is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers special education, mental health, autism-focused schooling, early childhood education, vocational/adult transition services, and professional training through six integrated programs. Services span from infancy through adulthood for individuals with disabilities and special needs, primarily in the greater Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley communities, funded through government contracts (LA County DMH, CA DOR, regional centers), school district partnerships, ECE tuition, and charitable donations.

Product overview

The Institute for the Redesign of Learning is a non-profit organization offering a continuum of care through six distinct educational and therapeutic programs. Almansor Academy and Westmoreland Academy are certified non-public schools serving students with disabilities and autism. Clinical Services provides mental health support, Early Childhood Education offers developmental programs from infancy through pre-kindergarten, Transition & Adult Services delivers vocational training and supported employment, and Community Outreach provides professional development and research initiatives. All programs operate under the organization's philosophy of empowering individuals to take charge of their own learning and lives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Almansor Academy California Department of Education certified non-public special education day school serving individuals with disabilities that struggle with learning and/or emotional challenges, including Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD), Emotional Disturbance (ED), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Other Health Impairments (OHI). Serves Kindergarten through age 22 through partnerships with local districts, SELPAs, and charter schools.
• Westmoreland Academy Non-public specialty school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, offering individualized specialized curriculum, state-of-the-art motor/occupational therapy labs, assistive technologies, and a sensory room meeting California State Board of Education standards.
• Clinical Services Full array of mental health services for children, youth, and adults ages 2-21, including individual therapy, family therapy, case management, psychiatric evaluation, and medication support. Contract provider within Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health with funding from MHSA, Medi-Cal, and County General Funds. Field-based services at over 120 public schools.
• Community Outreach Services Training, professional development, and research grant participation as part of a comprehensive strategy towards agency improvement and individual needs, focused on early identification and intervention in special education and the development of evidence-based practices.
• Early Childhood Education Early childhood education programs from infant support through pre-kindergarten designed to foster social, physical, emotional, and intellectual growth and development, including Infant Support (Birth-23 months), Toddler Years (24-35 months), Preschool, and Pre-Kindergarten at the Almansor Center in South Pasadena with tiered tuition pricing.
• Transition & Adult Services (TAS) Personal and vocational skills training for youth and adults with developmental disabilities, emotional health, mental health issues, or dual diagnoses, including supported employment services and adult day programs. Accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and vendored through the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 2,300 children, students, and clients annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Los Angeles County Department of Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRL is a contract provider within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Funding sources include Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), Medi-Cal, and County General Funds for clinical mental health services for children, youth, and adults (ages 2-21).
• California Department of RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAS contracts with the California Department of Rehabilitation for direct employment services and vocational rehabilitation support for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Eastern Los Angeles Regional CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransition & Adult Services is vendored through the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center and serves clients from various Regional Centers throughout Los Angeles County.
• Local School Districts and SELPAscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlmansor Academy partners with local districts, SELPAs, and charter schools to provide customized education and services as a non-public special education day school.
• Foothill Autism AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestmoreland Academy partners with additional support service agencies including Foothill Autism Alliance, regional centers, local universities and colleges, and other qualified service providers.
• Pacific Oaks CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough current funding, eligible staff can earn a MA degree in Special Education from Pacific Oaks College and a Preliminary Mild-Moderate Credential through a grant funded by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
• UCLA ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Pinto serves as an adjunct instructor and linguistic coach for Taking Charge®, which is offered through UCLA Extension.
• First5LAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst5LA article highlights benefits of telehealth during COVID-19 and beyond, featuring IRL's family support programs.
• Pasadena Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPasadena Community Foundation provided funding for Westmoreland Academy's sensory room.
• Edison InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdison International provided funding for Westmoreland Academy's sensory room.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCKX8oXZGZ_nVq-0s57Oo8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/redesign.learning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-the-redesign-of-learning
• Instagraminstagram.com/redesign.learning

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries6 records

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 Institute for the Redesign of Learning