CHIME Institute

Name

CHIME Institute

Legal name

CHIME Institute

Website

https://chimeinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive K-12 and Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Inclusive / Co-Taught Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusive Preschools (Special Needs Integrated) (EDACABAI), Inclusive / Special-Needs Childcare Centers (EDACAAAH), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB)

Keywords

• Inclusive education
• Charter school
• Early childhood education
• Special education services
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding: As a public charter school authorized by LAUSD, CHIME receives per-pupil funding from the district based on average daily attendance. Schools are funded per student, per day in California.
2. LAUSD Contract for Early Education: The CHIME Institute Preschool Inclusion Program is certified by the California Department of Education as a Nonpublic Agency (NPA) and contracts with LAUSD for special education services.
3. Donations and Grants: Individual donations, corporate matching gifts, foundation grants, planned giving/bequests, and corporate and foundation partnerships support the organization. The organization also hosts fundraising events including an Annual Gala, Golf Tournament, Pickleball Tournament, and CHIME-o-Ween community event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CHIME Institute operates an inclusive education model spanning children from birth through 8th grade, including center- and home-based Infant and Toddler early intervention services (birth to age 3), a Preschool Inclusion Program (ages 3-4) at CSUN, and a tuition-free TK-8 public charter school (Schwarzenegger Community School) where typically developing children, children with disabilities, and gifted students learn side-by-side. Supporting offerings include CHIME PD professional development services, afterschool programs, athletics, and a teacher residency program.

Product overview

CHIME Institute is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of inclusive education programs spanning early childhood development through middle school. The core offerings include: the Infant and Toddler Program (birth to age 3) providing center- and home-based early intervention services; the Preschool Inclusion Program (ages 3-4) at CSUN; and CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School, a TK-8 public charter school serving approximately 635 students. Supporting these core programs are CHIME PD (professional development services for educator training), afterschool and extended learning programs, athletics, and a teacher residency program. The distinguishing feature across all programs is the inclusive education model where typically developing children, children with disabilities, and gifted students learn together side-by-side.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHIME PD: Professional development services providing resources, training, and ongoing support to help schools create a culture of inclusion.
• CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School

Products and services

• Infant and Toddler Program Center- and home-based early intervention services for children from birth to 3 years of age who are at risk for or have existing developmental problems, with multidisciplinary team of specialists. Operated since 1991.
• Preschool Inclusion Program Multidisciplinary, developmentally appropriate program providing special education services and support for inclusion in general education settings at the CSUN Child and Family Studies Center for children ages 3 to 4. Certified by California Department of Education as a Nonpublic Agency (NPA) and contracts with LAUSD for special education services.
• CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School (TK-8 Charter School) Independent tuition-free public charter school (TK-8) authorized by LAUSD, serving approximately 635 students with an inclusive model where typically developing children, children with special needs, and gifted students learn side-by-side. Operated on 6.51-acre campus with 31 classrooms in Woodland Hills. Admission by lottery.
• CHIME PD (Professional Development) Professional development and training services for educators and schools seeking to create inclusive environments. Includes Creating Inclusive Environments 2-day workshops with classroom observations, Train the Trainers program, and paraprofessional training.
• Afterschool Program After-school and extended learning opportunities including homework club and extended learning camp for TK-8 students. Financial assistance available through ELOP funding for qualifying families.
• Athletics Enrichment Program Competitive after-school sports program for students in grades 4th-8th competing against neighboring schools, focusing on sports-specific skills, strategies, fitness, and sportsmanship.
• Teacher Residency Program Teacher training program providing university students and aspiring educators with observation, fieldwork, and student teaching placements across CHIME programs, in partnership with CSUN.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only California charter school to win California Charter School of the Year twice (2004, 2016)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• California State University, Northridge (CSUN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIME's affiliation with CSUN provides leadership resources for programs and the Institute, allows pursuit of its mission as leader in professional development for the education community, and provides a research laboratory. CSUN helps with development, fundraising, and public relations support. All CHIME Programs are identified as clinical sites for experiences in observation, fieldwork and student teaching. In past nine years, more than 400 CSUN students completed assignments at CHIME.
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest school administrations in the nation, LAUSD has been affiliated with CHIME since inception in 1990. LAUSD is a partner in the CHIME Preschool program and the authorizer of CHIME Charter Schools. CHIME and LAUSD faculty have shared professional development and worked together to advocate for and support the CHIME inclusion model.
• Michael D. Eisner College of Education at CSUNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a professional school, the College of Education promotes reflection, critical thinking, and excellence in teaching through interdisciplinary studies in an inclusive learning community.
• Child and Family Studies Center (CFSC) at CSUNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn instructional unit of the CSUN Family Consumer Science Department committed to fostering continued growth and development of the whole child. A study and research organization accredited by NAEYC and licensed by California Department of Social Services. Has collaborated with CHIME Preschool Inclusion Program since 1990.
• Center for Teaching and Learning at CSUNmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center's mission is to keep CSUN at the forefront of cutting edge innovations in preparing teachers, educational administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, and other school-related personnel.
• Schools Attuned / All Kinds of MindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA comprehensive professional development and service delivery program offering educators new methods for recognizing, understanding, and managing students with differences in learning. CHIME faculty and students have been beneficiaries of extensive training in these methodologies pioneered by Dr. Mel Levine.
• California Charter Schools AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with CHIME to increase student achievement by supporting and expanding California's quality public, charter schools movement.
• California Charter Schools Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe goal of the partnership is to help public education change from a highly regulated, process-based system to one that allows and encourages schools to be more creative, performance-based centers of effective teaching and learning. The Center provides technical assistance to the charter school reform movement in California, nationally, and internationally.
• CSUN Family Focus Resources and Empowerment CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn informational, referral, supportive and educational organization serving families of infants with or at-risk for developmental delays, children and adults with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools (NCSECS): National organization advancing inclusive special education within charter schools. Comparable to CHIME as the most direct peer in the inclusive charter education space, though NCSECS is an advocacy and research organization rather than a school operator.
• Aspire Public Schools: California-headquartered charter school network operating TK-12 public charter schools. Comparable to CHIME as a tuition-free California charter serving similar age groups, though Aspire operates a much larger multi-state network with a college-prep focus rather than inclusive education.
• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: LA-based charter school network serving K-12 students. Comparable to CHIME as a California charter school operator serving similar demographics, though Alliance operates a much larger network with a less specialized focus on inclusive special education.
• Green Dot Public Schools: Los Angeles-based charter school operator. Comparable to CHIME as a nonprofit LAUSD-area charter school operator, though Green Dot operates a much larger network with a broader college-prep focus.
• KIPP Public Schools: National charter school network operating tuition-free public schools. Comparable to CHIME as a charter school operator, though KIPP's scale is dramatically larger and its focus is on college preparation rather than inclusive special education.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large-scale provider of early childhood education and childcare centers. Comparable to CHIME's infant, toddler, and preschool programs in the early childhood care space, though Bright Horizons is a for-profit, much larger organization without the inclusive special education specialization.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: National provider of early childhood education and childcare services. Comparable to CHIME's early childhood programs in serving similar age groups, though KinderCare is a much larger for-profit operator without an inclusive special education model.

Emerging players

• CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology): Nonprofit educational research and development organization that promotes inclusive education and Universal Design for Learning. Comparable to CHIME in advocating for inclusive instructional practices, with overlapping research-to-practice work in special education and accessibility.
• Learning Forward: National professional learning association for educators, providing training and consulting services. Comparable to CHIME PD in the educator professional development space, though Learning Forward focuses on general professional learning rather than specialized inclusion training.
• Inclusive Schools Network (ISN): National network supporting the development and implementation of inclusive educational practices. Comparable to CHIME Institute in mission and inclusive education philosophy, operating as an advocacy and resource network rather than a single school operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 CHIME Institute