Brightlane Learning

Inspiring Minds. Illuminating Futures.

aka SCHOOL ON WHEELS CORP   |   Indianapolis, IN   |  https://brightlanelearning.org/

Mission

Brightlane Learning transforms the lives of students impacted by homelessness and housing instability with personalized tutoring and academic support while advocating for their families as they navigate the educational system.

Ruling year info

2001

Founder and CEO

Sally Bindley

Main address

2955 N Meridian Suite 250

Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

35-2151003

NTEE code info

Educational Services and Schools - Other (B90)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Founded in 2001 by Sally Bindley, MSW, School on Wheels' tutoring and academic support services are developed specifically for students, grades K-12, who are currently experiencing homelessness or have in the past three years. In its first year, School on Wheels and its staff of two, along with 11 volunteers, tutored 50 children at two shelters partners. Since that time School on Wheels has grown to serve nearly 400 children each year at 24 partner sites with the help of over 440 volunteer tutors. School on Wheels provides school-based programs, shelter-based programs, and academic enrichment programs for children impacted by homelessness. Through each of our programs, we not only work with children, but with the parents of these children so they can become the best advocates for their child's education.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

School-based Programs

We work in partnership with schools to provide critical academic support on-site to address the unique educational needs of students impacted by homelessness.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Our tutoring and academic wraparound services strengthen the academic support system for children impacted by homelessness and empower parents to be educational advocates.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Parents

Academic enrichment opportunities are woven throughout our tutoring program, including It's a WRAP!, educational workshops and hands-on art, STEM and STEAM activities.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of participants who are promoted to the next grade on time

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Homeless people, Adolescents, Children, Preteens

Related Program

School-based Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

98% of students that received services through the duration of the school year were promoted to the next grade level

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Over 5,000 children in Marion County are homeless - staying in shelters, sharing a living space with other families or sleeping without a bed each night.
Homelessness is a traumatic experience that can negatively impact a child's emotional and physical well-being. Homeless children are vulnerable to depression, anxiety and delayed development, and are six times more likely than other children to be in poor health.
Since 2001, School on Wheels has been providing homeless children in Indianapolis with the educational tools and support necessary to achieve academic success.

Academic support is provided through one-on-one and small group tutoring as well as education-based case management for the entire family. This includes a critical focus on engaging the parents of students served in setting academic goals for their children, PreK preparation and enrollment, communicating with teachers and administration, keeping students and families engaged with their schools during periods of virtual learning, and participating in school activities. Studies indicate that programs that engage families in supporting their children’s learning at home are linked to higher student achievement.

Expansion efforts are focused on increasing service to high school students, expanding into new school locations with demonstrated need, and expanding staff and the hours of service at existing partner locations.

School on Wheels is uniquely positioned to address the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness.

Since its inception, School on Wheels has:

Provided tutoring at shelter and school locations throughout Marion County
Utilized over 4,800 community volunteers as tutors
Provided tutoring to 5,300 school-aged homeless children
Provided 73,000 hours of tutoring
Distributed 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to homeless children
Distributed 6,000 sets of school uniforms to homeless children
Empowered over 1,000 parents through thousands of support hours, including workshops, office hours, and facilitating communications with their children's teachers and school administration.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

Brightlane Learning
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Brightlane Learning

Board of directors
as of 09/26/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Erik Long

David Adams

Partner, Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP

Marisa Zukerman

VP, Brand Strategy, Z Marketing Partners

Crystal Haslett

McKinney-Vento Education Liaison, Metropolitan School District of Washington Township

Chris Mills

VP, Talent Development, Engagement & Communications, Defenders

Doug Carpenter

VP of Tax, The Cellular Connections, LLC

Linda Gunn

Advisor, Oncology Customer Support Programs, Eli Lilly and Company

Steve Johnson

Director IT Application Development, Ice Miller

Erik Long

Partner, Ice Miller

David Marbaugh

Communications Director, Corporate Responsibility, Eli Lilly and Company

Dennis Martin

President of Individual Life and Financial Services, OneAmerica Financial Partners

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/14/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/14/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.