The foundation has awarded the institute $41,750, to be paid out over the next two years, to provide capacity building support for CHIME Charter Elementary School. The money will allow the school to hire a director of curriculum and instruction, thus freeing the institute’s executive director of charter schools to spend more time in the community and developing the institute’s middle school model.

“I can’t tell you how grateful we are that the California Community Foundation recognizes and values the CHIME model of education and has made the investment in allowing CHIME staff to work with local school districts, Cal State Northridge and organizations in other states to promote best practices in education,” said Julie Fabrocini, CHIME’s executive director of charter schools and principal at the elementary school.

“What this grant basically means,” Fabrocini said, “is that we are able to do more outreach, professional development and support for families. Good stuff that will help our kids.”

The CHIME Institute, located at Cal State Northridge, is a national leader in developing and implementing model educational programs, dynamic research and training environments to disseminate best educational practices. The work of the institute has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country.

The institute operates two charter schools, CHIME Charter Elementary School in Woodland Hills and CHIME Charter Middle School in Chatsworth. The elementary school was named “Charter School of the Year” two years ago by the California Charter Schools Association. Both schools are independent schools that provide free public education through affiliation with the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools serve as demonstration and teacher-training sites for Northridge’s nationally acclaimed Michael D. Eisner College of Education.