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Non-profit

BARR Center

Website:

barrcenter.org/
Location:

St. Louis Park, MN
Tax ID:

82-5480444
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $4,668,969
Expenses: $2,675,105
Assets: $2,993,078
Type:

Education Advocacy Organization
Formation:

1999
Executive Director:

Angela Jerabek

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Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR Center) is an organization that is designed to promote and implement the BARR Model in schools. 1 The model is designed to eventually lead to the implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) for school districts. 2

The BARR Center supports the creation of the critical race theory-influenced concept of “equitable schools.” 3 In 2021, BARR Center was designated and listed SEL program by the left-of-center educational organization the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). 4 As of August 2023, BARR Center’s K-12 model has expanded the BARR Program to more than 200 schools in 21 states. 5 6

BARR Center has received at least $13 million in grants from the left-of-center Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2019. 7 8 9 In 2023, BARR Center received $5 million from the State of Minnesota to implement the BARR system at 18 schools across the state. 10

History and Leadership

Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR Center) was founded by Angela Jerabek in 1999, one year after she created the BARR model of education in 1998. 11

In 2010, BARR Center was awarded an i3 Investing in Education grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 12 BARR Center received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service in 2018. 13

As of August 2023, Jerabek is BARR Center’s executive director. In 2016, she presented at the Obama administration’s “Evidence in Education Roundtable.” 14

Activities and Funding

Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR Center) is an organization that is designed to promote and implement the left-of-center BARR Model of education in schools. 15 The model is designed to eventually lead to the implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) for school districts. 16

The BARR Center supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of “equitable schools” and advances left-wing equitable and inclusive strategies in schools. 17

BARR Center’s BARR Model of education supporting the creation of “equitable” K-12 schools was first implemented at the high-school level as a research study before expanding to middle schools and elementary schools. BARR Center’s current three-year arrangement with schools puts a coach into participating schools to implement its SEL- and critical race theory-influenced education programming. The BARR Method is based on eight factors: engaging families in student learning, engaging administrators, focusing on the whole student outside of the classroom, providing equity-based training for teachers, curriculum changes, the creation of cohorts, and risk review meetings within schools. 18

As of August 2023, BARR Center’s K-12 model has expanded the BARR Program to more than 200 schools 19 in 21 states including: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 20

The BARR Center started at one school in 2010 and had expanded to 104 schools in 15 states by 2018. 21 The organization’s growth was aided by a 2010 Investing in Education (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 22

In 2021, BARR Center was designated and listed as a SEL program by the left-of-center educational organization the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). 23 The BARR Center has been accredited by CASEL, Investing in Innovation (i3), Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACT), National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP), and Evidence for ESSA. 24

BARR Center hosts annual conferences 25 and runs grant opportunities such as the Equity and Innovation Grant Opportunity for Alabama Schools to implement its critical race theory-influenced programming. 26

BARR Center also hosts the Most Likely to Change the World podcast. The podcast has hosted conversations with Biden administration Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona; Obama administration Secretaries of Education John King, Jr., and Arne Duncan; and George W. Bush administration Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. 27 In his September 2022 podcast appearance, Cardona said he understands and supports the concept of creating equity in the classroom. 28

Funding

Building Assets, Reducing Risks Center receives funding from grants, program services, and merchandise sales. 29 In 2021, BARR Center reported revenue of $8,108,042 and expenses of $5,031,661. In 2020, BARR Center reported revenue of $6,017,737 and expenses of $3,910,781. 30

BARR Center received $5 million from the State of Minnesota to implement the BARR system at 18 schools in Minnesota in 2023. 31

BARR Center has received at least $13 million of grants from the left-of-center Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2019. In 2019, BARR Center received a $12,946,900 grant from the Gates Foundation to support the development of its Network for Schools. 32 33 BARR Center also received a $100,000 grant from the Gates Foundation in 2021. 34

In 2021, BARR Center received grants of $254,000 from the Jane and Archie Black Foundation 35  and $250,000 from the NewSchools Venture Fund. 36  BARR Center has also received at least $615,000 of grants from A Better Chicago since 2019, including a $245,000 grant in 2020. 37 38

References

  1. “BARR Center.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/825480444/202340129349302729/full.
  2. “BARR Model.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/barr-model/.
  3.  “About BARR.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/.
  4.  “New CASEL Guide Highlights BARR as SELect Program.” BARR Center. June 11, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/2021/06/11/new-casel-guide-highlights-barr-as-select-program/.
  5. “Our team.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/our-team/.
  6. “Equity and Innovation Grant Opportunity for Alabama Schools.” BARR Center YouTube Channel. Uploaded November 9, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMlNpi4iFs.
  7. “BARR Center.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. September 2019. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2019/09/inv001871.
  8. “Gates Foundation Awards $13 Million to Expand BARR Center Model.” Candid Philanthropy News Digest. May 11, 2020. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-awards-13-million-to-expand-barr-center-model.
  9. “BARR Center.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. April 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/04/inv032176.
  10. “Minnesota Legislature Approves $5 Million Funding for Evidence-Based BARR System” Cision PR Newswire. May 17, 2023. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minnesota-legislature-approves-5-million-funding-for-evidence-based-barr-system-301827701.html.
  11. “About BARR.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/.
  12. “About BARR.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/.
  13. “Letter of Determination.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. December 14, 2018. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_82-5480444_BARRCENTER_05292018_01.tif.
  14. “Our team.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/our-team/.
  15. “BARR Center.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/825480444/202340129349302729/full.
  16. “BARR Model.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/barr-model/.
  17. “About BARR.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/.
  18. “The BARR model.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/grant-opportunity-to-create-equitable-opportunities-for-alabama-schools/.
  19. “Our team.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/about-barr/our-team/.
  20.  “Equity and Innovation Grant Opportunity for Alabama Schools.” BARR Center YouTube Channel. Uploaded November 9, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMlNpi4iFs.
  21. [1] “Back to School.” BARR Center. August 28, 2018. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/2018/08/28/new-barr-schools/.
  22. “The Building Assets-Reducing Risks (BARR) Program.” U.S. Department of Education Grantee Results Summary. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://oese.ed.gov/files/2020/03/U396C101107_Search-Institute_BARR-2010-DEVELOPMENT-Evaluation-Summary.pdf.
  23. “New CASEL Guide Highlights BARR as SELect Program.” BARR Center. June 11, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/2021/06/11/new-casel-guide-highlights-barr-as-select-program/.
  24. “Equity and Innovation Gratn Opportunity for Alabama Schools.” BARR Center YouTube Channel. Uploaded November 9, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMlNpi4iFs.
  25. “2023 Barr National Conference.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/2023-national-conference/.
  26. “Equity and Innovation Grant Opportunity for Alabama Schools.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/grant-opportunity-to-create-equitable-opportunities-for-alabama-schools/.
  27. “Most Likely to Change the World.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/the-most-likely-to-change-the-world-podcast/.
  28.  “Secretary Cardona: “Empower Educators”.” BARR Center. September 1, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://barrcenter.org/podcast/secretary-cardona-empower-educators/.
  29. “Online Store.” BARR Center. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/ https://shop.game-one.com/minnesota/st-louis-park/barr-center.
  30. “BARR Center.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/825480444/202340129349302729/full.
  31. “Minnesota Legislature Approves $5 Million Funding for Evidence-Based BARR System” Cision PR Newswire. May 17, 2023. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minnesota-legislature-approves-5-million-funding-for-evidence-based-barr-system-301827701.html.
  32. “BARR Center.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. September 2019. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2019/09/inv001871.
  33. “Gates Foundation Awards $13 Million to Expand BARR Center Model.” Candid Philanthropy News Digest. May 11, 2020. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-awards-13-million-to-expand-barr-center-model.
  34. “BARR Center.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. April 2021. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/04/inv032176.
  35. “Jane and Archie Black Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/416426986/202231369349104583/full.
  36. [1] “New Schools Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943281780/202232639349300138/full.
  37. “BARR Center.” A Better Chicago. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.abetterchicago.org/grantees/barr-center.
  38. “A Better Chicago.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://www.abetterchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/A-BETTER-CHICAGO_2020_TAX-RETURN.pdf.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 2018

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $4,668,969 $2,675,105 $2,993,078 $692,798 N $3,907,313 $758,717 $2,939 $327,500 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $372,279 $65,863 $354,295 $47,879 N $368,269 $4,000 $10 $0 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990EZ $0 $0 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    BARR Center

    5115 EXCELSIOR BLVD PMB 476
    St. Louis Park, MN 55416-2906