About the CHIME Institute

Established in 1990, The CHIME Institute directly serves students and families through early education programs and charter schools in Greater Los Angeles, as well as partners with California State University at Northridge (CSUN) to train and share best practices in implementing inclusive education with other educators. The CHIME Institute is an educational nonprofit, public-benefit corporation with 501 (c)(3) status. CHIME Institute (derived from Community Honoring Inclusive Model Education) administers a center for educator development, a research center, and four inclusive learning communities. CHIME Institute's preschool was founded in 1990, the Infant and Toddler Program is 1991, and its elementary and middle charter schools founded in 2001 and 2003. The Institute is a national leader in the development and delivery of quality inclusive education. Since 1990, it has pursued a dual mission to develop and implement model programs that support all children to achieve their maximum potential, and that provide dynamic research and training environments to disseminate best educational practices.

The education program is based on constructivist approaches, and designed to engage students in problem solving activities at levels appropriate to their individual needs. In collaboration with California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and LAUSD, CHIME Institute's schools serve as a laboratory in which faculty and students investigate how children learn, and as a resource on inclusive education for educators, parents and policy makers.

CHIME Goals

• To maintain demonstration sites where children of varying abilities learn from each other and pursue academic excellence, understanding of diversity and social consciousness.
• To disseminate CHIME inclusive education model program information and training on a national scope.
• To become a national leader in collaborative and inclusive education.
• To affect change in national education politics.
• To partner with the community, parents, educators and specialists to ensure that all children, whatever their academic, social and emotional needs, have access to quality education.
• To enrich the lives of children and the national landscape by living up to the promise and tenets of inclusive education.

CHIME Honors

• Demonstration and Training Sites: Over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate CSUN students have participated in CHIME programs through student teaching, observation, data collection and research projects.
• California Charter School of the Year 2005 – CHIME Charter Elementary School.
• Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: The international civil rights organization TASH honored CHIME with its “Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education” award for demonstrating and living up to the promise and tenets of inclusive education.
• Sharing Our knowledge With the World: Mentoring administrators and educators from international communities including Japan, Korea, Scotland, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom on co-teaching and best practices in education.