“Wearebuildingaworldwhereeverystudentinfostercaregets
agoodeducation,believesintheirabilityandpotential,andis connectedtopeoplewhosupporttheirdreams.”
ExecutiveSummary
Foundedin2020,AttheTablepairsstudentscurrentlyandformerlyinfostercarein NewYorkCitywithlong-termfull-time1:1tutorswhodoubleasskilledandtrusted advisorsinnavigatinglifeduringcollege.Wealsotrain,advise,andsupportour peerorganizationsandstaffworkingattheintersectionoftheeducationandchild
urpartnershipswithstudentsareguidedbya eeply-heldsetofvaluesdevelopedbyour undingstaffmembersincollaborationwith urboard,themajorityofwhichiscomposedof eoplewithlivedexperienceoffostercare. hesevaluesincludecenteringthegoalsofour udents(notourown),respectingthe mmenseimportanceofrelationshipstothe oungpeopleweserve,andneverturning udentsawaybecauseoftheirpriorgradesor cademicexperiences.
ealsobringtoourworktheurgencythat omeswithhavingbeenfoundedjustoneyear go,inthemidstoftheglobalCOVID-19 andemicandasourstudentsgrappledwith onlinelearningandthesocialisolationof quarantine,alongwiththeapproachoraftermathoftheirtransitionoutoffoster care.
WeincorporatedAttheTableinApril2020withagoalofreachingstudentsintime forthestartoftheFall2020semester.Thankstoourincrediblestaff,supporters,
students,andpartners,weaccomplishedthatandmore,holdingourfirsttutoring sessiononSeptember2,2020andultimatelybuildingafour-persontutoringteam (expandedtofiveasofthiswriting)thatdeliveredover1,000tutoringandadvising sessionsto67studentsoverthecourseoftheyear.Thosestudentsdefiedthegrim statisticsforcollegestudentscurrentlyandformerlyincare,postingaB-average withsixtimesasmanyAsandBsasfailinggrades.
Inthisreport,wewillbringtogetherdata,narrativeandquotesfromourstudentsto highlightwhatwedid,whatwelearned,andwherewegofromhere.Wewillalso presentinformationonthefinancialhealthandoutlookoftheorganization,and recognizethepeoplewhohelpedmakeAttheTablepossible.
Itishardtoputintowordshowgratefulwearetobepresentforourstudentsduring ayearlikethis.Wehopethat,inreadingthisreport,youwillfeelsomeofthesame prideandhopefulnessthatwe’vefeltinseeingourstudentsthrive.Weinviteyouto joinusandourstudentsinbuildingamoreequitablefutureforstudentsincare: https://atthetable.org/support-our-work
TutoringandAdvising
“Mytutorwasveryhelpful...witheverythingIaskedofher.Shenotonlytaughtme newwaysandgavemecreativeideastolearn,shewasverypatientandkindand flexibleformyschedule.”-AttheTablestudent
AttheTable’stutoringprogramservesstudentswithdiverselevelsofcollege preparedness,pastacademicsuccess,andnon-college-relatedtime commitmentsandchallenges.Anystudentwithfostercareexperiencewhoisin collegeorplanningtoattendwithinthenextyearcansignupforourprogram anytimeviaourwebsite(atthetable.org/for-students),andwedonotassess studentsforprioracademicperformanceinordertoworkwiththem.
Atthetimeofsign-up:
● Most(63%)ofAttheTable’sstudentswereformerlyinfostercare,whilethe other37%werecurrentlyincare.
● TheaverageAttheTablestudentwasabout22yearsold.
● 80%werecurrentcollegestudents,10%werefinishinghighschoolorahigh schoolequivalencyprogram,and10%hadfinishedhighschoolbutwerenot yetenrolledincollege.
● MostAttheTablecollegestudentswereattending2-yearcollegesinthe CUNYorSUNYsystem(34%in4-yearcollegesvs.66%in2-yearcolleges).
● Studentsidentifiedawiderangeoffavoritesubjects,butmost(57%) identifiedmathasaparticularareaofstruggle.
Oncestudentsfilledoutthereferralform,wecalledthemtolearnabouttheirneeds andgoals.Moststudentswereincollegeandexpressedaneedfortutoring.A handfulofothersonlyneededacademicadvising,usuallytofigureouthowto completehighschoolorenrollincollege.
Whenstudentsidentifiedthemselvesaswantingtutoring,wepairedthemwithone ofourfull-timetutoringstaffforweeklymeetings,typicallyonehourinlength(in someurgentcases,wemetwithstudentstwiceperweek)andcoveringanysubject wherethestudentidentifiedaneedforsupport.Ourtutorsarecarefullyvettedand trainedtonotonlyofferoutstandinginstruction,buttobuildthekindofsafe, supportive,consistentrelationshipsthatallowstudentstobevulnerableabout wherethey’restruggling,whetheritisinsideoroutsidetheclassroom.
Weconsistentlyheardfromstaff,students,partners,andsupportersthisyearthat ourprogramwasofferingsomuchmorethanjusttutoring.Wehelpedstudents craftcourseschedules,supportedthemastheyadvocatedforthemselvestotheir professorsanduniversityadministrations,connectedthemtohousingand emergencyfundingsupports,andlistenedtoandthoughtthroughamyriadof interpersonalandlifechallengeswiththem.HerearethreeexamplesofhowAtthe Tablesupportedstudentsthisyear:
Resolvingapast-duebalance:Whenastudentcametousowingapast-due collectionsbalanceofmorethan$10,000toaSUNYcommunitycollegeasaresult ofadisastrousfirstsemester,wenegotiateddirectlywiththecollegetoreducethe balancebyalmosthalf.Wethenconnectedhimwithemergencyfundsthatwere abletopaytheremainingbalanceoffinfull.Thisallowedhimtoobtainthecollege
transcriptheneededtotransfertoCUNYandgethiseducationbackontrack.Heis excitedtorestartcollegeinFall2021.
Advocatingforaninjuredstudent:Whenastudentwashospitalizedduringfinals weekwithseverehandinjuriesthatmadeitimpossibleforhertotype,ourtutor workedwithhertotranscribeemailstoprofessorsnotifyingthemofhercondition andarrangingtomakeupwork.Whenoneprofessorrefusedtoaccommodateher, weadvocatedwiththedepartmentchairandcampusaccommodationsoffice,and wonanextensiononherfinalassignment.Intheend,thestudent,whohad previouslybeenonacademicprobationduetoaGPAbelow2.0,hadherbest semesterever,passing3classesandwithdrawingfromone.Sheisnowbackin goodacademicstanding!
Buildingabetteracademicplan:InFall2020,westartedworkingwithastudent whohada1.0GPAand12creditspassedafter3yearsofcollege,andanacademic planfromhisadvisoronlyallowedhimtotake7creditspersemester,whichwould havehadhimstilltakingcommunityclassesthreeyearslater.Attheendofthe semester,wecollaboratedwithhimtore-envisionhisschedulesohecouldcommit tobeingafull-timestudent.Ittooktwomeetingswithhisadvisortoconvincethem tolethimtakefull-timeclasses,buttheyeventuallyagreed.Hemetwithhistutor 28timesduringSpring2021,andpassedall12creditshetookwitha2.6GPA.Heis ontracktobeoffacademicprobationnextsemesterandtograduatewithinthe nextyear.
OurResults
“AttheTable’sprogramwasabsolutelyvitaltomysuccessthissemester.I neededacademicsupportthatIfeellikeIhaven’tbeenabletogetenoughof duringmycollegecareer,andJaclynwasextremelysupportiveineverysenseof theword—academically,emotionally,ineffortstoseekfunding,stayorganized, andmuchmore.” -AttheTablestudent
Weoweittoourstudentstocarefullyevaluateourprogramming-notonlythe resultsandoutcomes,butstudents’experienceswithusandoureffectivenessin
engagingwiththemaroundtheirgoalsandconcerns.AttheTablegathers informationthroughstudentsurveyseachsemester,sessionfeedbackfromtutors, ourstudentsign-upform,andgradesdata.
IntakeandSessionsHeld
WhenstudentssignupfortutoringthroughAttheTable,wefollowuppersistently throughphonecalls,textmessages,andemailstointroduceourselvesand scheduleafirstsession.Weplaceahighimportanceoninitialengagement becauseweknowthatthestudentswhoneedoursupportthemostcanbethe hardesttoreach.Belowareresultsforthe82eligible1 studentswhofilledoutAtthe Table’sinterestformthisyear.
Morethan70%of studentsreferredtoAt theTablebyJune30 2021hadatleasttwo tutoringsessionswith usbytheendofthe summer,whilearound 16%didnotengagein tutoringorhadonlyone session.Theremainder eitherneeded
academicadvisingonly(i.e.supportwithcollegeadmissionsorafinancialaid issue)orsignedupoverthesummerandwillbereceivingtutoringinFall2021.
TheaverageAttheTablestudentparticipatedin15tutoringsessionsthisyear,but becausestudentsjoinedtheprogramatdifferentpointsinourscaleup(andwe launchedinthethirdmonthofthefiscalyear),oursessions-per-weeknumbers giveabetterestimateofwhatafullyearoftutoringwouldentail.TheaverageAt theTablestudentparticipatedin0.76tutoringsessionsperweekintheprogram
1 14 students applied toAt theTable who were ineligible for our tutoring program, typically because they were sophomores or juniors in high school, or were high school grads who were not planning to attend college Wherever possible, we referred ineligible students to alternate supports includingThe Foundling’s citywide Road to Success tutoring program for high schoolers
(includingweekswhenschoolwasnotinsession),meaningthatastudentwho remainedintheprogramforafullyearwouldexpecttoreceive40tutoring sessions.
PersistenceandGraduation
AttheTable’sstudentspersistedincollegeatahighrate.AttheTableserved32 currentcollegestudentsinFall2020.Ofthesestudents:
● 21werestillincollegeandreceivingtutoringasofFall2021
● 5graduatedfromtheirprogramwithadegree
● 3withdrewfromprogram(currentcollegestatusunknown)
● 3withdrewfromcollege
Inall,81%ofourstudentseitherpersistedinourprogramorgraduated,and81-91% ofourFall2020studentshavegraduatedorarestillenrolledincollege.
StudentGrades
AttheTable’sstudentspostedastrongacademicperformanceinFY2021,with students’overallB-GPAbeingaparticularhighlight.
FromFall2020toSpring2021,wesawasubstantialincreaseintherateatwhich studentspassedclasses,from60to77%.Thisismainlytheresultoffewerstudents officiallywithdrawingfromclasses,asshowninthegradedistributionbelow.In bothsemesters,whenstudentscouldnotpassclasses,theyworkedwiththeir
2 In Fall 2020, due to the pandemic, CUNYand a handful of other colleges offered students the option to convert their failing grades to non-punitive “NC” grades and low passing grades to “CR” grades that would confer credit but not be calculated in GPA This policy was discontinued in Spring 2021, and in order to facilitate comparison between semesters, we are including only students’ original earned grades for Fall 2020 in our GPAcalculations, not the CR/NC grades they were converted to
tutorstoofficiallywithdraw,receivingnon-punitive“W”gradesthatwouldnot impacttheirGPA.InsomecasesduringFall2020,studentscametouslateinthe semesterwithgradeslowenoughthatwithdrawalwastheonlyoption.
InSpring2021,withafullsemesteroftutoringsupport,ourstudentscuttheir officialwithdrawalrateinhalf,replacingthosenon-credit-earninggradeswith mostlyA’sandB’s.
EarnedCourseGrades
StudentSurvey
SurveysweresentbyemailtoAttheTablestudentswhoparticipatedintutoring sessionsduringtheFall2020andSpring2021semester.21outof37students respondedtotheFallsurvey,anddatacollectionisstillongoingfortheSpring2021 survey(14/48studentshaveresponded).Fallsurveyresultsarediscussedin greaterdepthinourFall2020report,andquotesfrombothsurveysappear throughoutthisreport.
Studentresponsestothesurveyhavebeenglowing,with97%(35/36)of respondentsindicatingthattheywere“extremelysatisfied”withtheprogramand theremainingstudentindicatingthattheywere“somewhatsatisfied”.
Inbothsurveys,whenaskedtoratetheimportanceofarangeofdifferentprogram components(includingacademicadvising,helpwithessays,etc.)students identified“beingconnectedtosomeonewhoisinvestedinyoursuccess”asbeing themostimportantpartoftheprogram:89%(31/35)ofrespondentssaidthiswas veryimportanttothem.
TrainingandTechnicalAssistance
"MikeZinkandAtTheTablehavebeenkeypartnersinthedevelopment, codification,and implementationoftheFairFuturesmodelsystem-wideinNYC. Theyhaveprovidedhighqualitytraining,technicalassistance,materials development,anddataanalysissupporttomorethanahundredstaffacrossall 26fostercareagencies,whichhashelpeddriveimprovedacademicoutcomesfor studentsinfostercare. FairFutureswouldnotbewhereitistodaywithouttheir deepeducationalexpertise,partnership,andpassionatecommitmenttoensuring studentswhohaveexperiencedfostercarehaveanequalopportunitytothrive."
-KatieNapolitano,Director,FairFutures
InFY21,AttheTable’steamprovided288hoursoffee-for-servicetraining, consultation,andprogramsupporttoarangeoforganizationsworkingatthe intersectionofeducationandfostercare.Ourtechnicalassistanceworkdrawson ourteam’sdeepexperiencewithdevelopingandimplementingeducational programs,ourstrongrelationshipswithotherorganizationsworkinginthisspace, andourorganizationalvaluesandphilosophy.
WecontractedwithsevenorganizationsduringFY2021:
● Children’sAidSociety
● TheNewYorkFoundling
● HopeWell,Inc.
● Children’sVillage
● JCCA
● GoddardRiversideCommunityCenter
● TheFairFuturesInitiative
Ourprojectsincluded:
● Providingproblemsolvingsupportandnextstepstofostercareeducational specialistsinthecollegeprocess.
● Directlysupportingandadvocatingforstudentsincarearoundcomplex collegeadmissions,financialaid,orregistrationissues.
● Leadingaseriesofcollegeworkshopsattendedbyasmanyas92fostercare collegespecialistsandotherstaffacrossNewYorkCity.
● DevelopingandeditingasuiteofcollegematerialsfortheFairFutures Initiative.
● Buildingeducationaldatadashboardsandprovidingtrainingandsupportto fostercareagencystaffonwieldingK-12educationaldata.
Revenuesfromourfee-for-serviceworkmorethancoveredAttheTable’s administrativeexpensesinFY2021,allowingustoinvestallcharitablecontributions receivedduringthistimedirectlyintoprogramming.
GivingThanks
“AttheTablewasveryusefultomebecauseasacollegestudentwithlimited amountsofmoney,IdidntwannawasteanyofitbecauseofhowbadlyIwantedto getthiseducation.”-StevenG.
ItisimpossibletostartanundertakinglikeAttheTable,letaloneinthemidstofa globalpandemic,withoutowingaprofounddebtofgratitudetoagreatmany people.
Wewouldliketothankourgeneroussupporters,whoseinvestmentmadeAtthe Tablefromavisionintoareality,andwhoseinterestinandenthusiasmforour missionhasliftedusupsincetheverybeginning.Werecognizebelowthe individualsandorganizationsthatdonatedmorethan$1,000toAttheTableduring FiscalYear2021:
BradHargreaves
M.andD.Kent
ColmanLynchandJessicaHenshaw
MorganMcCray
NoahMoss
TheNewYorkFoundling
BrianRice
AlanSchwartz
RoseSchapiro
SusanJaneStamm
JeffreyandCarlyZink
RobertandRobinZink
OurFall2020launchwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthefiscalsponsorshipof iFoster,anational501c3thatconnectsstudentsandfamiliesinfostercarewithkey resourcesandopportunities.Bysponsoringuswhilewewaitedforour501c3 recognitionfromtheIRS,iFosterallowedustoreceivethecharitablecontributions thatneworganizationslikeoursneedinordertoexist,andweareevenmore gratefulstilltothemforwaivingtheadministrativefeethatmostorganizations chargeforsponsorship.
Wewouldliketorecognizeourreferralpartners,includingCityLiving,theFYCSIstaff atCUNY,educationalstaffatHSVS,NewYorkFoundling,GrahamWindham,and CayugaCenters,andsomanyothers,fortrustinguswiththeirstudents.Inturn,we weregratefulfortheopportunitytoreferAttheTablestudentsforawiderangeof housing,emergencyfundingandcounselingsupportsthroughorganizationslike NewYorkersforChildren,CityLiving,TogetherWeRise,OneSimpleWish,CUNY’s FYCSIandFCIprograms,andmore.WeappreciatetheteamatPinnaclePrepfor offeringfreeSATtutoringtoseveralreferredstudentswhoweretooyoungforAtthe Tableservices.
Weareprofoundlygratefultoourboardofdirectorsfortheirendlessgoodadvice, theirbeliefinourmission,andtheirsupportandadvocacyastheypushustobethe verybestversionofourselves.Werecognizeourbrillianttutoringteam,whose patience,thoughtfulness,anddedicationhavemadeAttheTable’sfirstyearan incredibleone.
Finally,toourwonderfulstudents,forallofyourdeterminedcollaboration,yourkind textsandvoicemailsandsurveyresponses,forallowingustobeapartofyour story:thankyou.Wearehonoredtohavetheopportunitytoworkwithyou.
FinancialInformation
“Givemytutoraraise.”-DiamondA.,whenaskedwhatwecouldimprovefornext year.
Thankstothesupportofourcommunity,AttheTableendedFY2021inastrong fiscalposition.DuringFY2021,AttheTableraised$330,177.65fromacombinationof individualcontributions,privategrants,andprogramservicefeesagainstatotal spendofjustunder$200,000.
Conclusion/WhereWeGoFromHere
“AttheTablewasaninvaluableresourcetomelastsemester.Itrulyfeltsupported everystepoftheway,whetheritcametoreceivingacademicinstruction, financialaidadviceand/orpersonalguidance.Iamsogratefultobepartofthis programandIamveryexcitedforwhat’stocome!”-RinelleT.
Buildingonthesuccessofourpilotyear,wehopetobroadenourreachwithinNew Yorkintheyearstocome,ensuringthateverycurrentandincomingcollege studentwhowasinfostercareinNYChasaccesstoAttheTabletutoring.
AsweapproachtheFall2021semester,AttheTablehasalreadyaddedafifthstaff membertoaddressourgrowingwaitlist,bringingourcapacitytoabout60 studentsreceivingtutoringeachweek.Whileweareproudofthisgrowth,weknow thatweareservingjustafractionofthestudentswhowouldbeeligibleforour servicesfromNewYorkCity.Morethan400studentscurrently/formerlyincareat CUNYhaveself-identifiedintotheirfostercaresupportprograms,andAttheTable hasconsistentlyhadawaitlistforourservicesdespitenothavingengagedin formalrecruitingeffortssinceOctober2020(duetoourlimitedcapacity).
Asourworkisnotyetpubliclyfunded,weareseekingoutgrantfundingtoboth sustainourexistingcapacityandtoconnectasmanynewstudentsaspossible withourhigh-qualityprograms.
Beyondthis,therearethreekeydirectionsinwhichwecanscaleourtutoringand advisingwork:
1. Geography:Forallthechallengesthatthepandemichasbrought,ithasalso taughtushowtoconducteffectivecollegetutoringsessionsonline,where pastiterationsofourprogrammodelhavereliedonin-personsessions. Remotetutoringoffersnewgeographicpossibilities,andwecouldenvision ourtutoringprogrambeingaresourcetostudentsacrosstheU.S.
2. Age:TheFairFuturesinitiativehasmadelong-termhigh-qualitytutoring availabletomiddleandhighschoolstudentscurrentlyinNYCfostercare,but theavailablepublicfundingdoesnotprovideforthecontinuationofthese
servicesafterfostercare.Webelievethatstudentsshouldnothaveto choosebetweenpermanencyandeducationalsupport,andcouldconsider extendingtutoringtoyoungerstudentswhoareformerlyincare(notjust studentswhoareincollegeorplanningtoattendwithinthenextyear).
3. FosterCareStatus:Thisislikelytobethelastchangethatwemaketoour programeligibilitycriteria,asitwouldrequireafundamentalrestructuringof ourmission,butweknowthatstudentsinfostercarearenottheonlypeople whodeserveandbenefitfromconnectionstoprogramslikeours.Students whohaveexperiencedhomelessness,withchildwelfareinvolvementother thanfostercare(i.e.preventiveservices),first-generationcollegestudents, andothergroupsthatfacedisparitiesincollegeaccesscouldbefocalpoints ofafutureAttheTableexpansion.
WeplantobeginastrategicplanningprocesswithourboardofdirectorsinFall 2021tochartthecourseofourfuturegrowth.
AsweconsiderwhatthefutureholdsforAttheTable,wefeelimmenseprideinour firstyear,inboththeexperiencesourstudentshadwithus,andintheoutstanding academicoutcomesthatfollowedfromthoseexperiences.Wewillconcludewith thewordsofourstudentsfromourstudentsurvey,astheyexplainwhatAtthe Tablemeanttothemthisyear:
“IwasabletofeelmoreconfidentinmaththanIeverdid.”-CharismaK.
“Thisprogramhasbeenabletokeep[me]ontrackwithmyclassassignments andstayingontopofmycourses.IappreciatethisthoroughlybecauseIhaven't beenabletodosoasmuchonmyown.”-MargaritaC.
“ItwasusefulbecausemytutorhelpedmeandsheexplainedthingsthatIdidn’t understandinawaythatIcould...Iwouldliketoseeyouguyskeepingupthegood work,that’sall.”-AttheTablestudent
“Notonlywasmytutorinfluentialinhelpingmesucceedinmycourseworkand thesubjectmatterasawhole,butAttheTablealsoconnectedmewithotherswho guidedmebothcareer-wiseandinprofessionaldevelopment—sotheprogram wasveryuseful!”-AndrewK.
“Igotconstantfeedbackandsupportandcheck-insthatmadeiteasierformeto lookatmygoalsandaccomplishments.Alsohavingsomeoneprovidededicated timetotalkabouthowtodealwiththeseveralsetbacksthatcomewithcollege classesduringCovid[washelpful].”-DiamondA.
“AtTheTableisbyfarthebesttutoringprogramI’veeverbeenapartof.”-Carly W.