“Wearebuildingaworldwhereeverystudentinfostercaregetsa goodeducation,believesintheirabilityandpotential,andis connectedtopeoplewhosupporttheirdreams.”
ExecutiveSummary
AttheTableisaNewYorkCity-basednonprofitthatpairspresentandincomingcollege studentscurrentlyandformerlyinfostercarewithlong-term,full-time1:1tutorswhooffer outstandinginstructionacrossawiderangeofsubjectsandearnrolesasmentorsand trustedadvisorsintheirstudent’slives.Wealsoprovidetrainingandconsultationtopeer organizationsworkingattheintersectionofeducationandsocialservices.
The2021-22academicyearwasAtthe Table’ssecondyearinoperation. Thankstoourincrediblesupportersand partners,wewereabletohireanother tutorontoourteam,allowingusto serve109currentandaspiringcollege studentswith1,972tutoringand advisingsessionsthisyear.
Thisyear,manyofourstudents navigatedareturntoin-person learningatCUNY,SUNY,andbeyond. Ourteamworkedhardtohelpstudentsunderstandvaccinationandboosterpolicies, documentationuploads,andtheeducationalandpersonalshiftsthatcomewith re-enteringtheclassroom.
Forourpart,weprimarilycontinuedtoworkwithstudentsremotely,withtheexceptionof attendingourstudents’graduations,ofwhichthereweremany(weareexcitedtoshare someoftheirgraduationpicturesinourreport).Thisyear,AttheTable’sstudents graduatedfromBrooklynCollege,QueensCollege,BaruchCollege,CityCollege, QueensboroughCommunityCollege,BoroughofManhattanCommunityCollege, LaGuardiaCommunityCollege,SUNYAlfred,SUNYBuffalo,andSUNYOswego.Forsomeof ourstudents,graduationwastheresultofyearsofuninterruptedcollegeattendanceand coursecompletion;forothers,itwastheculminationofalongerstorythatincluded
profoundpersonalhardship,semestersoff,academicprobation(orevendismissal),and momentswhensuccessfeltfaroutofreach.Wehavebeengratefultostandbyour studentsastheyperseverethroughthesechallenges,andweshareintheirhard-earned pridewhentheireffortsarerewardedwithadegree.
Thisreportwillreviewtheresultsofourtutoringandconsultationworkfortheprioryear, andhighlightthewaysinwhichweplantogrowintheyeartocome.Thatgrowthisalready underwayasofthiswriting-wehiredthreenewtutorsduringSummer2022,andweare excitedtoreachmorestudentsthaneverwithhigh-qualitytutoringandadvisingthat supportstheirdreams.
TutoringandAdvising
“AttheTable’sprogramwasextremelyusefultome!Ilovedthatmytutorwas extremelypresentandhelpedmetogetthroughschoolandmypersonallife.I don’tknowwhereIwouldbewithoutherhelp!”-AttheTablestudent
Atitscore,AttheTableprovideshighqualitytutoringandacademicadvisingtostudents currentlyandformerlyinfostercare.InFY22,ourtutoringteamgrewfrom4to5full-time staff,andbytheendoftheyear,wewereabletoserveabout65studentswithregular tutoringandanadditional25withacademicadvisingatanygiventime.
Weareproudtoserveanystudentwhohasexperiencedfostercareatsomepointintheir lifeandisincollegeorplanningtoattendcollegewithinthenextyear.Studentscansignup throughouttheyearatatthetable.org/for-students.Unlikeotherprogramsinourfield,we donotturnstudentsawaybasedontheircurrentage,theageatwhichtheyleftfostercare, themeansbywhichtheyleftfostercare(whetheradoption,reunification,orguardianship), ortheirpreviousacademicrecord.
Ofthe71eligiblestudentswhofilledoutourinterestforminFY22:
● 60%werenolongerinfostercareatthetimeofreferral(63%inFY21)
● 51%werecurrentlyenrolledincollegeatthetimeofreferral (80%inFY21)
● 56%ofthecollege-enrolledstudentswereattending2-yearcollegeprograms.(66% inFY21)
● Studentsrangedinagefrom17-33,withanaverageageof21.
Comparedtolastyear,farmorestudents signedupforAttheTableinFY2022who werenotenrolledincollege.Themajorityof thesestudents(70%)hadgraduatedhigh schoolorearnedtheirhighschool equivalency,buthadeitherpreviously droppedoutofcollegeorhadnotstarted college.Theaverageageofthisgroupwas 23yearsoldatsign-up,andontheirinterest forms,studentssharedtheirdetermination tofindsuccessorsetanexampleforothers througheducation,theirconcernsabout attendingschoolwhileparentingor navigatinglifechallenges,andtheirbelief thattutoringcouldhelpthemsucceedand evenimprovetheirmentalhealthwhile attendingschool.
Thisgroup’senthusiasmforourprogram, andtheirensuingprogress,hasreinforced ourdecisiontonotsetlimitsontheGPA,age,orcurrentfostercare/collegeenrollment statusofourstudents.Manyofthesestudentsarenowenrolledincollegeandmorestillare workingwithustocharttheirpathtowardSpring2023enrollment.
AttheTablestudentsfoundsuccessinahostofdifferentwaysinthe2021-2022academic year.Herearethreeexamples:
PassingtheHSEandenrollingincollege:Oneofourstudents,J.,hadpassedeverysectionof thehighschoolequivalencyexamexceptforone,math,whichhe’dtakenmultipletimes.In December2021,hetoldusthathewasn’tinterestedingettinghisHSEorgoingtocollege anymore.Hisprimarytutor,Ashia,stayedintouchanyway,makingsureheknewthatwe wereavailabletohelpifheeverchangedhismindinthefuture.Ultimately,hedecidedto restarttutoringinMarch2022,andafter20tutoringsessionswithourteam,heretookthe examinJuly2022-andpassed!J.workedwithhistutortoenrollincollegeandisnow pursuinganLPNdegree.J.wrotethisabouthistutorsinourend-of-yearsurvey:“Without thembothIwouldnotbeattendingcollegethissemester…theyreallyfoughtformeeven dayswhenIprobablywasnottheeasiesttoworkwith.Theynevergaveuponme,so thereforeInevergaveuponmyself.”
SupportinganAcademicComeback:Anewstudent,“Celia”,joinedusfortheSpring2022 semesterafterhavingstruggledincollegeduringthepandemic.Shehadwithdrawnfromor failedeachofherclassesinFall2020,Spring2021,andFall2021,andwasfacingpotential academicdismissalwitha1.7GPA.BecauseSpanishwasherfirstlanguage,shefelt uncomfortablewritingessaysinEnglish,butwiththeconsistentsupportofherbilingualAt theTabletutor,Melanie(whoshemetwithfor18sessions),sheworkedthroughthese challengesandothers,ultimatelypostingherbestsemesterincollege.Sheearned12 creditsanda3.4GPA,bringingheroverallaverageabovethe2.0sheneededforgood academicstandingandputtingheronpacetoearnherassociatedegreeattheendofnext semester.
FindingaCollegeFit:S.wasastudentataneliteNewYorkCityhighschoolwithoutstanding extracurricularsandabove-averagegradeswhowantedtograduatehighschoolinthree yearsanddormawayatatopcollege.Herhighschoolpushedbackonbothhergraduation planandherdesiretoattendacompetitiveschool,withherguidancecounselortellingher thatgivenherpreviouslifeexperiences,shewould“behappywhereverhesenther.”
WorkingwithJaclyn,hertutor,S.appliedtoarangeoftopschoolsandtookandpassedthe GEDassoonasshewaseligible.AnAttheTableboardmemberhelpedustoconnecther withanindependenteducationalconsultant,whoadvocatedforherwithhertarget colleges.Intheend,shewasadmittedtoandenrolledatBostonUniversity,oneofthebest collegesintheU.S.,withaprestigiousscholarshipontopofafinancialaidpackagethatwill allowhertograduatedebtfree.
OurResults
Weoweittoourstudentstocarefullyevaluateourprogramming-notonlytheresultsand outcomes,butstudents’experienceswithusandoureffectivenessinengagingwiththem aroundtheirgoalsandconcerns.AttheTablegathersinformationthroughannualstudent
surveys,sessionfeedbackfromtutors,ourstudentsign-upform,andgradesdata.Inthis section,wewillreviewourresultsandsharewhatwehavelearnedfromthem.
IntakeandSessionsHeld
AttheTableheld1,497one-on-onetutoringsessionsand475advisingsessionswith109 studentsduringFY22foratotalof1,972sessions.Collectively,ourstudentsspentabout 2,930weeksintheprogram,meaningthatstudentshad2sessionsevery3weeks throughouttheyear,andastudentwhospentafullyearinourprogramcouldexpectto havearound35tutoringandadvisingsessionsoverthecourseoftheyear.Ourprogram remainedinhighdemandthroughouttheyear,andweendedtheyearwithawaitlistof about20students.
Wheneligiblestudentsfilled outAttheTable’sinterestform, wereachedoutrapidlyand persistentlyviaphone,email, andtexttomakesurewewere notmissingopportunitiesto connectsomeonewith tutoring,recognizingthatthe hardest-to-reachstudents areoftentheoneswhoneed oursupportthemost.
Overall,outofthe71eligiblestudentswhofilledoutourinterestformduringFY22,wewere abletoengage82%intutoring(meaningthestudenthad2ormoretutoringsessionswith us)oradvising(meaningthatweworkedwiththestudentonacollegeadvisingissuelike enrollmentorfinancialaid).ThisoverallnumberiscommensuratewithourresultfromFY21, butwehadalargerproportionofourstudentsengageinadvisingonlythaninthepast;this isduetomorestudentscomingtouswithoutalreadyhavingenrolledincollegeand needingsupportwithadmissionsadvising.Weexpectthatmanyoftheadvising-only studentsfromFY22willgoontoenrollintutoringinthecomingyear.
Whenstudentsdidnotengage,itwastypicallytheresultofusbeingunabletoreachthe studentwiththecontactinformationgiven,orthestudentchangingtheirmindabout whethertheywantedtutoringorwantedtobeenrolledinschoolatthetime.Whenstudents declineoursupport,wealwaysrespectthedecisionandmakesuretheyknowhowto contactusinthefutureiftheyfindthemselvesinneedofsupportwiththecollegeprocess.
PersistenceandGraduation
Asnationalcollegepersistenceratesstayedbelowpre-pandemiclevels,AttheTable’s studentsremainedhighlyengagedintheireducation.Ofour49studentswhowereenrolled incollegeinFall2021:
● 6hadgraduatedfromcollege(thisdoesnotincludestudentswhoearnedassociate degreesandtransferred)
● 31wereenrolledincollegeforFall2022
● 5tookFall2022offwithplanstoreturntocollegeinSpring2023
● 5hadwithdrawnfromcollegewithoutplanstoreturninSpring2023
● 2werenolongerconnectedtoourprogram(butmayhavecontinuedincollege).
Intotal,76%ofourstudentseithergraduatedorreturnedtocollegeforFall2022.Ofthe studentswhowerenotenrolledforFall2022,weexpectabouthalftoreturntocollegein Spring2023.Commonreasonsforstudentstotakesemestersofforwithdrawincluded parenting,caringforasickfamilymember,orfinancialchallenges.
StudentGrades
OurstudentsearnedacollectiveGPAof2.6eachsemesterwithmorethan4timesasmany A’sandB’sasfailinggrades.Thisiswellabovethe2.0thresholdneededtomaintain financialaidandexceedsthe2.5GPArequirementtotransfertomanycompetitivesenior collegesintheCUNYandSUNYsystems.Belowareresultsforstudentswhohad2ormore tutoringsessionsinFall2021andSpring2022.
Collectively,ourstudentspassed66%oftheircourses,failing9%,andwithdrawingor earninggradesofincompletein25%.Inthenextyear,wehopetoraisethisoverallrateto above70%bymorerapidlyanticipatingandaddressingsomeofthechallengesthatlead studentstohavetowithdraw,includingaccesstotechnology,financialbarriers,and out-of-schoolcrises.
StudentSurvey
StudentscontinuedtoreflectpositivelyontheirexperienceswithAttheTableduringFY22. Wesentourend-of-yearsurveyto84students,ofwhich33responded,givingusaresponse rateofabout40%.Ofthesestudents:
● 94%saidtheywere“extremelysatisfied”withtheprogram
○ Theremaining6%saidtheywere“somewhatsatisfied.”
● 97%stronglyagreedthattheirgradesimprovedasaresultoftheprogram.
● 97%stronglyagreedthattheirtutorconsistentlyencouragedthemandgavethem positivefeedback.
Moststudents(19/22whorespondedtothequestion),whenpromptedtosharesomething theywouldlikeustodonextyearthatisnewordifferentfromwhatwe’realreadydoing, gaveresponsessuchas“Keepupthegreatwork,”“Youguysaredoinggreat,”and,“Ifit isn’tbroke,right…?”Thethreestudentswhonotedareasforgrowthmentioned:
● Potentiallyco-locatingtutorsatspecificcolleges
● Focusingmoreonscholarshipsandotherprogramsforstudents
● HostingstudygroupsoverZoom
Wearecurrentlyevaluatingasateamhowbesttoincorporatethisfeedback.
TrainingandTechnicalAssistance
Inadditiontoourdirectcollegeprogrammingforstudentswithfostercareexperience,At theTablealsosharesourteam’sdeepexperienceattheintersectionofeducationand socialservicesthroughfee-for-serviceconsultationandtechnicalassistanceforpeer organizations.Ourconsultingworkallowsustoimprovesystemsbyexportingour knowledgeandvalues, deepenourtieswithpartnerorganizations,andbringinrevenue thathelpsoffsetthecostofadministeringourdirectworkprograms.
WecontractedwithfiveorganizationsduringFY22:
● Children’sAidSociety
● Children’sVillage
● JCCA
● TheFairFuturesInitiative
● CatholicCharitiesoftheArchdioceseofNewYork
Ourprojectsincluded:
● Supportingandassessingtheresultsofacomprehensivehighschooladmissions advisinginitiativeforstudentsinfostercare,aimedatbreakingdownthedisparity inqualityofhighschoolsattendedbyyouthincare.
● Designingandassistingwiththeroll-outofaneed-basedscholarshipprogramfor studentsenrolledinorplanningtoenrollinSTEMmajorsincollege.
● UpdatingFairFuturescollegematerialsandleadingmandatorytrainingsand workshopsattendedbyupto80coachesandcollegespecialistsacrosstheCity.
● Directlysupportingeducationteamsatfostercareagencies,developingsystemsfor identifyingstudentsinneedofeducationalsupport,reducingdurationsofresidential staysbyexpeditingtheprocessofreturningtoDOEschools,andprovidingsubject mattercoachingtocollegespecialists.
WeareexcitedtocontinueourconsultingandtechnicalassistanceworkinFY23.Ifyouare partofapeerorganizationthatwouldliketoreceiveconsultationsupportfromAttheTable, pleasedon’thesitatetoreachouttousatinfo@atthetable.nyc.
GivingThanks
Hello,mynameisSyleenaJonesandIamcurrentlyasenioratDemocracyPrep HarlemHighSchool.Inmyhighschoolwehavethisprojectcalled"ChangeThe WorldProject",wherewefocusonsystematicissuesgoingonintheworld.My projectwasabout[studentsinfostercare]andtheeducationsystemandhowthe educationsystemdoesnotprovide[them]withtherightresourcesinorderfor themtobesuccessful.I'mreachingouttosaythatIhaveraised$91witha fundraiserIdidatmyschooltodonatetothisorganization.Iwantedtodonate herebecauseIfinditincrediblethatthisteamisgivingstudentsincarethe chancetheydeserveatagoodeducation.
-SyleenaJones,e-mailtoAttheTable’scontactform
AsAttheTableseekstobuildanenvironmentofsupportaroundcollegestudentswhohave experiencedfostercare,weinturnrelyonagrowingcommunityofsupporters,including ourincredibleboard,ourfoundationpartners,ourpeerorganizations,andindividual
contributorswhobelieveinourworkenoughtodonateandraisemoneyfromtheirfriends. Nothingwedowouldbepossiblewithoutyou.Wewereparticularlysurprised,delighted, andhumbledthispastSpringtoreceivetheout-of-the-blueemailshownabovefromNYC highschoolstudentSyleenaJones,whohadlearnedaboutourorganizationviaaGoogle search.Itisimpossibletooverstatehowmuchthesekindsofencouragingmessagesmean tous.
WeheldourfirstAttheTableeventinMay2022,andwe’regratefultothefriends,family, colleagues,andsupporterswhoturnedoutandhelpedusraiseover$10,000forourcollege tutoringprogram,andtoMarlowEventsforprovidinguswithfirst-ratecateringata considerablediscount.Wehopetoeventuallyhosteventstwiceperyear,andweare lookingforwardtoournextgatheringinJanuaryof2023.
Werecognizebelowtheindividualsandorganizationsthatcontributedmorethan$1,000to AttheTableduringFiscalYear2022.Thankyouforbelievingandinvestinginus:
Supporters
K.Anderson
Anonymous(3)
ArctosFoundation
ConradN.HiltonFoundation
StephanandPaulettedelaVeaux
CarolineFarrandTerryHarvey
DavidGordonandJenKeiserGordon
GundersonDettmer
BillHamersly
BradHargreavesandAmandaMoskowitz
MaryJ.HutchinsFoundation
M.andD.Kent
LilyAuchinclossFoundation
ColmanLynchandJessicaHenshaw
MonicaMcCray
MorganMcCray
NoahMoss
PinkertonFoundation
RobinandRobertZink
RoseSchapiro
SusanJaneStamm
TheWarnerFund
JeffreyZink
Wewouldliketoexpressourprofoundgratitudeaswelltoourincredibleteamoftutors, whosededicationtostudentscomesthroughineverymeetingthey’repartof,andwho
sparenoefforttolearnthecountlesssubjectsandsystemsneededtoeffectivelyteachand adviseeveryoneweserve.
Wedeeplyappreciateourboardofdirectors,whoseadvice,insight,personalconnections, andenthusiasmforourmissionhashelpedusgrowsustainablywhilechallenging ourselvestoneverstopimprovingourprogram.
Sincetheverybeginningofourprogram,somanyofourstudentshavebenefited tremendouslyfromdirectassistanceandfundingfrominstitutionslikeCityLivingNYC, TogetherWeRise,OneSimpleWish,NewYorkersforChildren,FYSA/FYCSI,andScholarship Plus.Tothepeopleinvolvedinfundingandadministeringtheseprogramsandinitiatives, andtoourmanyreferralpartnerswithinFairFuturesandbeyond,weofferourthanks.
And,toourwonderfulstudents,wearesohonoredtobepartofyourcommunityofsupport, andwestriveeverydaytobuildaprogramworthyofthetrustthatyouhaveplacedinus.
FinancialInformation
“Ithink[mytutor]deservesabeachdayandraise.SheisthesecondtutorI
workedwithsofarandbeennothingbutniceandextremelyhelpfulandanactive listener.”-AlyanaP.,AttheTablestudent
AttheTableagainendedtheyearinastrongfiscalposition.Weraised$340,000fromamix ofgrants,privatecontributions,andfees-for-services(upfrom$330,000lastyear)and spent$347,000(seeprofitandlosssummarybelow).
InFY23,weexpectourannualbudgettomorethandoubleduetonewcommitmentsfroma rangeoffoundations,includingTigerFoundation,HarmanFamilyFoundation,ArborRising, andothers,aswellasunprecedentedopportunitiestodirectlyfundtutoringspacesthrough fee-for-servicecontractsaspartoftheCity’sFairFuturesinitiative.
Asourstudentshave-repeatedlyandwithoutprompting-advocatedinourend-of-year surveysfortheirtutorstoreceiveraises,andgiventheincreaseincostoflivingacrossthe countrythisyear,wehaveelectedtoraiseourbasetutorsalaryby$4,000fortheupcoming fiscalyear,to$50,000/yr.Wewillcontinuetomonitorandadjustoursalarystructureto respondtoinflationandmakeAttheTableasustainablelong-termworkplacefortutors.
kfulforthem,andthey’re ckeemaW.,AttheTable meetinginNovember2021,At niorstaffreaffirmedour ingstudentscurrentlyand NewYorkCitywithour seekingtogrowinother amintwoways:first,toserve getutoringandadvising,and
second,tobuildinfrastructureandpartnershipsthatallowustobettersupportstudents withchallengesoutsidetheclassroom.
NewYorkCity’sexpansionofFairFuturesfundinghasofferedunprecedentedopportunities toAttheTable,especiallygiventhatFairFuturesfundsmaynowbespentonsupporting youngpeopleaged21-26whoareformerlyinfostercare,apopulationthatcomprisesmuch ofAttheTable’sprogramenrollment.Wehavealreadysignedcontractswithfourfoster careagenciestogrowourtutoringefforts,andhavehiredthreenewtutorsforourprogram. OurgoalforFY23istogrowourtutoringcapacityfrom65to125studentsatonetime,while maintainingthehighqualityofservicesthatourstudentsexpectanddeservefromus.
Becausewearecommittedtoneverturninganeligiblestudentawaybasedonwhether theydoordonotfitintooneofourcontracts,wewilllikelyalwaysneedtofundraise independentlytoensurewehavespaceforstudentswhoarenottiedtoagencycontracts.
Furthermore,whilewebelievethattheresultsinthisreportshowincredibleprogress againstthegrimandundeservedoutcomesthattypicallyconfrontcollegestudentswho haveexperiencedfostercare,wearealsoworkinghardtoaddressthechallengesthat havecausedsomeofourstudentstohavetodelayordefertheircollegedream.Tothat end,weareexploringbringingnewstaffontoourteamtohelpnavigatementalhealth, housing,accesstobenefits,andotherchallengesthathaveimpactedourstudents’college trajectories.We’rehopefulthatexpandingtheresourceswecanofferin-housewillincrease therateatwhichourstudentssuccessfullycompleteclassesandremainenrolledin college,andwearesoexcitedtoshareourprogresswithyouintheyeartocome.
We’llendthisreport,asusual,withthewordsofthebestexpertsonAttheTable’sservices: thepeoplewhoparticipatedinourcollegetutoringprogramthisyear.Ifyou’dliketojoinus inconnectingtheseremarkablestudentswiththeeducationalresourcestheydeserve, pleasevisithttps://atthetable.org/support-our-work
“[AttheTable]hasmademyGPAgoupextremelyandmademeexcitedabout goingtoschool…Ilovemytutor.”-MichelleO.
“Thesupportisalways,nomatterwhereyouareinyoureducation.”-CordaleM.
“[Mytutor]wasgreat!Iacedallofmyessaysandlotsofthefeedbackshegave mewereexactlywhatmyprofessorsaid.”-ZidkijahJ.
“TheprogramwasandstillisextremelyhelpfulthisyearbecauseIwasableto meetwithatutorthatknowsmyclasssubjectsandisreallygoodathelpingme learn.ShealsohelpsmewithresourcesforthingsthatIneedoutsideofschool.Ifit wasn’tformytutorwithinthisprogram,Iwouldn'thavebeenabletogetbackinto schoolafterbeingacademicallydismissedandIwould’vehadalotmoreanxiety intakingtheseclasses.”-Anonymous
“Mywritingisgettingbetter.[Mytutor]isveryeasygoingandtakeshertimewith meandevengoesoutofherwaytohelpmefindotherresourcesformy assignments.”-CharismaK.
“Mytutorisgreat.Sheisalwayshelpingmeoutwithschoolandoutsideofschool resources.”-EshwireM.
“Thisprogramhelpedmestayontopofmyworkandlessoverwhelmed.Ifound thatIwasmoreactiveinmyclassesgiventhatIwassoactivewithmymentor.My mentornotonlyhelpedmewithschoolworkbutshealsotookthetimetohear aboutmypersonallifeandgetawayfromthestressofschoolworksometimes.I feltverysupportedthroughAttheTable’sprogram!”-JaylenF.
“Iwasabletore-entermyclassesandcontinuewithsupportformyclasses…it’s amazingandthanksforexisting.”-JamiletD.