Growth, Quality and Sustainability

HNYC strives to:

• Grow in order to serve more NYC children by maximizing programs at existing sites and opening programs at new sites.

• Support existing NYC sites in fulfilling their goal of providing high-quality Horizons programs.

• Ensure that programs are sustainable and well-positioned to build and maintain lasting communities and long-term relationships for students and families.

The Need for Horizons Expansion in New York City:

• Over 75% of NYC public school students are eligible for Horizons based on government poverty guidelines.

• The City’s poverty clusters, including NYCHA developments, are among the targeted areas for Horizons programs.

• These same students typically develop significant lear ning gaps and have limited resources for social and emotional support.

• Horizons aims to bridge this equity gap.

Growth Goal 2023-2025:

Expand to serve 1500 students.

Long-term Growth Goal:

Serve 5% of NYC children whose families meet government poverty guidelines.

Program Quality:

HNYC is committed to assisting area sites to provide consistent, high-quality programs that meet the evolving needs of students from under-resourced communities. We operate within a culture of continual improvement and strive to follow best practices identified and practiced by Horizons National and its network of affiliates.

Program Quality Goals 2023-2025:

• Use annual data collected by Horizons National combined with in-person program visits and meetings to assess program attendance, retention rates for students and teachers, academic gains, enrichment offerings, and adherence to other Horizons guidelines including school-year connections, family engagement, and professional staff.

• Review program quality each year with HN, the HNYC board and Executive Directors of the NYC programs.

Sustainability:

We place significant emphasis on helping our local Horizons sites maintain programmatic and financial sustainability. The largest components of our yearly expenses consist of helping to cover local program costs and directing grants to our local programs. HNYC also works with local Horizons program leaders, individually and as a community, to build and maintain sustainable programs and a thriving Horizons region.

Sustainability Goals 2023-2025:

• Increase financial support of existing and new local program sites, commensurate with the projected increase in the number of students served.

• Develop close relationships with the host institutions of NYC programs and their leaders.

• Assist local program sites in developing strong boards, and partner with them in supporting the work of HNYC.

• Assist local programs as appropriate in reviewing their yearly expenses and developing sources of funding.

We advance educational equity in the New York metropolitan area by supporting and expanding critical summer and out-of-school programs beginning as early as kindergarten for students whose families meet government poverty guidelines. We focus on a sustained commitment to our students to ensure that they have the opportunity, skills, and confidence to fulfill their potential in school and life.