About Horizons National
Horizons National is a non-profit organization that aims to provide academic, enrichment, and social-emotional learning programs to children in under-resourced communities. The organization was founded in 1964 by a group of educators who were concerned about the achievement gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers. Since then, Horizons National has grown into a network of programs that serve thousands of children across the United States.
The mission of Horizons National is to empower young people from under-resourced communities by providing them with opportunities for academic success and personal growth. The organization believes that every child deserves access to high-quality education and enrichment programs, regardless of their background or circumstances.
One of the key components of Horizons National's approach is its focus on summer learning. Research has shown that low-income students are at risk for falling behind academically during the summer months when they are not in school. To address this issue, Horizons National offers six-week summer programs that provide students with intensive academic support as well as opportunities for enrichment activities like swimming, art, music, and field trips.
In addition to its summer programs, Horizons National also supports year-round programming in some locations. These programs offer ongoing academic support and social-emotional learning opportunities to help students build confidence and resilience.
Horizons National works closely with local schools and community organizations to identify children who would benefit from its programs. The organization partners with independent schools, colleges and universities across the country which provides facilities for program sites during summers when school buildings are closed.
One unique aspect of Horizons National's approach is its emphasis on family engagement. The organization recognizes that parents play a critical role in their children's education but may face barriers such as language or cultural differences or work schedules which prevent them from being involved fully in their child’s education journey . To address this issue ,Horizon’s staff works closely with families throughout the year providing resources such as workshops on parenting skills , financial literacy etc., so they can better support their child’s educational journey .
Overall,Horizon’s national has been successful at closing opportunity gaps through innovative programming designed specifically for under-resourced communities . Its commitment towards empowering young people through quality education will continue making an impact on generations yet unborn .