Why Horizons
Horizons National Philosophy and Program Contribute to Closing Achievement Gap
The latest research, summarized in a 2007 report commissioned by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, concludes that the annual growth in the academic achievement gap between low-income children and their more advantaged peers lies in the disparity of their summer experiences. The report goes on further to find that the type of summer intervention that has the most impact on achievement for low-income kids is a “hybrid” approach of experiential learning and enrichment that includes
“…engaging learning activities that give children a chance to practice and make school-taught skills meaningful, and build motivation through successful learning experiences in the arts, sports, or other areas. Such experiences create increased engagement in learning, which encompasses attitudes and behaviors such as motivation, persistence, initiative and focus. Research indicates that engagement in learning is the key to school achievement as well as long-term success, more powerful than IQ or family background.”
Horizons has provided just such a program to low-income kids for more than 40 years. Now in 13 locations in 9 states, Horizons’ successful approach to summer learning was also validated in a 2007 report by evaluation experts from Yale University.
Some essential elements of Horizons’ success are:
We start in Kindergarten: The academic achievement gap between low-income and middle-class children grows from six months in kindergarten to two years and sixth months by the end of fifth grade. So intervention must occur early in order to be effective.
We make learning fun: Project-based learning and experiences in the arts and sports develop engagement, which is “the key to school achievement as well as long-term success, more powerful than IQ or family.”
We improve competence AND confidence: There is nothing more powerful for children than discovering they can achieve things they never thought possible.
It is the clear and continuing goal of Horizons National to contribute to closing the achievement gap in our country by providing the kind of summer experiences that both sustain and add to the pace and achievement of the school year – to an ever-greater number of low-income children.
Some facts:
• 93% of Horizons students attend our affiliate summer programs every day.
• 80% return year after year, attending Horizons for an average of 5 years.
• 193 public schools partner with Horizons National and value the enrichment their students receive.
• 27,200 hours of academics are provided each summer by 286 paid professional teachers and assistants.
• 100% of Horizons students learn to swim – and gain enormously in self-confidence.
• 100% of students who completed the ongoing Horizons high-school mentoring program in 2007 enrolled in college.
More than 1,500 students benefit from Horizons National each summer.
The benefit to our country in terms of added human resources is incalculable. |
