HORIZONS HAMPTON ROADS INC

The goal is education and eliminating the achievement gap between low-income children and their more affluent peers. Horizons Hampton Roads summer program for our disadvantaged youth provides a focused approach that includes science, technology, literacy, mentoring and other important areas of youth education, aiming for a 9 year summer relationship with students. Horizons has a long-proven history of reversing the achievement gap, with students averaging 2-3 month gains in reading and math skill levels during the summer as opposed to skill loss. The effects are cumulative as students return each year, and demonstrate strong grade advancement, high school graduation, and college enrollment. What makes Horizons unique is the combination of experiences that make up the program. While the summer is extremely fast paced, small classes and a student/teacher ratio of 4:1 make it possible for every participating child to gain the maximum benefit from the experience. The summer theme "Lead…That's What We Do", provides a framework for each student to focus on the habits of beginning with the end in mind, being proactive, and understanding before trying to be understood. The project-based curriculum, learning journeys and in-school programs presented by outside providers focused on striking a balance between personal, environmental, and community responsibility. 97% of students completing Horizons graduate on time from high school. High school and college students who complete Horizons return each summer as aides and mentors, providing great examples of success to current students. 29 summer 2019 HHR staff members were Horizons graduates.

Literacy is the key academic focus at Horizons. As the summer session begins, reading specialists assess all students using the public school-sanctioned STAR evaluation tools. Teachers can then best determine placement of the students and can guide them to appropriate reading materials that match their individual levels, while challenging them and strengthening their skills. Literacy is incorporated in all lesson plans. There is designated reading time each day where students work individually with teachers, independently, and as part of the entire classroom. Horizons provides 2 licensed reading specialists at each site to work individually with students identified as being below grade level. Testing at the end of summer typically shows 2-3 months improvement in skill levels. For the students below grade level receiving individual remedial help, that growth is even stronger – up to 4.6 months.

The core curriculum includes focus areas for each grade. Third graders are introduced to LEGO™ Robotics, reinforcing all STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects. Fourth graders experience an introduction to digital photography program that teaches the fundamentals of digital camera use. Chess is taught by a tournament level expert for fifth graders, mixing in a disciplined approach to problem solving and planning ahead – skills required for life success. Sixth graders visited Washington, DC, hosted overnight by our affiliate, Horizons Greater Washington. Seventh grade students work with advanced LEGO™ Robotics and visit Richmond. We partner with Nauticus to provide our eighth-grade class with a week of sailing lessons and maritime science activities as part of the Nauticus SailQuest program.

Guided by a professional and licensed faculty, children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own experience and HHR provides many of the tools needed to guide them in the direction of personal responsibility, career success and community leadership. HHR emphasizes a time-tested combination of academics, art, music, cultural enrichment, and water safety. A 4:1 student/teacher ratio is maintained to optimize the project-based learning environment, supplemented by carefully orchestrated “learning journeys" and opportunities for service to others. Additionally, all children swim 3 days a week, gaining self-confidence along with an important life skill. Children receive nutritious breakfast and lunch and a snack as part of each day. STEM project-based learning includes beginning coding, 3D design and printing, and Lego robotics.

Horizons Hampton Roads aims for a 9-year investment in each student served to allow gains made each summer to compound over the years. A year-round monthly high school program provides strategies for continued academic success, community volunteering opportunities and field trips.

Horizons Hampton Roads is a local affiliate of the nationally acclaimed summer education and enrichment program developed by Horizons National. Horizons Hampton Roads was incorporated in June, 1999. The organization is made up of a partnership among Norfolk Collegiate School, Chesapeake Bay Academy, Portsmouth Catholic Regional School, and the school systems of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth, Virginia. Horizons is a full-day, six-week summer academic, cultural and social enrichment program that provides educational, remedial and developmental aid to low-income public school children, grades K – 8. The Horizons program is designed for students to return each summer to provide long-term education gains. Horizons works closely with the public school systems to ensure a seamless transition from one grade to the next. Horizons students begin their new school year much better prepared to meet its challenges than children who do not enjoy the benefits of summer learning.
Horizons Hampton Roads employs 3 full-time, year-round administrative professionals, and summer staff of 28 licensed teachers, 22 teacher aides (many of whom are licensed), 10 high school aides, 6 reading specialists, and five special teachers (art and music) and about 75 volunteers. Summer staff return rate exceeds 85%, providing strong continuity of mission. Horizons is financially stable, as verified by outside audit, with no debt and endowment funds of over $1.5M. Vital school system and host school partnerships are strong, and facility availability for 400 students is not a concern. Key partners providing critical support to HHR efforts include:
• Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach public school systems provide referral of students, academic transcripts, and transportation of students from their homes to the site as well as to swimming lessons and field trips
• Partnering private schools (Portsmouth Catholic Regional School, Norfolk Collegiate School, Chesapeake Bay Academy) provide facility use, janitorial staff, supplies, administrative support and kitchen facilities for meals
• YMCA of Portsmouth, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Norfolk Parks and Recreation provide Red Cross swimming lessons four days per week at favorable costs
• Nauticus National Maritime Center, Norfolk Zoo, Chrysler Museum of Art, Slover Library, Old Dominion University, VDOT, Portsmouth Arts and Cultural Center, Elizabeth River Project Learning Barge and Hurrah Players provide weekly field trip activities.
• Virginia Department of Education/USDA provide financial support for summer meals
• Old Dominion University and Regent University provide education students as interns
• Tidewater Community College's Norfolk campus hosts a monthly Saturday program for high school students who completed the Horizons summer program.

At Horizons Hampton Roads, we know that it's important to start early, so our programs provide academic support starting with a class of kindergarteners, providing an opportunity for early intervention that addresses the achievement gap. Our goal is to keep students through eighth grade, giving us nine consecutive summers to make a difference in their lives, beyond just preparing them for high school. This time at Horizons results in transformative cumulative gains in skills and abilities that narrow opportunity gaps. Our high retention rate of over 80% showcases the students' love for the program, adding to overall success by compounding gains made each year. Test results show average gains of 2-3 months in both reading and math skills year after year for our students.

We achieved full K-8 summer capabilities in 2016 and added a year-round high school program so our students can stay connected with Horizons through HS graduation. Monthly sessions include strategies for high school success, community service, and field trips.

We now have summer staff who had previously “graduated" from the Horizons summer program, returning as high school and college student aides to help the program and serve as role models and mentors. One student started as a Kindergartener in our first year and has come back every summer through high school and college. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a teaching degree and became our first summer teacher who was a Horizons student. Another student graduated from College of William and Mary and serves on the Board of Directors.

Near term plans include further growth of our high school support. As our financial ability grows, we expect to establish a fourth K-8 site in one of the three communities we serve. Each site's capacity is limited to 135 students (15 per grade) and we currently serve less than 2% of the low-income students in any of our cities.