The staff of Horizons at Georgia Tech is counting down the days until its summer learning program, anticipating serving over 230 rising 1st through 9th grade students or scholars from the Atlanta area. With Horizons Giving Day set for May 15, Sirocus Barnes, director of Horizons at Georgia Tech announced the goal to raise $5,000 to support and expand program activities that focus on academic growth, social-emotional learning, and confidence building.

“We believe that our scholars’ success is deeply rooted in the collaborative spirits of our partnerships. As we look forward to Horizons Giving Day 2024, we are filled with hope and determination to deepen our commitment and support for our scholars,” he said. “It is through our enduring partnerships with their families and the community that we can truly nurture and elevate the potential of each child. Together we are not just investing in education; we are cultivating a legacy of lifelong learning and achievement.”

Now in its 11th year on campus, the year-round program is one of 11 Horizons Atlanta program sites located within the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) at Georgia Tech. Barnes explained that Horizons at Georgia Tech has been a cornerstone of community-centered education, providing a tuition-free, six-week summer learning experience that is proven to reverse learning loss and accelerate academic gains.

“In the wake of the pandemic, our mission has become even more critical, with students on average being 4-5 months behind in reading and math,” said Barnes, who also serves as CEISMC’s Senior Program Director. “Our program has consistently demonstrated success, with students experiencing an average of 6–10-week gains in reading and math over the course of a summer.”

Scholars spend six weeks at Georgia Tech, receiving remediation in math and reading, participating in problem-based learning activities, exploring Atlanta’s cultural landmarks, and learning how to swim at Tech’s Campus Recreation Center.

New for this summer is the addition of a group of AmeriCorps learning support coordinators who will serve as mentors and tutors for the scholars as part of CEISMC’s Georgia Tech AmeriCorps Academic Mentoring Program. Also, a learning loss grant from the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services in partnership with United Way will support academic remediation and acceleration for students in the Horizons at Georgia Tech program.

Scholars receive support throughout the academic year through after school programs and family engagement events. Horizons at Georgia Tech partners with three local schools, Centennial Academy, Drew Charter, and Hollis Innovation Academy. Students who qualify for free or reduced priced meals and who are pre-identified by the partner schools are accepted into the program.

For more information and to donate to Horizons Giving Day (which is ongoing until May 31), please visit www.tinyurl.com/HorizonsGTGiving24.

— Joëlle Walls, CEISMC Communications