First-of-Its-Kind Summer Program Launches for Struggling Young Learners in NYC

NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 

CALL TO ACTION:
Horizons NYC is actively seeking referrals of rising kindergarten and first-grade students who are struggling in school with suspected learning disabilities and qualify for free or reduced lunch. Families, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to contact Macy Stockton, Executive Director, at [email protected], or visit horizonsnewyorkcity.org/horizons-gateway to learn more.

The Gateway School and Horizons New York City are proud to announce the launch of Horizons NYC at The Gateway School—a first-of-its-kind summer program offering early, tuition-free intervention for children from systemically under-resourced communities who are struggling in school with suspected language-based learning disabilities.

This groundbreaking initiative is the first to pair a nationally recognized summer enrichment model with the deep expertise of a school that specializes in language-based learning differences. It is designed to reach students before formal diagnoses are typically made, when the proper support can make the most significant impact.

Launching this summer for rising kindergarten and first-grade students, the program will grow over time to serve grades K–8. Combining Gateway's 60 years of experience in specialized education with Horizons NYC's proven out-of-school model, it delivers critical literacy instruction and social-emotional support during a vulnerable time for young learners.

"This is a truly unique collaboration with the potential to change lives," said Joseph Auteberry, Gateway educator and Program Director. "We're meeting students at the moment they begin to struggle and offering the tools and confidence they need to succeed."

The initiative has drawn strong support from education leaders. Former NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña supports the program for providing learning opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access, helping to change the trajectory of their lives and create generational impact for families.

Assembly member Robert C. Carroll '97, a Gateway alumnus and author of the Dyslexia Task Force Act, also champions the effort as a model for literacy equity and early intervention.

To refer a student or learn more, visit: https://www.horizonsnewyorkcity.org/horizons-gateway

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SOURCE The Gateway School of New York