Horizons National is pleased to welcome new programs to its award-winning network. The University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. will open its doors for the first time to low-income public school children.

With the addition of the new partner school, more students will benefit from Horizons’ comprehensive and long-term commitment to children’s success.  Horizons’ individualized approach to learning employs a combination of academics, arts, cultural programs and sports, including swimming, for children starting in kindergarten and supports them on their path to becoming confident, competent, and college-bound students.

“We are excited to welcome these new communities into our network. The addition of these six new programs significantly increases our ability to provide exceptional learning opportunities for more children across the country,” said Lorna Smith, CEO of Horizons National. “It is an honor to partner with each of these esteemed educational institutions as they collaborate with public schools and families for the benefit of the children in their communities.”

Research shows that low-income children lose ground in reading and math over the summer, while their more affluent peers continue to move ahead. This fuels the academic achievement gap and contributes to dropout rates.

Horizons’ students typically gain 2 to 3 months in reading and math skills over the six-week summer session. More than 80 percent of Horizons students return to the program the next year, and many spend nine consecutive summers on the same campus in a stable and nurturing learning community.

While looking for an effective and proven program to address summer learning loss in Mississippi, University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts Assistant Dean Dr. Stephen Monroe turned to Horizons.  “In Mississippi, far too many children live in poverty, and far too few of those children have access to meaningful learning experiences during the summers.  As Mississippi’s flagship university, we wanted to address this problem.  After reviewing many possible approaches, we soon focused on Horizons,” said Monroe.

Describing the Horizons approach, Monroe said, “At Horizons, kids read aloud, collaborate in small groups, use technology, paint, knit, recite poetry.  Teachers work together to plan and teach an integrated curriculum.  At Horizons you see an authentic community of people who want to be together, are learning and, best of all, having fun!”

Horizons encourages young students to continue their learning during the summer.

The McLean Institute at the University of Mississippi partnered with Horizons National to sponsor a summer learning program for public school students from Bramlett Elementary in Oxford. Horizons National is a network of high-quality academic enrichment programs serving eligible public school students on campuses of independent schools and colleges. Across the country, Horizons affiliates challenge children academically, socially and physically, inspiring them to become life-long learners. Beginning in Kindergarten, Horizons supports children and their parents throughout their elementary and secondary school years, building enduring learning communities. The same cohorts of students will have the opportunity to return to campus through eighth grade.

The program came to the University of Mississippi with strong support from Chancellor Dan Jones, Provost Morris Stocks, and the College of Liberal Arts. The McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement is the University’s central unit for facilitating and encouraging community engagement and supporting programs like Horizons. “We are pleased to lead and support the Horizons program at the University of Mississippi,” said Dr. Albert Nylander, director of the McLean Institute.

“Bringing Horizons to Mississippi has been a collaborative effort between the McLean Institute, the School of Education, the United Way, the Literacy Council, Bramlett Elementary, and the Oxford School District. This is a community initiative happening on the campus of our university, and we are thrilled with the results. Our children are learning to swim, having fun, and, most importantly, achieving significant summer learning gains,” said assistant Dean Dr. Stephen Monroe.

The University of Mississippi hosted 30 rising first and second graders for six weeks, offering academic programming, swimming lessons, art activities, and frequent field trips around campus. Academic programs were directed by teachers from Bramlett Elementary with support from University staff and volunteers. The program was coordinated by Brittany Galloway, a VISTA working with the North Mississippi VISTA Project and the North Panola School District. ”It was really exciting to have the kids on campus this summer and to see how much fun they had while also learning and growing. I think our first year was very successful and I can’t wait to see how the program evolves,” said Galloway. 

Next year, the program will expand to include rising third graders. The program will eventually serve first through eighth grades. Horizons has decades of success  working around the country to combat summer learning loss. Dr. Nylander believes that the Horizons program provides an important service to the Oxford community.

“The McLean Institute is committed to creating summer learning  opportunities for children in Mississippi. Research shows that students typically experience learning losses during the summer when not engaged in educational activities. Additionally we know that some of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth is explained by unequal access to summer learning  opportunities. Horizons serves as part of the answer in addressing these challenges,” said Nylander.  

For more information, contact the McLean Institute here.