The Need

There are nearly 8,000 young people in New York City’s foster care system, and tens of thousands more who have experienced foster care. 

In New York City and beyond, young people in foster care experience negative outcomes that belie their high aspirations and potential.  Less than half of young people in care in NYC go on to graduate from high school, and nationwide, just 3% of adolescents in care earn a bachelor’s degree by age 26. 

The barriers that young people in care face to educational success are high - they can include the impact of trauma and structural racism, unequal access to quality instruction, home and school disruptions, and, in some cases, the emotional weight of being labeled a “failure” by the education system. 

Yet these challenges are not insurmountable; when we arm students in foster care with information, resources, and connections to skilled, caring allies, we can create better educational outcomes and, ultimately, a more equitable society.

Our Approach

At the Table matches students in foster care with long-term 1:1 tutors who meet with them every week in their home or nearby in their community. 

Tutors work with students to achieve their educational goals, providing homework help, organization strategies, test prep, and fundamentals practice in any subject where the student identifies a need for support. Tutors are also adept in navigating the high school and college systems, working with students to develop high school and college applications, apply for financial aid and scholarships, develop their course schedules, and more.

At the Table tutoring is not a short-term intervention: tutors meet with students until they graduate, and in the process, become academic mentors and role models. Tutors are full-time staff of At the Table and serve caseloads of 15 students each.

Our Philosophy

The name “At the Table” reflects our collaborative approach to working with our students. In a conventional classroom setting, students sit at desks and are taught by an adult standing at the front of the room - but in individualized tutoring, the student and tutor work through challenges together at the table.

We believe that the equal partnership created in tutoring is particularly important for students in care, who face disempowering experiences both inside and outside of school. When done effectively, individualized educational support can not only help students grow academically, it can also build their sense of agency and their confidence in themselves.