Spotlight On

Mission: Explore's mission is to provide its students with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the high school of their choice.

Background: Explore was established to address the critical need in New York City for more outstanding public schools. Explore was chartered in June of 2001 and opened its doors to 168 Kindergarten - 3rd graders in August of 2002. Students who attend Explore come from Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. 77% of Explore's students are eligible for free and reduced meals. By the end of Explore's first year, 97% of Kindergarteners were reading at or above grade level.

Current Programs: Explore provides its students with 35% more instruction than if they attended traditional public schools. Students are in school until 4:20 p.m. each day, 205 days each year. Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms each have a full-time teaching assistant. Parents are expected to attend 4 parent-teacher conferences each year, to volunteer, and to participate in curriculum nights and grade-level breakfasts.

Funding Needs: Explore Charter School's goal is to to sustain its unique school design features, specifically teaching assistant salaries, ongoing professional development, and the programmatic component of the school's extended day and extended year.

Every month, the "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in the tri-state region (NY, NJ, or CT). The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," please use this submission form to send us a profile of your organization. Or e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to nyweb@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.