How We Create Impact

2018 was a good year for the coalition of partners that make Zone 126’s work a reality.

Zone 126’s Pre-K through 12 education pipeline model along with targeted and school-wide programming, delivers in-school and after-school learning experiences that increase school attendance, credit accumulation and graduation rates to supplement and support the work of instructional staff and leaders in caring for the socio-emotional needs of students and families. Currently, all of our partner programs are anchored at P.S. 171Q, I.S. 126Q and Long Island City High School and serve as a base for student and family support services and program operations.

In addition to our Neighborhood Community Schools model, we use each school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) to structure collaborations between the school community, community resources and non-profit service providers to create a shared agenda and culture of student achievement. Each CEP serves as a transparent guide for achieving clear outcomes for students by grade, subject matter, school climate and family engagement.

Lastly and most importantly, our role as a neutral convener of community stakeholders and affinity groups brings together instructional leaders monthly, Executive Directors quarterly, parents and residents bi-annually and youth on an annual basis to inform our work. Convening interested parties in this way creates both safe and brave spaces for peer-to-peer learning specifically around addressing racial inequity in public education.

In focusing on fewer local schools that are naturally connected to each other, our coalition have increased the potential to raise private funds to leverage our recent $2.5M federal Community Schools grant award, and network community-based partners and schools with local and corporate businesses.

We still have a long way to go to improving education outcomes for the most excluded in our local schools. However we stand confident that new breakthroughs are on their way in 2019.