All In For All Kids

DREAM grows the whole child—and we grow all children.

DREAM’s Grow the Whole Child educational model is based on four pillars that drive transformative change for youth: rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep care for a child’s physical and mental health and wellness, and commitment to family and community engagement. Every DREAM student and alum, from Pre-K through age 24, receives holistic support, year-round, both in and out of the classroom. That’s because DREAM runs extended-day, extended-year schools, with approximately 600 annual hours of afterschool programming; 300 hours of summer programming; and up to six years of formal postsecondary supports.

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Nearly one-third of DREAM students have special needs, compared to NYC’s average of 21%.

At DREAM, we know that All Kids Can. The belief that every child has the right and ability to thrive fuels our work. We live that belief in our inclusive practices: classrooms built on small group and individual instruction, two teachers per classroom, deep family partnerships, AP classes for all, college visits, and one-on-one college access counseling. That work matters for the nearly one-third of DREAM students who have special needs (compared to NYC’s average of 21%); the nearly 90% of DREAM students who live below the poverty line; and the 70% of DREAM Charter High School seniors who are first-generation college students.

Angelica & Craig

On a Journey

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For Angelica Rodriguez and her son, Craig, finding DREAM was a long journey. Craig began daycare during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time that felt unstable and inconsistent for the then-preschooler. Every time he would find a teacher he connected with, they would leave. His days were disrupted by quarantines and time away from the school building. It was a rocky start, which exacerbated Craig’s growing behavioral issues.

“I think that’s where he picked up a lot of the challenges we’re working on now,” Angelica says. “He can be set off very easily and it can snowball, because once he’s in that flow of emotions, he has to kind of spiral. He is smart, he knows his techniques. But emotionally when he’s in that phase, he has to kind of go through the waves.”

Hoping to find the right fit for Craig, Angelica heard about DREAM Highbridge Elementary School from another parent in her neighborhood. The idea of a small school community where Craig could get individualized attention sounded great, but the fact that the school was just opening worried Angelica, after years of starts and stops with Craig’s support.

What she found at DREAM was a culture of care that made Craig—and her—feel known, seen, and loved. The small but mighty staff in DREAM Highbridge’s founding year took the time to observe Craig, learn his triggers, and provide him with support and solutions. Even before an official Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was put in place, the team developed strategies and protocols to ensure Craig didn’t lose time in the classroom and could continue learning and growing.

“I walk by five other schools every day on my way to DREAM,” says Angelica. “And I choose DREAM because of how secure I feel, knowing that my child is going to get the help he needs.”

“It‘s okay if you fail, but we‘re not going to give up. That‘s something that you get from DREAM every single day. Even if it takes a thousand tries, they‘re going to make sure you get it.”

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Almost 9 in 10 DREAM students live below the poverty line.

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‘When we think about what we are able to do, the way we are able to think creatively, the way we are able to think critically, the way we are able to think outside the box and actually be more than a school—that is the power of charter schools. It’s the power of bringing folks together, with the vision and the heart to do it and the commitment to see it all the way through.’

- Crystal Lane, DREAM Chief Education Officer

Michael & Rosa

Big Dreams

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DREAM Charter High School senior Michael Saldaña has big dreams. The first is to play Division I soccer. The next is to study business, and eventually become a sports broadcaster. But underlying all of those dreams, especially for Michael‘s mother, Rosa, is an education.

“For me, the most important thing is that you have a degree, no matter what you study,” she says. “I want Michael to study, to grow in life, and to help other people.”

Coming to the U.S. from Mexico, Rosa didn‘t have the opportunity to finish her education. The language barrier made earning a college degree in the U.S. difficult, and she could see firsthand how the lack of an education could create limitations. When she had Michael, her only child, Rosa knew she wanted to find a school that would instill in him a love for learning that would take him to and through college.

At DREAM, Rosa found an extended-day, year-round community of people who not only cared for her son, but also opened his eyes to a world of opportunities and enrichment. In summer and afterschool programming, Michael developed his love for sports and play, while in the classroom he discovered an inherent connection to STEM subjects.

What‘s more, when Michael found himself struggling with focus and motivation mid-way through high school, DREAM teachers developed and implemented a plan that got his grades back to the top of his class—applying all the care and dedication to his studies that Rosa would have shown herself.

“My mom helped me find more pathways to my education,” says Michael. “She‘s the reason I go to DREAM, because she thought it was the best education yet.”

“I think having a college degree is the most important, because I can go anywhere I want. I can get a job without worrying if I have to eat tomorrow, or if I‘m going to have enough money to do something. My mom wants me to get an education so I can be the person I want to be.”

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7 in 10 DREAM Charter High School seniors who are first-generation college students.

DREAM ensures that all young people recognize their potential and realize their dreams.

We level the playing field in our schools and communities by investing in the whole child from early childhood to early adulthood.

We envision a just future where every single child, from every single zip code, can influence and lead generational change.

To learn more, visit www.wearedream.org

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