GO’s Mission—
We believe:
Every child needs a champion.
Every child can achieve success in school and life.
Every student deserves access to fair and equitable education support.
GO's team of experienced educators provides free one-on-one tutoring and mentorship to economically disadvantaged ICSD students in grades two through eight. GO tutors integrate themselves into all facets of their student's academic experience and advocate for their well-being. The professional, individualized tutoring, social-emotional guidance, and enrichment services provided to students and caregivers ensure that every participant feels seen, heard, and supported.
GO Students Receive 4,200 Hours of Additional Academic Support
Students are referred to GO based on academic and financial needs. Students are paired with a private tutor at no cost and begin a journey together that will last through middle school. Every student receives two, one-hour sessions per week over 30 weeks— resulting in 60 additional hours of individualized academic support and care in a safe and nurturing after-school environment. Tutoring takes place on-site, at the child's school, allowing a smooth end-of-day transition for students. The consistency and support provided change a child's academic trajectory in profound ways.
“My son is ready to step up to the challenge of middle school, and I really thank his tutor for that. She’s really helped us a lot - I’m a single mother, and I’m really grateful for the support and consistency.”
—Parent of 5th-grade GO student
GO Tutors Build Relationships & Create Opportunities
Additional academic and social-emotional support from a safe, stable, and reliable role model is critical for the future of our most vulnerable students.
GO Tutors meet with classroom teachers at the start of the year to set learning goals for their students. They observe students in the classroom and attend curriculum nights and parent-teacher conferences. This individualized system of support ensures the child's academic needs are met.
In addition to one-on-one tutoring, GO tutors serve as mentors. They are a bridge between home and school, partnering with parents and caregivers to provide enrichment opportunities for the family. Whether tickets to a play, a sporting event, visiting a museum, or receiving sponsorship for swimming or music lessons, this added level of trust, support, and opportunity transform students' feelings about school, their community, and life.
“My son’s tutor comes to his basketball games at school. It’s a good way for us to get to know one another.” —Parent of 4th grade GO student
GO Provides Fair and Equitable Access to Participation
GO partnered with the Ithaca City School District Bus Department until 2019, when the pandemic turned our world inside out. For 14 years, GO students were transported home at the end of their tutoring session, providing a smooth end-of-day transition for students whose families have little to no access to transportation. When ICSD suspended bus service, GO found creative ways to ensure students could continue tutoring after school and on-site, including membership with a local nonprofit organization, Ithaca Carshare. GO received emergency grant funds to cover the cost of transportation, and many tutors drove students home following their tutoring sessions.
For over 19 years, GO has delivered free tutoring to ICSD's marginalized student population without barriers to participation. Every year, GO renews its commitment to provide free one-on-one tutoring to low-income students struggling to meet grade-level benchmarks. Access to free academic support and mentorship has grown more critical with the increased demand for support services. Our community is home to a diverse population, and while we take pride in this diversity, it also brings to light significant disparities. GO students deserve access to educational resources but continue encountering numerous barriers.
As we continue to work toward creating fair and equitable services for underserved students, we have identified two pressing issues that impede their progress: GO caregivers need reliable transportation, and food insecurity is detrimental to GO students' overall well-being. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these challenges, we established GO Clubs in 2022. By expanding our program to address these critical needs, we can profoundly impact the lives of the students we serve. This expansion aligns with our core mission of promoting academic success and overall well-being among at-risk students in our community.
GO continues to face transportation challenges and, each year, creates a new plan to ensure students can continue tutoring services and receive transportation home following their sessions. Some ICSD after-school programs have agreed to accept GO students at no cost, and many students will participate in the GO Club. GO Clubs ensures that elementary students whose caregivers have no transportation access can continue receiving free one-on-one tutoring and transportation home. The GO Club bridges the 90-minute gap between the end of tutoring and when ICSD sends a bus to pick GO students up at 4:30 and provides community, friendship, and healthy snacks for students at the end of the economic scale.