The Children's Storefront is celebrating 40 years educating children in Harlem. We provide students with a solid education, combining the open admission policy of the public school system with the rigorous academic curriculum and socialization of a private school. At the Storefront all children are included in the regular academic program. We do not label or set lower expectations for those of our children with learning issues. We do, however, seek to provide support and services to improve performance and develop individual strategies for each child.
In addition to dealing with learning issues the Storefront deals with the impact of divorce, incarcerated parents, sudden parental or sibling death, a chaotic home environment, informal foster care arrangements, physical and/or sexual abuse, substance abuse, poverty and disease, lead poisoning, the pull of street culture and ongoing violence. These complex and real threats and dangers are elements of everyday life in the world of many of our children. The 40 educators and staff and 60 volunteers at the Storefront work hard to help the children fight these challenges; a task that requires patience, care and constant awareness.
Founded in 1966 to provide a safe haven for Harlem children to engage in a variety of educational activities, today The Children's Storefront is an independent tuition-free school in Harlem committed to providing a comprehensive education to children with varied academic strengths from preschool through eighth grade. Our work is grounded in the conviction that every child deserves the opportunity for an excellent education. We work in partnership with families and community members to prepare children academically, socially and emotionally for further education, empowering each child to reach his or her potential. We are a caring community of educators, children, families and friends who are focused on each student's daily achievement as a step towards a better future.