NYCHA’s education programs are geared toward helping young people acquire knowledge, skills, self-respect, and confidence in a fun environment. At most Community Centers, NYCHA offers an assortment of programs with activities to appeal to every child, from athletics to computers, and reading to chess. More details about each program are available below. For further information and to sign up for any of the education programs please call 212-306-2935/3232/3246 or 3479.

ATTAIN Computer Labs
ATTAIN (Advanced Technology, Training and Information Networking) provides technology labs where residents have access to state-of-the-art hardware and interactive, multimedia software. The State University of New York (SUNY) provides two "facilitators" who oversee instruction for children, teens, adults and seniors in the lab. ATTAIN labs are located in Manhattan at the Polo Grounds and Drew Hamilton Community Centers, in Brooklyn at Farragut Houses Community Center and in Staten Island at the Berry Houses Annex and South Beach Community Center.

Back to the top

Chess
The Chess Program is offered at 25 NYCHA Community Centers and includes intensive training, which leads up to an inter-borough competition and a citywide tournament. The year round program teaches youth, ages 9 and up, how to analyze and resolve difficult situations and build self-confidence.

I Have A Dream (IHAD)
The I Have A Dream (IHAD) Program is a collaborative effort between the IHAD Foundation and NYCHA. The program "adopts" third graders from participating NYCHA developments and monitors these children from elementary school through high school graduation. The IHAD program also offers the "Dreamers" educational, social and culturally-enriched activities designed to increase their chances for success. IHAD promises tuition assistance to those "Dreamers" who graduate from high school and wish to attend college or vocational training. IHAD programs are currently in operation at Melrose Houses in the Bronx, Chelsea-Elliott and DeHostos Houses in Manhattan, and Ravenswood Houses in Queens.

New York City Early Literacy Learning (NYCELL)
The NYCELL Program seeks to strengthen language and pre-reading skills of children between the ages of one and four, so that they enter school ready to learn and to succeed. NYCELL is a collaborative effort between the Mayor's Office, the Department of Education and NYCHA. This program is being offered at five NYCHA Community Centers: Bronx Classic at Melrose Houses in the Bronx; Van Dyke Community Center in Brooklyn; and Rutgers and King Towers Community Centers in Manhattan.

Partners In Reading (PIR)
Through a combination of classroom instruction, individual tutoring, use of interactive projects, and outreach to parents, Partners in Reading (PIR) seeks to improve the literacy skills of children between the ages of six to eight years old (in first, second and third grades). NYCHA offers the PIR program at 84 Community Centers throughout the five boroughs and at other NYCHA community facilities. Approximately 2,000 children are registered in this program. The Partners in Reading Program is a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, the New York City Housing Authority, and the Department of Education.

Register NOW! The 2009-10 program begins October 5th and ends May 27th.

Back to the top

Career and Computer Essentials (CACE)
The Career and Computer Essentials (CACE) program was established through a three (3) year Neighborhood Network Grant (NN) funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Career and Computer Essentials (CACE) program provides access to computers and technology-based education and job preparation activities to NYCHA residents. CACE also provides certification training programs for adults 18 years and older, who are seeking employment. The Career and Computer Essentials program curriculum includes, but is not limited to, the following courses and training programs: computer training, job preparation, General Education Development (GED) exam prep, SAT and ACT exam prep, math and reading skills improvement classes and a Sound and Music Engineering Program for Teens.

Build, Research, Invent, Design, Grow and Explore through Science (BRIDGES)
The Salvadori Center, a non-profit educational organization operating out of City College of New York, is working in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to operate the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. (Build, Research, Invent, Design, Grow and Explore through Science) Program. This after school program is designed to help 8-12 year olds improve their understanding of science, engineering, mathematics, design and technology through the use of real-world projects. Once a week, an architect-educator from the Salvadori Center works with youth at the community center on special projects to help the students expand their math and science learning. Because children in the program work mainly in small groups, they also learn to cooperate with one another, analyze problems to find solutions, and share what they have learned through writing and oral presentations. Some of the project based educational activities include: building scale models of New York City bridges (mathematics); create drawings of their communities (art); figure out why buildings stand up (physical science); construct models of skyscrapers (engineering); learn patience and precision in their work (life skills).

Back to the top

Computer Training and Career Development Centers Program (CTCDC)
The Computer Training and Career Development Centers Program (CTCDC) was established through a three (3) year Neighborhood Network Grant (NN) funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The goal of the CTCDC Program is to close the technology divide of low income NYCHA residents, allowing them to increase their employment opportunities, higher education aspirations as well as to give them marketable computer job skills. CTCDC will also provide computer certification training for adults 18 years and older seeking employment. The CTCDC Program provides access to computers and technology-based educational and job preparation and job search activities to NYCHA residents 13 years and older. The CTCDC Program also provides Computer Certification Training Programs for adults 18 years and older seeking employment as well as residents seeking to obtain their General Education Diploma (GED) who are 18 years and older.

Register for free day and evening sessions TODAY!