Early Steps

early steps is a new york city program that provides families of children of color information about the benefits of an independent school education for their children; counseling for applicant families through the complicated admissions process; a workshop series on diversity issues targeted to families and staff members; and support for the early steps family network where enrolled families assist new families in transition to their new school. early steps was created specifically to increase racial diversity in new york city’s independent schools. since 1986, early steps has partnered with families and schools to place children of black, latino, american indian and asian backgrounds in kindergarten and first grade. early steps schools are located in four of new york city’s boroughs: the bronx, brooklyn, manhattan, and staten island as well as tarrytown ny and englewood new jersey.