THE ITSO FOUNDATION
Building Navigation Capital for Immigrant Families
The ITSO Foundation designs structured, data-driven programs that help immigrant middle school students and families understand the U.S. education system, stabilize academics, and prepare for long-term success.
The Gap We Address
Immigrant families often lack clear, actionable information about how the U.S. education system works. Without early guidance, students are frequently mis-placed academically, miss key opportunities, and fall behind long before high school.
Our Approach
Academic Stability
Helping students stay organized, complete coursework, and understand expectations.Navigation Education
Teaching students and families how grading, placement, attendance, and advocacy actually work.Transition Readiness
Preparing students early for high school pathways and opportunities.
Who We Serve
Middle school students (grades 6–8) from immigrant families, starting in Arlington and Northern Virginia.
About Us
The ITSO Foundation was created to address a structural gap in education: immigrant and first-generation families often lack clear, actionable information about how the U.S. education system works. Language barriers, unfamiliar school processes, and limited access to guidance frequently lead to academic misplacement and missed opportunities long before high school.As ITSO relaunches, our focus is on building structured, measurable, and scalable interventions that strengthen academic stability and system understanding starting in middle school, when early decisions have the greatest long-term impact.Rather than relying on reactive tutoring alone, ITSO combines academic support, navigation education, and family engagement into a repeatable model designed to grow regionally and nationally.
Our Mission
To build navigation capital for immigrant and first-generation middle school families by providing structured academic support, education on how the school system works, and early preparation for high school transitions through programs that are measurable, scalable, and sustainable.
Core Values
- Access: Removing informational and structural barriers so every student has a fair opportunity to succeed.- Equity: Designing programs that account for systemic disadvantage rather than assuming equal starting points.- Empowerment: Equipping families and students with the knowledge and confidence to advocate effectively within school systems.- Innovation: Building data-driven programs that are intentionally designed to scale.- Integrity: Operating transparently, responsibly, and in close partnership with the communities we serve.
Middle School Navigation Pilot
The ITSO Middle School Navigation Pilot is an 8-week, in-person program designed to support immigrant and first-generation middle school students during a crucial academic transition period. The pilot focuses on academic stability, system literacy, and early preparation to prevent gaps from compounding later on.Status: Pilot launching Winter 2026 in partnership with a local school or community organization.
Why This Program Exists
Many immigrant families receive academic support only after students begin to struggle. ITSO’s pilot is designed to intervene earlier, during middle school, when academic habits form, placement decisions begin, and families most need clarity about how the education system works.
Measuring Impact
ITSO is committed to measuring outcomes and refining its model based on data.Metrics tracked include:- Grade trends- Homework completion- Attendance- Family engagement- Student retention- Cost per studentPilot results will be published following completion of the first cohort.
Partner With Us
ITSO welcomes conversations with schools and community organizations interested in supporting immigrant middle school students through structured, navigation-focused programming.To explore a potential partnership, please reach out through our contact page.
Thank You
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