Whether you’re a student or a parent, we’ve all heard of (and if you’re a kid, maybe been sent to) tutoring centers. These centers help students reinforce skills like mathematics and reading comprehension learned in school. While Long Island boasts a plethora of tutoring centers, there is a notable absence of dedicated learning centers in our community. Unlike traditional tutoring centers, learning centers teach new skills and knowledge that go beyond the state curriculum.

Expansion Core’s Natural Sciences Classroom

In Nassau County and beyond, while well-funded extracurriculars like research and Science Olympiad exist, their availability often hinges on school district funding, leading to unequal support across different activities. "Our high school, like others in the area, didn’t pay as much attention to our robotics team as they did to our business club," says Enya Chen, a graduating Herricks senior. Expansion Core aims to address this gap by becoming a vital STEM learning hub for Long Island. "We are a learning center, not a tutoring center. We want Long Island to be the STEM incubator for our children," emphasizes Kenneth Chow, Expansion Core’s founder and executive director.

This June marked the beginning of our journey at Expansion Core, starting from an empty stairwell and bare office space. Through the dedicated efforts of our three amazing teams—Teaching Assistants, Operations, and Business Marketing—we've transformed our once mundane setting into a vibrant, fully-equipped learning center. "It was definitely time-consuming, but seeing the final product made it all worthwhile," shared Jadyn Lee, Operations team leader and Cornell University student. The Operations team, for instance, adorned our spaces with inspiring decor, including a stunning ocean mural symbolizing our “sea of learning.” Mr. Chow explained, “We let our student leaders steer the wheel on decorations and creative vision, and I am beyond thrilled with the job that they’ve done.”

Inside, each of our three themed classrooms—Natural Science, Engineering and Technology, and Research and Development—features height-adjustable desks, student tablets, and smartboards. With a maximum of ten students per class and a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio, every child receives personalized attention and guidance. "Having gone to high school in Nassau County, I've witnessed a growing gap between the technology that exists and the technology that’s taught," reflects Keegan Yap, Expansion Core’s lead instructor.

TA Alex Chu Teaching about Catapults in a Demo Class

At the heart of Expansion Core’s mission lies community engagement. Since our opening, we’ve hosted various outreach events, including free demo classes for local elementary students. These sessions covered topics ranging from the physics of catapults to the dynamics of volcanic eruptions, culminating in hands-on projects like popsicle stick catapults and baking soda volcanoes. Recently, we also held an origami workshop at Nassau County Police Activity League (PAL) in New Hyde Park, introducing fifteen students to the art of making ninja stars.

For parents and students interested in our programs, we warmly welcome you to visit our center and learn more about how Expansion Core can enrich your child’s STEM journey!

Our Grand Opening!

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