theSMARTprogram

Download SMART Newsletter
August 2007 (PDF)

The SMART Mission
Schools, Mentoring and Resource Team (SMART) is an educational non-profit organization that works with private middle schools in San Francisco to provide a three year scholarship (6th through 8th grade) to motivated students who cannot otherwise afford the opportunities and resources of a private school education (small class sizes; individual attention from committed teachers; high quality arts and athletics programs; access to new and advanced technology; a safe, clean environment). SMART also provides an array of social supports in order to foster academic excellence and community engagement.

It is SMART's goal that upon graduating from middle school, participants will demonstrate a commitment to intellectual development and a strong sense of values positioning them for personal and professional success in high school, college and beyond.

Program Components
The SMART program is comprised of four elements: education, mentoring/tutoring, after school/summer programs, and family support.

Eligibility
SMART selects students currently enrolled in San Francisco public schools upon referral from fourth grade teachers, and a variety of community and educational organizations. Additionally, families must live in San Francisco and qualify for low-income status based on the B.A.S.I.C. Fund (www.basicfund.org) scholarship guidelines. Finally, students and their families must be accepted into Summerbridge Day School (www.sfds.net/Summerbridge). Students and families must meet each of these requirements to be considered for acceptance to the SMART program.

Application Process
Due to both the limited number of spaces available in the SMART program and the commitment that is required of students and their families, the application process is quite rigorous. There are five application stages that the student and the family MUST participate in order to be considered for acceptance into the SMART program. Please click on "Application" for further information.

Enrollment
Presently, 54 fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students are currently enrolled in SMART, and in one of its 17 partner independent and parochial schools. SMART has also graduated 84 middle school students into independent, parochial, public, and boarding high schools around the Bay Area and beyond. In addition, 21 alumni students from our first three graduating classes are attending two or four year colleges throughout the country.

Scholarships
Each SMART student is provided with a full scholarship to a SMART partner school, as well as financial coverage of the cost of uniforms and school activities when required.

Volunteers
Over 90 volunteer tutors and mentors meet with their students at least once a week providing the critical support to our students as they encounter a challenging period when they enter their new school environments.

Development
The SMART Program relies solely on funding from individual donors, corporations, and private foundations. No public sources of funds are utilized.

Budget
SMART's year-round program has an annual budget of $578,000. The budget provides for staff including an Executive Director, Program Director and two Program Coordinators.

home | about us | staff | the program | application
students | alumni | volunteers | development
calendar | location | contact us