theSMARTprogram

The SMART program is divided into four components: 1. educational support , 2. family support, 3. mentoring/tutoring, 4.after school & summer programs.
SMART selects students who are currently in a San Francisco public school, live in San Francisco, and who come from economically disadvantaged families. The selection process begins in January of fourth grade with the application for Summerbridge Day School and continues through March of fifth grade.

Each year, potential candidates are referred to SMART by elementary school teachers and a variety of community and educational organizations that have interacted with the children over a multi-year period. Candidates must demonstrate strong academic potential, sincere motivation and a commitment to participate in a year-round program.

The SMART program provides students with high-quality academic and extracurricular opportunities as well as a network of ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition into their new schools and to promote a successful academic experience for each child.

Educational Support
SMART partners with select independent and parochial schools to provide its students with a full scholarship for grades six through eight; including costs for tuition, books and uniform.

Each partner school must meet the following criteria: a commitment to provide the best educational and extracurricular opportunities for its students; a commitment to promote diversity within its student population and academic curriculum; and a positive reputation with the finest local high schools. Through extensive research, SMART has secured over 17 independent and parochial schools as partners.

Family Support
While SMART provides a network of support for its students through mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs and summer programs, families constitute an essential source of strength and guidance for their children. SMART parents and guardians must therefore demonstrate a sincere commitment to helping their children succeed in this intensive, three-year program.

Expectations of SMART parents include attendance at all SMART and school-related meetings, active participation in their child's school experience, providing for their child's transportation needs, and contributing a nominal annual fee to the program.

SMART is aware that for many parents, participation in the program brings exposure to new and unfamiliar experiences. SMART therefore provides support to parents by hosting parent workshops and discussion groups, and by facilitating parent-to-parent mentoring relationships. SMART also organizes community events (holiday celebrations, family picnics) that give parents, students, volunteers, and staff an opportunity to gather and share their experiences.

Mentoring and Tutoring
SMART is aware that students can encounter a challenging adjustment period when they enter their new school environments. In order to assist students with their transitions, SMART matches each child with an individual mentor and tutor, both of whom serve as adult role models and provide students with important individual attention and support. Through regular contact with students, families, teachers, and SMART program staff, mentors and tutors provide an invaluable network of support for each SMART student.

SMART mentors are volunteers from the San Francisco community who spend 2-3 hours per week with their mentees. Mentors and students participate in an extensive array of recreational activities such as: athletics, visiting museums, attending cultural events, gardening, arts and crafts, cooking meals together, or simply taking a walk on the beach.

Each SMART mentor is both a friend to his/her mentee as well as a critical source of support and guidance during the student's middle school years. To provide students with supplemental academic support, SMART also matches each child with an individual tutor. SMART tutors meet with their students once a week for 1-2 hours. During this time, tutors offer homework assistance and work with the students to improve their study habits, time management and organizational skills.

Before being matched with a SMART student, all mentors and tutors are carefully screened by the SMART staff, submit to a criminal background check, and are provided the necessary training and preparation to work as a SMART volunteer.

After-School
In September 2002, SMART began providing an After-School Program on site at 1370 Mission Street. The program offers skill building workshops, SSAT test preparation, recreational and cultural activities, homework assistance and access to our 15 station computer lab Monday through Thursday from 3-7pm. All incoming 6th grade students are required to attend the SMART after-school program twice a week. SMART has a private bus service pick up students from their schools to bring them to the SMART office.

In addition, SMART collaborates with local after-school programs to provide students with a safe and enriching environment between the hours of three and six o’clock. Some students attend programs run by nonprofit organizations (Jamestown Community Center, St. John’s Educational Threshold, The San Francisco Boys & Girls Club, and Community Beacon Centers), while other students participate in after-school activities at their individual schools (sports teams, school orchestras, and extracurricular clubs).

Summer Programs
All SMART students are required to attend a summer program with well-established community based programs in the Bay Area. The 4 weeks in June-July are reserved for academic and enrichment-based summer programs such as Aim High, Magis and Summerbridge. Description of each program is listed below.

SMART began working with Summerbridge Day School in 2006 to offer two-year summer program and after-school support for rising 5th and 6th grade students before they begin their private middle school experience.

Aim High
Aim High is an academic and cultural enrichment program for motivated middle-school students who want to learn new and exciting things during the summer. Aim High is an intensive and exciting five-week summer school and continues during the academic year with meetings twice a month for tutoring and special activities. Once involved in Aim High, students are eligible to participate in the program for three summers. Aim High's goal is to assist bright and curious young people in realizing the advantages of secondary and higher education. The academic foundation and personal encouragement each student receives increases the chances for success in advanced studies, much to the benefit of themselves, their families and greater community.

Magis
The Magis Program provides comprehensive support for students fro underrepresented backgrounds, including students of color, low-income students, and students who will be among the first members of their family to attend college. Magis works with middle school students from San Francisco and surrounding communities to prepare them for a college preparatory high school such as St. Ignatius, to encourage students to consider St. Ignatius as a high school option, and to advocate for students through the high school admissions process.

Summerbridge
The summer program is a six-week, full-time, academic program held at the University High School campus. Two required summer sessions and an optional third prepare students to thrive in a rigorous academic high school environment. Each day is divided into a morning of academics including math, language arts, science, foreign language and social studies and an afternoon of electives including art, dance, drama, sports, computers, music, health education (Choices) and public speaking (Improvisation).

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