• Educational Support
• School-Year Program
• Individual Tutoring / Mentoring Program
• Five-Year Summer Program (5th - 9th grade)
• High School Counseling / Alumni Support

Scholarship

SMART scholars are provided with a full three-year scholarship to an independent middle school in the Bay Area, which is made possible through generous financial aid packages from our partner schools, in addition to scholarships from The Basic Fund and SMART.

Placement Services

15 – 20 scholars and their families are provided with step-by-step guidance from SMART to guide them through the complicated admissions and financial aid processes.

-          In October, SMART’s Program Director consults with families regarding appropriate independent schools to consider.

-          Families are then scheduled for school tours or open houses; translation services are available and parents may request a SMART staff member to accompany them on their tours.

-          In late November and early December, the families meet with the Program Director in a second meeting to fill out school applications and financial aid forms.

Between October and March, the Program Director is in frequent contact with parents and Admissions Directors to facilitate communication between families and schools – and most importantly, to ensure the most appropriate match between an independent school and the family.

Individualized Support

Once accepted to an independent school, SMART staff becomes heavily involved in all aspect of the student’s middle school career. Services include, but are not limited to:

-          Support at parent-teacher meetings

-          Translation / Interpretation Services

-          Strategize with teachers and administrators regarding student progress

-          Answer questions from families regarding mailings and bills from schools

-          Encourage families to fully participate in the school community

-          Procure basic school supplies

Students are required to attend SMART’s After-School Program (ASP) at least twice a week. Transportation to  SMART  is provided. Exceptions are made to students who need more frequent academic support (either by participating in SMART’s ASP 4x a week, or by attending an academic tutoring program at their schools or with a partner organization). Academically successful students, who fully participate in their school’s athletic or after-school programs, or receive academic support with a partner organization may be granted exception to attend SMART 1x a week.

SMART After School Program is designed to not only provide homework and academic support, but also to encourage community building and peer support.

                4:00 – 4:15    Bus drops off students at SMART

                                        Snacks / Free Time

                4:30 – 5:15    Group Activity

                5:30 – 6:45    Homework Time

                6:45 – 6:55    Clean Up

                7:00                Dismissal

The group activity curriculum is designed to encourage civic and community engagement, altruistic behavior, introduction to life-skills, peer support – and most importantly, to have fun, encourage love of learning, setting high but realistic academic and life expectations, and pursuit of higher education.

In addition, SMART organizes field trips and community service events throughout the school year. Past trips have included: Asian Art Museum, SFMOMA, De Young, Computer research training at SF Main Library, Clean Up in the Presidio, Painting rooms at the Ronald McDonald House, movie and pizza making at Parkway Theater, Go-Cart at Malibu Grand-Prix.

For the 2008-2009 school year, SMART’s 65 volunteers will be matched with an individual student. Each year, over 80% of first-year volunteers return for a second year. Volunteer tutors and mentors must be college graduates, fill out an extensive application, participate in an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator, pass background checks, and be committed to at least one full school year (1x a week for tutors, 2-3x a month for mentors). Volunteers are also required to attend a mandatory training in diversity and child development.

INDIVIDUAL MENTORING / TUTORING PROGRAM

SMART volunteers provide invaluable services for our scholars by being their advocate, supporting them academically and personally, and serving as a resource regarding college and career choices. Some professions and companies represented by our volunteer pool include: Nun, Lawyer, Engineer, Analyst, Director, Mechanical / Aerospace Engineers, Architect, Game Designer, and Food & Wine Trade Attaché at US District Court, PriceWaterHouse Cooper, Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce.com, Yahoo!, Google, Wells Fargo, LucasArts Entertainment, and the French Trade Office.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

SMART scholars are required to attend an academic summer program for five years, beginning the summer after their 4^th grade year. SMART staff members are available to provide guidance and set expectations for students to prepare them for their independent school experience. In addition to a rigorous academic class schedule, SMART provides a Spanish teacher for students who will be taking Spanish for the first time in the sixth grade.

Beginning the summer after their sixth grade year, students are placed at one of SMART’s three partner summer programs: Aim High, Magis at Saint Ignatius High School, or Summerbridge UHS. All three programs require a three-year commitment (6^th – 9^th grade). Some students can also participate in a pre-approved summer program, typically with their schools.

In 2005, SMART partnered with Mountain Camp, a sleep-away summer camp located near Lake Tahoe. Mountain Camp generously donated 1-2 scholarships during the first two years and in 2007 increased their donation to accommodate 24 students.  For many of our students, this generous donation allowed them, for the first time, to experience activities such as swimming, sailing, mountain biking and even leaving the city.

Every August, it is SMART’s tradition to take our entire incoming class to a trip outside of the city of San Francisco. In previous years, SMART students have taken a hike in Muir Woods and picnicked at Muir Beach.

HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING

Staff members at SMART are committed to ensuring continued excellent educational opportunities for students, upon graduating from 8^th grade. During the Spring of a student’s 7^th grade year, SMART invites the students and their families to a workshop to start the discussion regarding the high school application process. Throughout the school year, and especially in the fall, our after-school program hosts representatives from various high schools so that students become familiar with their options.

During the Fall, the SMART Program Director works in conjunction with the high school counselors at our partner schools to ensure that every 8^th grade student receives individual support. In addition, the Program Director communicates directly with high school Admissions Directors to advocate on behalf of the student, and writes a letter of recommendation for each student in the program. In partnership with Kaplan and One Smart Kid, SMART also provides free SSAT classes to all 8^th graders each year.

In order to assure continued support, SMART has partnered with College Track, Summer Search, and A Better Chance, and continues to research and outreach to other potential partner organizations.

ALUMNI PROGRAM

SMART implemented a College Preparation Program in September of 2007 to meet the growing demands of support from our alumni students and their families. SMART hosts an information workshop for interested Sophomores, Juniors and their parents about the college selection and application process. SMART continues to hold two sessions each year, once in Spring for Juniors and another in the Fall for Seniors. In addition, SMART staff works individually with high school Seniors to guide them through the complicated college application process, including assistance in identifying and applying for summer jobs and internships, selecting extracurricular and volunteer activities, and matching them with professionals who work in a career of  the student’s interest.

SMART also offers two paid internships for recently graduated alumni to develop leadership and administrative skills as Program Assistants during the After School Program. During the summer, SMART hires 1 to 2 high schools interns, who are interested in mentoring younger students and learning more about the field of education. These initiatives cultivate values of community service and “giving back” in the students.