Supporting Underrepresented Students in Independent Schools: Valuable Best Practices

Supporting Underrepresented Students in Independent Schools: Valuable Best Practices

Ben BuisDirector of Operations & Academic Programs

Erin GevertzDirector of Placement Services & Student Support

Content

9:45 – 9:50 Introduction & Objectives

9:50 – 10:00Why Diversity Matters in Independent Schools

10:00 – 10:20Challenges for Underrepresented Students

10:20 – 10:40 Solutions & Strategies

10:40 – 10:50 Best Practices & SMART Blueprint

10:50 – 10:55 SMART Profile & Impact

10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

Objectives

• Participants will clarify and affirm why having inclusive & diverse communities in independent schools is a priority.

• Participants will identify and dialogue about the challenges facing underrepresented students & families in independent schools.

• Participants will walk away with a blueprint of suggested strategies and solutions in order to address the challenges facing underrepresented students & families in independent schools.

• Participants will learn how, through partnership, SMART assists independent schools in identifying and supporting underrepresented students at their schools.

Content







10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

The Value Add of Diversity

• Think, Pair, Share Activity

– Why should an independent school want to include underrepresented students & families in their community?

– What do underrepresented students & families bring to their school communities?

Content







10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

What are the challenges facing underrepresented students in independent schools?

• Breakout Activity

– Break out into 5 groups.– Brainstorm some challenges students from

underrepresented communities might face in independent school settings.

– Each group will provide specific examples of challenges.

– Challenges will be shared with the whole group.

Challenges Facing Underrepresented Students

1. Financial

2. Academic

3. Social &

Emotional

4. Cultural

5. Racial

Examples of Challenges

Examples of challenges underrepresented students face at independent schools that SMART has seen:• Financial challenge – 6th Grade Asian boy wants to play on the basketball

team. He requires sports goggles but his family can’t afford them. Also, because his father works on Saturdays, he doesn’t have reliable transportation to games.

• Language challenge– Spanish and Cantonese translators are required at parent/teacher meetings and on school tours. School does not have translators or history of bringing them in.

• Culture challenge– 8th grade African American girl is kicked out of class and suspended from school for lip-smacking and eye-rolling in the classroom. Teacher and Administrator feel completely disrespected.

• Race challenge – 6th grade African American girl is told by an Asian boy in her humanities class that her grades don’t matter because she’ll be “on the corner smoking dope” anyways. The following day the African American girl asks “did you just say that because of the color of my skin?” to which the boy responds, “Yes.” After peacemaking between the two students, a discussion begins between school administrator and CBO. Primary conversation points are:

The boy’s understanding of what he said. Does he ‘get it’? Does he understand the implications of his statement? Did the girl provoke the second comment? Is she being provocative?• Institutional Practices challenge – 7th Grade Latino boy is having trouble

focusing in class and isn’t completing homework. After multiple tests diagnose no learning disabilities, the student’s advisor continues to run more tests, even asking the doctors to re-run tests.

Examples of Challenges

• Understanding access to financial aid to offset high tuition costs.•Navigate financial aid forms.• Keeping track of “Extra” costs outside of tuition.

• Reconciling the two worlds the students are living in (“Code-Switching”).•Making new friends with peers from privileged backgrounds.•Having pride in their accomplishments vs. shame of being the “scholarship student.”• Family doesn’t use technology to communicate with school.•Getting to school – students take more than one bus to arrive.• Student is called on to be the “expert” for their ethnic group in class.

•Navigating a more rigorous academic environment.• Understanding and accepting different expectations in and out of the classroom.• Parents unable to financially or resourcefully provide tutors, learning specialists, therapists, etc.• Language barriers prevent parents from connecting with teachers.• Less homework help at home; parents have less formal education than those of independent school peers.• Students have lowered academic and social expectations for students on scholarship than their full pay peers.

1.Financial

2.Academic

3. Social &

Emotional4. Cultural

5. Racial

Strategies to Support Underrepresented Students

Financial Challenges

Financial Strategies

Content







10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

What are solutions & strategies to support underrepresented students in independent schools?

• Breakout Activity

– Continue working in the 5 groups.– Brainstorm some solutions and strategies that

will help to resolve the challenges underrepresented students face at independent schools.

– Each group will provide specific solutions to the list of challenges presented by the group in the last activity.

– Solutions will be shared with the whole group.


1. Financial

2.Academic

3. Social & Emotional

4. Cultural

5. Racial


Financial Challenges

Financial Strategies

Content







10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

Best Practices for Financial Challenges

• True Full Scholarships – Schools provide tuition assistance including aid for all mandatory field trips, laptops, lunch, uniforms, music lessons, sports uniforms, transportation.

• Identify Potential “Extra” Costs – camping gear, sporting equipment, tickets to school-wide events, passport fees

• Schools Value a Diverse and Inclusive Learning Environment - an investment into their community that is valued from Head of school to the parent community. Schools are not only providing service to the students, the students are also viewed as providing a service to the school and its student body.

• Annual Fund Giving – parents educated about the importance of 100% giving (not really about the amount) & SMART guarantees that 100% of current families give to their school ($5-$35 a year)

• Partnerships – with scholarship-only programs (BASIC Fund) or placement only programs (A Better Chance)

Best Practices for Academic Challenges

• Academic Summer Enrichment Program – bridge the summer learning gap

• After School Program - out of school learning time is essential, and provides a safe learning environment outside of schools.

• Tutors – recruit dedicated, committed and caring volunteers and offset their lack of skills in teaching with training and continued support.

• Faculty Liaison – partner schools must provide a liaison to be an advocate for our students and to ensure SMART is involved in having an active voice in supporting our students.

• Parent Education, Advocacy, and Support – to ensure effective communication within schools and to ensure they feel confident to demand the most from schools.

• College Bound Culture – building effective peer cohorts that travel together to college.

• Tailored Support – every student has different needs and strengths, individually track each student and ensure the right placement into schools.

Best Practice for Social/Emotional Challenges

• Separate After School Program Location – purposefully located not in a school setting to ensure a safe and open learning environment

• Peer Support (Shared Experiences & Backgrounds) – students meet other students (various grade levels, other independent schools) with similar backgrounds but have shared experiences of transition

• High School Scholars and College Alumni - are active members of our community and become role models for middle school scholars

• Life-skills, Leadership, and Self-advocacy Curriculum – ensuring their voices/questions are heard within the school community

• House Visits – by a dedicated faculty advocate at their schools are highly encouraged so that schools understand where the students are coming from

• Trained & Dedicated Mentors – exposure to new ideas, experiences, career paths

Best Practices for Schools

• Important Questions for Schools– Does the school have a dedicated, administrative level

Diversity Director position to help lead mission-driven change?

– Are students taught to be empowered about their diversity, and explore issues on social justice?

– Is the teaching staff engaged & empowered on issues of diversity?

– What professional development opportunities related to issues of diversity and cultural competency are available for faculty and staff?

– Does school leadership place equity at the center both in terms of daily and long-term work?

– Is the school actively reaching out to ensure underrepresented families are invested and involved in the school community?

– Has the school set realistic goals, and ensured assessment and accountability procedures are in place?

Best Practices for Successful Partnering

CBOs Must:

- educate and empower families

- provide & build community/peer support

- be a strong advocate for students and families

- encourage and provide professional development at partner schools for supporting students

- set high expectations for students

- provide a safe, trusting place for students to thrive

- engage in consistent and honest dialogue with partner schools

Schools Must:

- help educate and empower families

- remember and provide for the hidden costs that exist at their schools

- continual professional development to better support students and families

- provide a specific point person in the school to help maintain the partnership

- set high expectations for underrepresented students

- provide multi-cultural curriculum

The SMART Blueprint: “Know the kids, find the best fit, build community and affirm identity.”

Know the Kids

• Have strong recruiting criteria

• Application in multiple languages

• Work directly with public schools

• Strong ties to community through families and CBOs

• Application as self-selector

• Importance of family commitment

• Selection Events• Get to know the

students at summer programming

Find the Best Fit

• Director of Placement Services – dedicated role

• 21 partner schools—provide range of options for students

• Close relationships with schools, constant communication with liaisons

• One-on-one meetings with families about options

• Assistance with school and financial applications

• Serve as strong advocates for placement

• Translators provided• Accompaniment on tours

• Agreement on final school choice

• Parent financial workshops

Build Community and Affirm Identity

• Small student numbers better ensure intimate relationships and tailored support

• College bound cohorts

• After school programming (this cohort of students operates, essentially, as an affinity group)

• Tutors and Mentors• SMART presence at

parent-teacher meetings

• Family help -- Taxes and financial aid

• College Access Program

• Alumni Advisory Board

Content







10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

SMART builds individual success stories, one student at a time.

SMART’s mission is to provide motivated, financially disadvantaged students with the educational

opportunities, personal experiences and social support services to foster academic excellence and

community engagement.

SMART engages all aspects of the community to ensure effective results for our students

Motivated students are referred to SMART by our community partners including San Francisco public elementary schools and community-based organizations such as the Jamestown Community Center and Mission Graduates.

SMART recruits scholars, navigates the admissions

process, provides academic support, college access

services, and connects all scholars, partners, and

volunteers.

SMART works closely with independent partner

schools to ensure that SMART scholars are thriving

in their new academic and social settings.

Volunteers, representing all professional sectors, tutor and mentor SMART scholars, providing ongoing academic and emotional support.

Motivated, under-served youth in San Francisco face challenging opportunity gaps

More students of color are dropping out of high school and

are not college-ready.

• Percentage of minority groups dropped out of San Francisco public high schools in 2009-2010: Latino, 22.7%; Asia/Pacific Islanders, 25%; and African American, 33.9%

•Of the San Francisco public high school graduates, only 25.4% of African-Americans and 32.6% of Latinos completed courses required for state college admissions

Low-income students, on average, are not academically

prepared.

• 2/3 of 8th graders are scoring below grade level in reading and math

• Students who don’t pass the 6th and 8th grade state tests have only a 1 in 6 chance of graduating high school

•On ACT College readiness benchmarks, less than 1 in 5 low-income students were academically prepared to succeed in the four major subject areas

Source:2007 California Dept of Education, 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress Report. US Dept. of Labor

Students who are the first in their families to go to college end poverty in their family

lines forever.

SMART’s collaborative model narrows the opportunity gap and strives to break the cycle of poverty

Academic Programs

College Access

Placement Services

SMART advocates for the student via multiple touch points

SMART’s web of wrap-around services and support ensures student success

Placement Services

Academic Programs

College Access

• Recruits from 40+ referral partners.• Provides Individualized independent school

advocacy and placement.• Assists in financial aid process.• Educates and empowers families.• Navigates high school admissions process.

• Provides rigorous academic support through structured afterschool and summer programs.• Leverages school partnerships to monitor and

track academic progress to ensure success. • Individually assigned tutoring and mentoring.• Ongoing family support, including workshops

and translation services.• School-year support and tracking of academic

progress.• Structured workshops freshman through senior year.• College, major, and career exploration

opportunities.• One-on-one college counseling.• Assists with course selection and SAT

preparation. • Navigates college application and financial

aid process. • Cultivates community service and

engagement opportunities.• Internship and extra-curricular assistance and

support.

Our Impact: Our proven results demonstrate effectiveness

Since 1997, SMART has secured over $9 million dollars in scholarships for our scholars.

Over the past 7 years, 100% of our 8th grade graduates have enrolled in strong college preparatory high schools.

With support from our tutors and our structured academic program, the average GPA for current SMART scholars is 3.3.

80% of our volunteer tutors and mentors return for a second year.

SMART serves 165 students per year, with a plan to expand services to 500 students a year over the next five years.

92% of SMART college-age scholars are pursuing secondary educations including top universities like Yale, Columbia, and UC’s.

SMART delivers cost-effective services and programming with its diverse funding structure

In 2011-2012 SMART middle school students received:• $775,035 in direct scholarships from SMART partner

schools• $41,600 from The BASIC Fund (Bay Area Scholarships

for Inner-City Children) to help cover tuition costs.• $35,250 in additional expenses for activities like

music lessons, field trips, etc. covered by partner schools.

• PLUS: Application fee waivers, transportation, and summer enrichment programming and more!

In 2011-2012 SMART ‘s College Access Program Scholars received:• $11,000 in high school application fee waivers• $7,500 in application fee waivers for college

admissions.• $100,000 in high school program placements such as

College Track, and Summer Search.• $10,500 in free SAT prep courses.• $925,000 in private high school scholarships obtained

through SMART’s financial aid application assistance.

SMART’s estimated cost per student for the 2011-2012 year is $3,655.

Our Impact: Hear from our students

“All the opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to pursue are a direct

result of the encouragement and support that I received from SMART.”

-- Jimmy Ouyang, SMART 2006

Columbia University, 2010

“SMART led me onto a path to success. I had no idea how much the program would change my future. I

owe my academic success to the SMART program. The program showed me that if I tried I could

achieve my goals. I would not be here today without the help of the SMART program. There are way too many memories to recall here but to sum it all up; it was a life-changing experience and I loved it.”

Jackie Chen, SMART 2011

Our Impact: Hear from our partners and volunteers

“I am proud of Hamlin’s commitment to SMART. The beauty of SMART is that it guides both

individuals and institutions like Hamlin on their path to greatness. And for that, I thank SMART from the

bottom of my heart. I promise that Hamlin will be a faithful partner as long as I am at the helm.”

-- Wanda Greene, Head of School, Hamlin School

“Volunteering at SMART allows me to grow personally and develop

stronger and emotional ties to San Francisco.”

-- Jared Rodecker, Volunteer Tutor

“Volunteering at SMART is the best way to give back and a great way to get

to know a terrific kid.” -- Sara Lindeman, Volunteer Mentor

Content





10:40 – 10:50 Blueprint & Best Practices


10:55 – 11:00 Q & A

Contact SMART

Ben Buis - Director of Operations & Academic Programs(415) [email protected]

Melanie Rogers - Director of Development(415) [email protected]

Nonoko Sato - Executive Director(415) [email protected]

Supporting Underrepresented Students in Independent Schools: Valuable Best Practices

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