Supporting Underserved Students in Independent Schools: Valuable Best Practices

Supporting Underserved Students in Independent Schools: Valuable Best Practices

SMART (Schools, Mentoring and Resource Team)

Nonoko Sato, Executive DirectorErin Gevertz, Director of Placement Services

April 28, 2011 | 2

Agenda

10:15 – 10:20 Introduction

10:20 – 10:30 Small Group Discussions/Brainstorm

10:30 – 10:40 Challenges

10:40 – 11:00 SMART Solutions & Strategies

11:00 – 11:15 Beyond Academics: Peer Support

11:15 – 11:30 Q & A

April 28, 2011 | 3

Small Group Discussions (10 Minutes)

• Break out into groups of 4-5 people.• Brainstorm some challenges students from

underserved communities might face in independent school settings.

• Provide one specific example of each challenge your group names.

• Share with the group.

April 28, 2011 | 4

Agenda

10:15 – 10:20 Introduction

10:20 – 10:30 Small Group Discussions/Brainstorm

10:30 – 10:40 Challenges

10:40 – 11:00 SMART Solutions & Strategies

11:00 – 11:15 Beyond Academics: Peer Support

11:15 – 11:30 Q & A

April 28, 2011 | 5

What are the challenges facing students from underserved communities in independent schools?

Financial

Social / Emotion

al

Academic

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

•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.

•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.”

April 28, 2011 | 6

Baltimore Study

Measured Factors•GPA•Class Rank•SAT Scores

Variables•Ethnicity•Financial Aid Status•Year Enrolled•Grade Enrolled•Travel Time•Number of Varsity Letters Earned

Highest Predictor of Academic Failure•Financial Aid Status•Varsity Letters Earned•Ethnicity not the single greatest

predictor of academic achievement

Source: Dissertation Study by Dr. Edward M. Trusty, Jr., Calvert School, Baltimore, MD

205 tenth & eleventh grade male students in a single-sex K-12 independent school

April 28, 2011 | 7

Agenda

10:15 – 10:20 Introduction

10:20 – 10:30 Small Group Discussions/Brainstorm

10:30 – 10:40 Challenges

10:40 – 11:00 SMART Solutions & Strategies

11:00 – 11:15 Beyond Academics: Peer Support

11:15 – 11:30 Q & A

April 28, 2011 | 8

SMART builds individual success stories, one student at a time

Placement Services

Academic Programs

College Access

•Recruits from 40+ referral partners.•Advocates for independent school 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, tutoring, and mentoring.•Leverages school partnerships to monitor and track academic progress to ensure success. •Assists with course selection and SAT preparation.•Navigates college application and financial aid process.•Cultivates community service and engagement opportunities.

April 28, 2011 | 9

Financial Solutions

• True full scholarships

• Identify potential “extra” costs

• School value a diverse and inclusive learning environment

• Annual Fund giving

• Partnership with scholarship programs

Financial

April 28, 2011 | 10

Academic Solutions

• Academic summer enrichment program

• After-school program

• Trained tutors

• Faculty liaison & trainings

• Parent education, advocacy, and support

• Tailored support

Academic

April 28, 2011 | 11

Social/Emotional Solutions

• Separate after-school program location

• Peer support (shared experiences & backgrounds)

• High school scholars and college alumni

• Life-skills, leadership, and self-advocacy curriculum

• House visits

• Trained & dedicated mentors

Social/ Emotion

al

April 28, 2011 | 12

Agenda

10:15 – 10:20 Introduction

10:20 – 10:30 Small Group Discussions/Brainstorm

10:30 – 10:40 Challenges

10:40 – 11:00 SMART Solutions & Strategies

11:00 – 11:15 Beyond Academics: Peer Support

11:15 – 11:30 Q & A

April 28, 2011 | 13

Beyond Academic Preparation: The effect of specific supports on college completion

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

18%12% 10%

26%

15%

Difference in college completion rates be-tween groups with support and groups

without support (by %)“The factor most likely to bump up a student’s odds of completing college was having a significant portion of friends who were also planning to at-tend college.”

Source: http://bridgespan.org/LearningCenter/ResourceDetail.aspx?id=412

April 28, 2011 | 14

Small Group Discussions (5 Minutes)

• Get together with your original group.

• Brainstorm supports your organization can provide to encourage peer support.

• Share with the group.

April 28, 2011 | 15

Best Practices

• Build strong community among students with similar backgrounds.

• Offer safe learning environment to students and parents.

• Support a strong volunteer base and cultivate dedicated & knowledgeable staff.

• Partner with other CBOs to provide more services & support.

• Create an Alumni Advisory Board.• Implement Affinity Groups (based on gender, ethnicity,

age, cultural heritage).• Create a support network for each student. • Encourage schools to accept students in cohorts.

April 28, 2011 | 16

Agenda

10:15 – 10:20 Introduction

10:20 – 10:30 Small Group Discussions/Brainstorm

10:30 – 10:40 Challenges

10:40 – 11:00 SMART Solutions & Strategies

11:00 – 11:15 Beyond Academics: Peer Support

11:15 – 11:30 Q & A