According to the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning only 24% of black and 30% of Latino students in California public schools scored at their grade level in mathematics. Getting a second-class education in a poorly-resourced school district is a raw deal for any kid, but it’s double jeopardy for high achieving black and Latino high school students who show early interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They not only face poorly equipped classrooms and well meaning counselors who often point them toward trade vocations; there is also constant peer pressure to hang out and join gangs.

With a national workforce in danger of falling short of STEM professionals, we need these scholars of color to succeed. A National Science Foundation study found that only 3% of scientists and engineers in the US were black, and another 3% were Latino. If we are going to improve these odds, we must help bright, motivated students of color get the skills and confidence to pursue professional careers.

As director of The Level Playing Field Institute’s Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) program, I get a first hand look at how the right combination of rigorous academic course work, comprehensive college counseling and SAT prep, advocacy, resources, outside activities and parental involvement can overturn the barriers that keep talented underrepresented students of color from pursuing their dreams.

SMASH serves 81 high-achieving, but academically under prepared, low-income students from 40 school districts throughout the Bay Area. Participation requires a three-year commitment from students and parents – from the end of the freshman year through graduation.

SMASH invests approximately $9,000 per student per year to provide a challenging summer program at UC Berkeley, a comprehensive academic year program, access to STEM experts, and enrichment activities such as podcasting, multimedia graphics, field trips to corporate campuses and Stanford Medical schools, and white water rafting..

Parents get heavily involved, too, learning to advocate and negotiate within the school system to ensure that their children get into classes that prepare them to be competitive at top colleges and universities..

During the five weeks that SMASH scholars spend on the UC Berkeley campus each summer, they get a unique opportunity to build a supportive community of their peers. Community building is especially important for this group, since Black and Latino students with an affinity for math and science are often shunned as “geeks” by their classmates. With SMASH, they are finally with other students who look like them who also aspire to be STEM professionals, are willing to do the hard work, and can talk openly about the daily challenges they face in high school.

The opportunity to express themselves through technology is another big plus. And they excel in it. SMASHCAST, a group of students regularly podcasting on science-related topics such as hybrid cars and cellular phones, recently won a Best Educational Podcast Award for its “Bottlin’ It Up” report on the differences between bottled and tap water.

The Level Playing Institute started SMASH in 2004. This spring, we will be graduating our first class of 18 seniors, who have applied to a wide range of top colleges and universities, including Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wellesley, Smith, and University of California and California State University institutes.

SMASH’s story goes well beyond improving statistics to the personal impact that it has on participating students and parents. At the recent annual Breaking Bread celebration organized by SMASH parents, four graduating seniors spoke about their journey to college.

Veronica Hernandez from Mission High School discussed how SMASH provides a safe environment for her to pursue her studies, Jose Ibarra from East Side College Prep talked about SMASH opening up a new world of possibilities, and Milton Boyd from Oakland Tech discussed how it fueled his dream to rise above the low expectations set for him as an African-American male.

Perhaps the most poignant student speaker was Charly Uc, another graduating senior from Mission High School, talking about the value of parental involvement. Last summer he was in the SMASH dorm at UC Berkeley when he learned that his older brother had been murdered. He considered dropping out of the program to help at home, but after talking it over with his family, he decided to return to SMASH. Concerned about his loss, the students wrapped their support around Charley, providing him with academic and emotional support.

SMASH is currently accepting applications from graduating Bay Area high school freshmen with a passion for math and science. Applicants must be enrolled in a geometry class, have at least a B average, self-identify as being an underrepresented person of color, and come from a resource-constrained family. We encourage applications from students who would be the first in their families to attend college. Applications are available at www.lpfi.org/education/smash_apply.shtml, and must be submitted by February 1, 2007.

Irene St. Roseman is Director of Level Playing Field Institute’s Summer Math & Science Honors Academy (SMASH).