SMART Hephzibah

Supplemental Math and Reading for Oak Park Children

SMART Hephzibah offers weekly supplemental instruction in math over Zoom outside of school hours for students in 1st – 6th grade, and reading for 2nd grade students, and is facilitated by teachers from Oak Park School District 97. New for 2024 is the addition of 6th grade math and 2nd grade reading! The math program offers both regular and advanced levels, depending on your child’s needs.

The 2024 spring session will run April 9 – May 23. Registration for spring 2024 opens March 11th. Registration for all future sessions opens approximately two weeks prior to start date and can be accessed via the link below. The cost is $84 for seven sessions. Scholarships are available. Sessions run seven weeks:

  • Spring Session: April – May
  • Summer Session: June – August
  • Fall Session: September – November
  • Winter Session: January – February

Program Levels

SMART Hephzibah offers parents the choice of whichever level suits their child best, using the percentile of a student’s MAP scores as a guideline only. Teachers regularly use new material, so content will not be repeated.

regular classes

Targeted at students up to the 75th percentile. Sessions will be a supplement to in-school instruction, focusing on strengthening students’ knowledge through practice problems, math games, etc.

advanced classes

Targeted at students above the 75th percentile. Sessions will focus on material beyond what is in the standard curriculum for that grade level and will offer more challenging problems.

first grade parent/child class

Intended to engage first grade students together with their parent or guardian to strengthen grade-level math concepts through games and activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this over Zoom instead of in-person?

Zoom offers significantly better logistics that improve access for students, including:

Improves convenience for families by bringing the teacher to them
Allows students from multiple schools to participate, which gives students access even if their school doesn’t have enough demand to support a program by itself
Allows sessions to be offered at different time slots, including evenings and weekends
Although full-time Zoom school was challenging for many students, the SMART Hephzibah program has found that most students do not have difficulty with one hour a week of Zoom instruction.

What typically happens during the sessions?

The “regular” classes will be a supplement to in-school instruction, focusing on strengthening students’ knowledge of grade-level material through practice problems, math games, etc. The “advanced” classes will focus on material beyond what is in the standard curriculum for that grade level and/or more challenging problems than are usually done in class. Within those guidelines, teachers for most of the classes will mix up the topics for different sessions based on what they think is best. We have great teachers and they try to make it fun and engaging.

Teachers & Students

Who will be the teachers?

District 97 teachers with experience running classes in Zoom.

How many students would be in each session?

We expect that the groups would be 8-15 students.

Financial Support

How does need-based financial assistance work?

This program is intended to be accessible for all students, so money should not be an obstacle to participation. If you request financial assistance, you will not need to pay to participate. There is an item in the registration form where you can request financial assistance.

What's the Deal with Summer Classes?

What grade should I register my child for in the summer session – current or the grade they will be in for the fall?

Please register your child for the grade level they will be in the upcoming fall school year.

Is the summer curriculum just a review of the past year?

No, the summer curriculum is a sneak-preview of the upcoming school year’s math curriculum.

We have a vacation planned this summer. Is it still worthwhile for my child to participate if they will miss a week?

Yes! The summer classes do not build on each other week-to-week, so it is not a problem if a child misses a week. Also since it is held over Zoom, your child can still participate from vacation if you choose.

SMART seeks to improve student performance by providing instructions without financial barriers. Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with D97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group’s program(s), event(s) and/or services is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

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