Welcome to
EXIGENT
Equitable Access to Advanced Mathematics is an Exigent Task
About Exigent
Exigent is the collaborative work of Chicago Public Schools mathematicians on Chicago’s West Side. For 7 summers straight, we have brought together students and teachers from West Side CPS schools to engage in 5 weeks of rigorous, playful, and advanced mathematics. The ultimate goal of Exigent is to send those same students and teachers back to their local schools equipped and motivated to seed, sprout, and grow advanced mathematics programs at their respective schools.
About Exigent Collaboration
Exigent teachers recruit students from their local schools and then get the chance to build relationships with those students, while at the same time experiencing hands-on, professional development in a team-teaching, lab school environment. Students, who at their local schools may feel alone as emerging mathematicians, develop working friendships with like-minded students and teachers from other schools across the West Side.
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While Exigent teacher salaries are covered through CPS STEM initiatives, we fundraise all year long so we can offer merit-based stipends to each of our participating scholars, alleviating some of the summer employment pressure in
exchange for 5 weeks of advanced mathematics exploration.
The Exigent Way
Seed
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We aim to equip students with a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts to support their academic year ahead, with the expectation that they will advocate for the introduction of additional math-centered programs at their home school.
Sprout​
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Exigent's aspiration is that after implementing programs in schools, sharing the wonders of mathematics with our students will inspire others to follow suit and participate in these established programs.
Grow​
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After years of effort, our goal is for schools on the Westside of Chicago to offer essential mathematical guidance, nurturing the journeys of our aspiring mathematicians through a mutual passion for math.
About schools that have benefited from Exigent
Notice & Wonder
What is something you noticed?
One thing I noticed was how Exigent really cares about improving the math skills of every student and pushing students to learn challenging stuff and cares about making sure everyone gets something out of this program and making sure everyone gets out of their comfort zone."
- A rising 11th grader
Our Partners
