A Brief History of Standardized Testing

The ACT and its counterpart, the SAT, have become one of the largest determining factors in the college-admissions process, particularly for élite schools. At least this year's applicants should be familiar with the format by now: students in the U.S. are taking more standardized tests than ever before, and at ages long before college beckons. (FULL ARTICLE HERE)

When do the October 2009 PSAT scores come back?

The October PSAT scores for Miami-Dade and Broward county come back any day now, here in the middle of December. many parents don't know much about the PSAT and it is important for them to become knowledgeable about this important test.

Check out this article to find out some basics about the exam.

The New GRE, Redux

ETS, the company who puts out the GRE is making some changes to the test in 2011. Students will be able to back to questions on the computer based tests, something they cannot do on the current iteration of the exam. They will alos be increasing the amount of reading comprehension on the test. This will be global so it will directly affect South Florida test takers. Read more at the Inside Higher Ed blog.

The College Search - The ACT/SAT Tests

David Murphy weighs in on the SAT and the ACT:

December 8, 2009 (WPVI) -- "Any student who wants to go to college must take either the SAT or the ACT standardized tests. But there are some misconceptions out there about this process that I want to dispel. (read the full article here)"

Graduate Schools Win Chinese Protection Against Test Cheaters

"Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- A Chinese court barred a Beijing- based Internet site from selling materials such as questions from the Graduate Management Admission Test, bolstering business schools’ efforts to combat cheating by applicants."

Finally the Chinese government is getting in line with the rest of the world to prevent cheating on the business school admission test.

City clears self in bizarre test spike

An investigation into test scores at a school in the Bronx that skyrocketed and then plummeted back to earth after a principal received a $15k bonus and then retired has closed with no evidence of wrongdoing, despite the principal in question never being interviewed.

Top Students are choosing community colleges

In these tough economic times, more top students are choosing to attend community college. A lot of these students are flocking to honors programs that had previously been difficult to fill.

NYC's Rubber Rooms

What do you do with a teacher who has been accused of violating a policy, but whose case has not been decided? In NYC, the teachers are put into what are known as rubber rooms, sitting idly by, sometimes for years until a complex system of appeals is resolved.

The New Yorker has an excellent piece on it.

Upcoming Holiday Break on your Wallets!

JLP Education Services would like to wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season! During these next few weeks, students will be released from school and it will become the perfect time to not only reconnect with family and friends, but to also catch-up and get ahead on school projects, standardized test-prep, and college applications, without the added stress of long school days and extracurricular activities.

JLP staff is here to help your students take advantage of the Holiday Break!


Anyone who signs up during the month of December for SAT/ACT/GED/GRE test-prep, K-12 top-tiered customized tutoring, college admission essay help, and/or personalized family college consultations will receive huge discounts. Our prices for this holiday season have never been lower!

• $25/hour reduction on test-prep
• $15/hour reduction on JLP customized tutoring
• $30/hour reduction on admission essays
• $10/hour reduction on college consultations

*This holiday promotion also applies to JLP's group classes; no other company offers these in-home semi-private groups at this rate.


Generally, test-preparation and tutoring can have astronomical prices with little to no customer service, but with JLP's platform and beliefs, you can save hundreds, and at the same time receive boutique style customer service during your stressful holiday season. Call our office at (305) 894.6024 to see how we can help.

JLP looks forward to earning your trust and delivering you the best service in the industry. We also look forward to helping students achieve their personal best, the most wonderful gift they can give themselves and their parents during the holiday season!

Perfect Scores on the ACT and SAT

Rajiv Tarigopula scored a perfect mark on both the ACT and the SAT, the two most commonly used standardized tests in the United States. This is a very rare and special occurence that was achieved through diligent test preparation. Test prep works!

The Mayor, the Teachers and the Tests

The debate in NYC over how to measure school teachers' effectiveness continues on in the Op-Ed section of the NY Times. One reader objects to Mayor Bloomberg's attempts to link teacher tenure to test results.

Tips for the Admissions Test ... to Kindergarten

Admissions tests are not just for College and for Graduate studies any more. Students have long been applying to prep schools using the SSAT and other tests. Kindergarten is not out of the reach and some are starting to offer test preparation services for even the youngest students.

The NY Times reports on this:

"Kayla Rosenblum sat upright and poised as she breezed through the shapes and numbers, a leopard-patterned finger puppet resting next to her for moral support....(read full article here)"

State rates teacher prep programs

"Out of the blue, the FCAT has a new job: measuring the programs across the state that produce teachers. (read full article here)"

Florida will start to try to rate teacher preparation based on the performance of their students on the FCAT. This will be state wide and will include Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County.

Should we 'sort' teachers?

The debate rages on about whether or not to rate teachers based on their students' performance. This letter to the editor criticizes the use of state exams, like the FCAT, as tools to measure outcomes.

The PSAT is the start of testing and college planning

For many students in South Florida the PSAT is their first exposure to standardized testing and the process of planning for a competitive college admissions environment.

"The idea behind the PSAT is fourfold. One, the student gets an opportunity to practice taking the SAT when the stakes are low. No colleges will ever see the PSAT scores. Two, the score report the student receives after taking the exam can serve as a study guide for the actual SAT exam. Three, the scores the student receives can be used as a benchmark for future performance as a way to assess the viability of prospective colleges. And four, the PSAT is co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to be used as a qualifier for its honors and scholarships (for juniors only)." (read full article here)

Is test prep worth your hard earned dollars?

In this difficult economic time, parents in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and all over Florida have to ask themselves this question - 'Is the cost of test preparation services worth it?' The short answer is yes. A rise of just a few points can make or break your admissions chances.

This article tells you what to look for in a test prep company.

Variability in standardized test preparation proctoring

This NY Times article looks at the proctors who actually administer standardized tests for ETS. If you or your student cannot remember what the proctor did during a test, then you know you probably had a good one. If you can remember that they were on their cell phone the whole time, then you probably had a poor one.

Lawmakers: GI Bill should cover test prep

Veterans may soon be eligible to have test preparation paid for by the GI Bill. This has been proposed by Florida lawmakers and could be very good news for veterans in Miami as well as all over South Florida.

Full article here.

Bringing experience in line with vocubulary

City children, both in Miami and beyond, often have tests that use common language referring to experiences outside the scope of their day to day activities. This article in the Times looks at a program in NY that takes some of these kids beyond the city to help them put farm terminology in context, later improving their test scores.

A Moo-Moo Here, and Better Test Scores Later

ETS Shaves a Week Off the PraxisTM Score Reporting Time

PRINCETON, NJ--(Marketwire - October 8, 2009) - Test takers and universities waiting for Praxis™ test results from the July 13 administration were pleased to receive their scores for Praxis paper-based, multiple-choice tests much faster than they might have expected. The Praxis program has reduced the time taken to report Praxis scores from 22 business days to 17 business days. (read full release here)

Valley school leaders strive to up AP test scores

JLP also offers test prep for AP exams in South Florida, which includes Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Read this article about one area's push to raise AP scores.

Level the playing field

Test prep is essential; it can also be economical. JLP provides students in Miami-Dade and Broward affordable test-prep in order to better compete with those who can afford pricey services.

Here is one student's take on this issue.

Seniority? Test Scores? Student Outcomes? The Argument for Rethinking Teacher Compensation

Many occupations and careers are incentivized, in other words based on performance. If a contractor finishes a job ahead of schedule and under budget, she might receive a bonus. If a chemist discovers a new and useful compound that generates profit for her business, she may find a healthy monetary bump in her paycheck. The teaching profession, in Miami, South Florida and beyond, has long resisted basing bonuses on students' performance on standardized tests, etc.

Karen Gallagher explores the issue in a new HuffPo blog post.

Where the AP Gods Left Off

We saw this article in the Daily Colonial and thought it was pertinent for those Miami students prepping for standardized tests.

"As many of you seniors might know, standardized tests may just have been invented by the devil himself in order to highlight just how advanced our individual cases of senioritis are. Mine appears to be terminal." (read complete article here)

"eBay for teachers" makes its debut

This startup site gives online education a new spin.

"A new startup thinks it can help fix the USA's under-funded and overtaxed education system." (read complete article here)

South Florida students praise Obama speech

As many Florida students know, from Miami-Dade to Broward to the Palm beaches and beyond, President Obama spoke directly to them this week.

The Miami Herald has an article about the impact it had on some.

South Florida students praise Obama speech

10 Things College Admissions Tests Don't Do

Miami-Dade and Broward students who are back in class and gearing up to take the SAT and apply to colleges may stop and reflect - "what exactly does the SAT test?" This article in Smart Money takes a look at that very issue.

10 Things College Admissions Tests Don't Do

Most Diverse Class of Students Ever Sits for SAT

Diversity in the SAT is on the rise according to this US News and World report article. South Florida students already know this as Miami is one of the most diverse cities in the country.

Read the article here.

Dangling Money, Obama Pushes Education Shift

From the New York Times

"Holding out billions of dollars as a potential windfall, the Obama administration is persuading state after state to rewrite education laws to open the door to more charter schools and expand the use of student test scores for judging teachers. "(read full article here)

Connecting Anxious Parents and Educators, at $450 an Hour

Parents employ high ticket guidance counselors for private school admissions. (Read full article here.)

Paying students for high test scores?

In a new twist on an old problem, NYC is trying an incentivized approach to improving students' test scores.

Read the article from College News here.

Florida SAT scores up slightly in reading, math

From the Miami Herald:

"TAMPA -- Florida's high school graduates had a slightly higher average on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT, but saw a small decline in their writing scores.

The average 2009 graduate scored a 497 on critical reading and 498 in math. Those scores are each one point higher than students performed last year. In writing, they averaged a 480, one point lower than in 2008.

Compared to the nationwide averages, Florida students trail considerably in each of those categories. They are four points behind in critical reading; 17 points lower in math and 13 points behind in writing.

More than 1,000 additional students took the test this year, an important part of most college admissions."

Stanley Kaplan dies at 90

R.I.P. Stanley Kaplan, the father of modern test preparation.

From the LA Times:

"Stanley H. Kaplan, the founder and namesake of the nation's first test-preparation company, died of heart failure Sunday at his home in New York City. He was 90.

Kaplan started a tutoring company in his parents' Brooklyn home in 1938. In 1946, a student asked him to help her prepare for what was then called the Scholastic Aptitude Test. " (read full obituary here)

New High School Accountability System is an improvement

From the Examiner website:

"Monday, Aug. 24, marks the first day back to school in Miami-Dade County. This weekend, students, parents, teachers, administrators and school support staff alike are preparing themselves for that first day back, always a little exciting, a little nerve-racking, a little frightening, a little sad...back to the daily grind.

But while students and parents may not be aware of it yet, this year promises to be a little different for teachers and administrators in Florida. The 2009-2010 school year marks the first year of a revised high school accountability system--the system that awards grades (A-F) to schools and determines, in dire cases, if the schools need to be subject to drastic measures from the district or state." (read article here)

SAT Deadlin September 9th!

We just got this in our inbox. This pertains to all Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County students as well as any Florida residents who are planning on taking the SAT. Make sure you do not miss the deadline to sign up for the SAT!

From the College Board:

"As the summer comes to a close, there's no better time for students to get serious about their future. And one of the best ways of doing that is by taking the SAT® this October. Whether it's their first time or they're taking it again for a better score, the SAT is an opportunity for students to show how well they think, solve problems and communicate—along with how well they've learned their everyday course work.

Kids who have taken the SAT previously can take advantage of our EZ Registration. As the name suggests, it makes signing up fast and easy. Maybe your child is debating whether or not to attend college. That's OK. We still encourage seniors to take the SAT now while everything they've learned these past three years is still fresh in their minds.

We want to give students like yours the resources and tools to succeed. That's why, when they register online, they can get free practice tools including an official SAT practice test and The Official SAT Question of the Day™ e-mail. It's a great site where you and your child can go together. You'll both find lots of useful information to help ensure your child's SAT experience is a positive one.

THE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 9, so have your child sign up today. Remember, the SAT is the one test that shows what students know and what they know they can do."

Schools entice more to sign up for SATs

"...Free food. Free money. Prizes that appeal to every teenager's lust for gadgets and gear.

The catch? Saturday school and the SAT.

"If you can motivate kids, they'll do amazing things for you," said Michael Hutchins, assistant principal at Lewiston High School...." (read full article here)

We aren't sure if Florida has the resources to incentivize students in Miami-Dade and South Florida to take the SAT and be prepared for it.

Fall Services

Dear Friends:

School starts in two weeks!! These warm months have flown by, and with every day that passes, JLP's summer promotions come closer to an end. If you have not visited our website yet, take a moment to browse our "Summer Specials" page which details our sizzling promotions at http://jlpeducationservices.vpweb.com These deals last until August 24th. Even if you do not use your hours right away, you can purchase them now, at the summer price, and use them later. We also accept credit card payments through Paypal now!

Even though it is an ideal time to hit the beach, it is also the best time to catch up or get ahead on your academics, study skills, and test-preparation. Before you know it, the first ACT arrives in September, the PSAT/SAT comes in October, and college application deadlines start in November. Stay ahead of the game and do not procrastinate on you or your student's future!

Education and technology

Students in Miami-Dade and other South Florida areas can join the others around teh globe who are taking advantage of online learning for test preparation.

Read this article from the Politics Daily site:

Smart Technology Breeds Smart Students in Web Test Prep Market

Reducing FCAT Stress

The FCAT is a stressful time for the students, educators and parents of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. So much time is spent on test preparation for these vital exams. One downside of this is the negative effect that stress has on Florida students and their test taking abilities. Now lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce the anxiety of those college bound students.

Read this article from the Miami Herald about this very topic: Florida educators seek ways to reduce stress of FCAT prep frenzy

A Message from our Founder

Dear Friends:

Can you believe that the summer is almost over?!? These warm months have flown by, and with everyday that passes, JLP's summer promotions come closer to an end. If you have not visited our website yet, take a moment to browse our new "Summer Specials" page which details our sizzling promotions at http://jlpeducationservices.vpweb.com

Even though it is an ideal time to hit the beach, it is also the best time to catch up or get ahead on your academics, study skills, and test-preparation. Before you know it, the first ACT arrives in September, the PSAT/SAT comes in October, and college application deadlines start in November. Stay ahead of the game and do not procrastinate on you or your student's future!

Sincerely,

Jamie Lynn

Education 101: What kinds of programs are offered by learning centers?

This is another post that remind you to do your research! Make sure you know what to expect when you are signing up for any kind of educational service. This is from the Examiner site:

"Considering a learning center or private tutoring for your student?

Most learning centers offer a variety of services, but basic services can be broken down into three types of programs. (read full article here)"

Parents fall victim to predator test preperation services

Thankfully, JLP Education Services offered in Miami- Dade and Broward Counties has a commendable reputation and a list of references for their current and impending clientele. I wish I could say the same for this test-prep company.

South Florida community colleges eager for U.S. funds

How will President Obama's stimulus package and initiatives effect community colleges in Dade county and South Florida as a whole? This piece from the Miami Herald looks at some projects at Florida's schools that the stimulus could save.

"From new classrooms to ''green energy'' academic programs to whole new college buildings, leaders at Miami Dade and Broward colleges have plenty of planned improvements, some of which could start at a moment's notice. (read full article here)"

Don't fret back-to-school prep with this checklist

Heads up Miami-Dade County! Parents and students in Florida need to be conscientious about preventing Summer learning loss. Check out this article from the associated Press.

"Yep, it's summer, and as twisted as it sounds, that should mean back-to-school prep for parents to avoid the inevitable nervous breakdown that comes with waiting until the last minute on absolutely everything. (read full article)"

Testing Tactics Helped Fuel D.C. School Gains

Test prep really works! This article from the Washington Post talks about testing gains in the nation's capitol. These strategies are effective for Florida students facing everything from the FCAT to the SAT.

Testing Tactics Helped Fuel D.C. School Gains

Whatever Happened to Cursive?

Have we seen the end of penmanship in general and cursive in particular? Read this Long Island Press article about the subject.

Student Loan Relief

Attention college grads living in Miami, Florida. You might be able to pay a little less on that hefty student loan bill you have. Read what the New York Times says about this.

FCAT possibly traded for National Standard

As all Miami, Broward and West Palm Beach students and parents know, FCAT's make up a big part of their school year. Now to make things possibly more confusing, or at the very least different, national standards are being considered for all state competency exams for K-12. Read the article from the Christian Science Monitor here.

GED classes are full

As many people might have noticed, the job market is very competitive right now. More individuals in Miami-Dade and Florida in general are taking steps to secure their GED in order to become better candidates. Read what the Christian Science Monitor has to say about this phenomenon.

SAT Scores out Now!

SAT scores for June 2009 are available now at the college board website. South Florida students who have taken the exam should find out how their hard work has paid off. This includes Miami-Dade and Broward county SAT test takers.

Congratulations from JLP

JLP Education Services would like to start out by saying "Congratulations" to those who have worked very hard during the past academic school year. This accolade extends to all parents, students, teachers, tutors, and administrators. These individuals, along with JLP, are all committed to helping students achieve their personal academic best. JLP would also like to thank all personal clients that have supported us and our mission through our first year of business. Without these clients and the success of their students, JLP would not be where it is today.

Even though the school year is over, we must not let the important summer months go to waste. This is the time to help our students catch up from any missteps taken last year and to also help those prepare for excellence in the 2009-2010 school year. Recent Juniors need to take this time to start their college applications and campus visits, along with their college admission essays. They also need to study for the last round of tests in the beginning of their senior year. Recent Sophomores also need to begin heavy test preparation for all of their standardized tests coming up their junior year. Not only do they take their PSAT (possibly qualifying them for National Merit scholarships), but they also take all of the SATs offered because of the new ScoreChoice program, along with the ACTs as well. Lastly, anyone from grades K-12 can benefit from the rebuilding and strengthening of basic academic skill sets and fundamentals. By signing up for customized tutoring programs, students prevent summer learning loss by strengthening their academic cores.

Is there too much testing in schools?

This question has come up so many times, in so many different forums. Does testing lead teachers away from knowledge focused learning?

Jenn Smith from teh Berkshire Eagle looks at some of the different sides of the issue.

Be Wise when using Student Loans

The college board has some choice words and an easy to use calculator for determining how much to borrow with Student loans.

The Debate about SAT Preparation Rages on.

Marjorie Good Reflects on the merits of test prep and how it has changed since her school days. This apples to college applicants in Miami and Florida as a well as any other students taking the SAT.

"I don't ever remember anyone taking a prep course for the SAT when I was in high school. Maybe because in the 60's, the education we received in school was outstanding; therefore, we were indirectly prepared for the SAT. (read complete article here)

State Math Exams Experience Inflation

Although some state exams have shown Math scores rising, experts say that may be due to instructors 'teaching to the test.'

From the New York Daily News:

"It's the state exam version of grade inflation. Soaring scores on the state math test don't necessarily add up to better schools or smarter kids."(read complete article here)

Wall Street Journal Writer takes SAT after 40 years

Sue Shellenbarger took the SAT 41 years later.

Her article at the Wall Street Journal is very entertaining.

"To the 1.5 million teenagers who will fret, cram and agonize over taking the most widely used college-entrance exam, the SAT, over the next 12 months, I have something to say: I'm right there with you. (complete article here)

Connections found in Unfair Admissions Practices

The NY Times reported that connected students at at least one Illinois university were put on a special list.

"How fair are college admissions? How much does it count in your favor to have rich parents, famous parents, well-connected parents, alumni parents? (read full article)

Summer School Canceled in LA

California's budget crisis has led Summer School to be canceled in LA. This unfortunate circumstance is leaving many needy students and families in the lurch.

The NY Times Reported on this last Saturday

"Most summer school programs for students from elementary through high school will be canceled this year, the latest casualty of California’s widening budget gap, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District said Friday (read complete article here).

Private admissions advisers gaining respect

JLP Education Services offers comprehensive admissions counseling. This article highlights the growing demand for these services.

"Sunday, May 24, 2009

BY LESLIE BRODY

The number of private admission counselors has grown in recent years – especially in hyper-anxious, high-achieving communities — and colleges are more open to talking with them about the students they represent, say counselors and college admission officers. (complete article here)..."

Further evidence that coaching brings significant, though modest gains

Inside Higher Ed talks about the numerically modest, yet significant in terms of admissions, gains that are made on standardized tests via coaching.

"Test Prep, to What End?
May 20, 2009

The extent to which the SAT is coachable has long been central to debates about the ethics of the test. After all, if tutoring programs that cost money help scores, there is an obvious issue of who will be able to afford such an advantage. For years, the College Board insisted that the SAT was not coachable and, more recently, the board has said that gains from test prep services are modest(complete article here)..."

Small SAT Gains Can Make a Huge Difference

You probably already knew this, but small gains can make a difference in college admissions. Many institutions, both here in Florida and nationwide, have a finite cut-off point, where 10 points in either direction could put your application in the to-be-considered pile or the big stack of rejections.

The excellent admissions blog at the New York Times reported on it yesterday.

Beyond the Lemonade Stand

Great article from Legal Zoom on something productive your kids can do this Summer.

"Michelle Fabio
June 2009

With hot weather and months without school just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about how to help your kids start a summer business.

Why should you encourage summer businesses? What are some good businesses for kids? What can you do to get them started? Read on..."

College Board is Doing Well, Financially Speaking

The Freakonomics Blog on the NY Times site reports that the College Board is making a surplus of money and that top staffers are in the six digits there.

"Each year, a million or so high school students pay $45 for the chance to prove themselves with the College Board’s SAT..."

How do American Children Stack Up Internationally?

The AP reports that American children, including those in South Florida, aren't doing as well on tests as we would like:

"WASHINGTON (AP) — America's moms and dads are getting a good scolding: Your kids are lagging behind students all around the world.

The White House says so, with concern bordering on alarm. So do institutions such as the Gates Foundation, citing performance tests, graduation rates and other benchmarks...."

College Board to Delay New Exam for Middle Schoolers

The New York Times reported that the College Board would be delaying its new test designed fro 8th graders due to financial issues. South Florida students probably have enough on their hands between the SAT, the ACT and the FCAT.

The Impact of Dropping SAT Scores from Admissions Would Increase Minority Enrollment

From Inside Higher Ed:

"A new research study -- based on simulations using actual student applications at competitive colleges that require the SAT or ACT for admission -- has found that ending the requirement would lead to demonstrable gains in the percentages of black and Latino students, and working class or economically disadvantaged students, who are admitted...."

No surprises there.

Student Plans SAT Game

Miami-Dade student Chris Dass is working on a game to help kids with SAT test prep. Read more at the Miami Herald.

"Chris Dass was turned off by ''really boring'' SAT-preparation books. Being a gamer through and through, he knew what was needed. ''I can make a game that is fun,'' he thought...."

Financing a College Education in a Recession

This from the College Board:

"Your Financing Options

When the Family Share Is More than You Can Afford

There are a variety of financing options available for families who are concerned about their ability to meet their family share of costs. These alternative sources of aid, most often in the form of loans, can help families cover financial aid gaps, or unmet need in a financial aid package.

Student Loans

If you meet certain criteria, you could qualify to borrow an additional student loan such as an unsubsidized Stafford Loan or a private education loan. Note: these loans tend to be more expensive than need-based loans.

Federal Unsubsidized Loans

Students who don't demonstrate need, or need to borrow more than the subsidized loan amount, can borrow unsubsidized Stafford loans. Unlike subsidized loans, you are responsible for paying interest on the loan while in school.

Private Student Loans

There are a number of privately-funded (non-government) loans available to students to help meet the family share. These loans are also known as alternative loans or supplemental loans.

Parent Loans

Parents can also take on loans to help cover the expected family contribution. Certain rules—such as demonstrating good credit—will apply, depending on the loan. Parent loan options include federal PLUS loans.

Federal PLUS Loans

PLUS Loans are the most popular loans for the parents of dependent undergraduate students. Parents can borrow up to the full cost of education, minus any financial aid.

Federal Grad PLUS Loans

Graduate students can borrow up to the full cost of education minus any financial aid. Students receive an automatic deferment while in school. There is no grace period, however, students may request up to a 6 month forbearance after leaving school.

Home Equity Loans

If your parents are homeowners, it's likely that they can borrow against their home. Your parents may be eligible to borrow a percentage of their equity, which is the difference between the market value of their house and how much is owed on the mortgage. This money can be used to pay for education costs. The rate is comparable to other borrowing options.

An advantage of a home equity loan is that the interest paid may be deductible on your parents' federal tax return. A disadvantage is that they may have to pay a fee for this type of loan.

IRA Withdrawals

An IRA is a savings account designed to put aside money for retirement. The main options are the Traditional IRA and the Roth IRA.

Under either plan, you can be charged a 10 percent fee if you withdraw money before you reach age 59 1/2. If the money is used to pay for college expenses, the 10 percent fee is waived. However, you may be required to pay federal and state income tax on your withdrawals.

Tuition Tax Credits

A tax credit is an amount of money you can subtract from your federal tax bill. It is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the amount you owe. If you have family members in college, and your income doesn't exceed certain limits, you may apply for a tax credit. For more information, go to Tuition Tax Credits."

Great Test Day Tips for Final Exams from the College Board

Whether you're studying for the FCAT, or any of your final exams here in South Florida, the College Board, designers of the SAT, have some great tips for you on their website. In addition to these handy tips, students should get familiar with the College Board website, in order to learn as much as possible about their upcoming tests.

"Exam Day: I Will Survive

Essential Test-Taking Tips

Try out these strategies while you're still in high school, and by the time you get to college, you'll be a test-taking expert.

Before the Test

Eat well.

Studies show that you need good nutrition to concentrate and perform your best.

Bring the right supplies.

Bring your pencils, erasers, pens, rulers, compasses, calculators, or whatever else you'll need on test day.

Review the whole test before you start.

See how many sections and what types of questions are on the test. Consider how much time to allow for each section, basing your decision on the point value of each. You don't want to spend too much time on a question that counts for only a few points.

Jot down your first thoughts.

From your first look at the test, take quick notes on ideas you might forget. For example, you may want to outline your answers to written response and essay questions right away.

During the Test

Read the directions.

Never assume that you know what the directions say. For example, some questions may have more than one correct answer.

Answer easy questions first.

Answering easier questions may jog your memory about useful facts. You may also come across information that can help you with other questions.

Answer every question.

Unless there's a penalty for wrong answers, it can't hurt to try.

Ask questions.

If a question isn't clear, talk to your teacher. If that's not possible, explain your answer in the margin.

Identify key words.

This will help you focus on the main idea of challenging questions.

Rephrase difficult questions.

To understand questions better, rewrite them in your own words, but be careful not to change the meaning.

Organize your thoughts before you write.

Spend some time organizing your responses to short-answer and essay questions. You'll reduce the time you need to revise.

Write neatly.

Be sure you don't lose points on answers the instructor can't read.

Use all of the time you're given.

If you finish early, don't race out. Use the extra time to proofread and edit your answers."

Admissions Taking Facebook into Account

Be cognizant of what you choose to put into the public domain. More and more colleges and universities, including those in Florida, are internet savvy and are looking at what potential enrollees are posting to social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace. In this highly competitive college admissions culture, be wary of what you or your students post into cyberspace.

The LA Times recently reported on this phenomenon:

"A new report indicates that some schools' admission or scholarship decisions are being influenced by what they find about an applicant on the Internet. The issue raises ethical concerns...."

Utah Teen Gets Perfect Score on ACT

It can be done. Hard work, perseverance and a little luck combine to create great scores.

From the AP:

"May 4, 2009

BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah - Kenny Raisor is a perfect 36. That's 36 as in 36 perfect points the Box Elder High School junior scored on the ACT college entrance and placement exam. About 1.4 million students take the test annually. It measures knowledge in math, science, English and reading. Raisor scored a 32 on an earlier test. He tried again hoping to score 33 points and a scholarship to BYU. ACT officials say a perfect score is acheived about once per 3,300 students."

SAT/ACT Cram Course for June 6 test

Due to an overwhelming demand for last minute test-prep students and considering the current state of the economy, JLP Education Services is very proud to offer an incredible deal on a newly developed SAT/ ACT Cram Course. For $500 each student will attend Saturday classes in North Miami for 4 weeks until the June 6th SAT Test or for five weeks until the June 13th ACT Test. They will receive an SAT/ ACT book along with easily digestible tips, tricks, and strategies in order to a score higher on their next exam. The SAT class will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The ACT course will run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. We highly recommend signing up for both; colleges will accept either test score.

For those of you who have put test-prep off until the last minute or for those who cannot afford other costly test-prep courses, this is the class for you! Do not miss out on this incredible opportunity to invest in your collegiate future. All you have to do is RSVP with us at jlpeducationservices@gmail.com or on the website at jlpeducationservices.vpweb.com in order for us to hold your spot. We will collect checks or money orders upon arrival. If you have any questions, please call the office directly at 305.960.7680.

SAT Test Tips - Test Day is May 2

The SAT Test has once again arrived! This is the fourth test of the season, and at this point, most of you in Miami-Dade and South Florida are starting to feel the pressure. It is very important for those who are taking the test tomorrow to channel those feelings of pressure and anxiety into a constructive performance high. To help relieve some worries about Saturday's test, JLP has put together some tips to follow before the big exam.

Test Day Tips:

* Get a good night's sleep before the test. Make sure that you slumber for at least eight hours.
* The test is several hours long, so eat breakfast. Make sure you consume the right amount of proteins to give you the kick-start you need.
* When eating breakfast, complete a few test questions in order to fully awaken your brain.
* Bring Photo ID and your SAT Admission Ticket.
* Bring two No. 2 pencils and a good eraser—a pencil is required for the multiple-choice questions and the essay. Mechanical pencils are not allowed because they may have the wrong type of lead or punch through the answer sheet. Pens are not allowed.
* Bring a calculator with fresh batteries.
* Bring snacks. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you during these breaks. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
* Unless otherwise instructed, you need to arrive at your assigned test center by 7:45 a.m. Make sure you give yourself an hour to get there. Most times, a test is not given at the student's home school, so it may be difficult finding certain locations and rooms upon arrival. It is better to arrive early and use that time to study, instead of rushing due to tardiness. Testing should be completed between 12:30 and 1 p.m.


To receive more exclusive tips and strategies on each section of the test, please visit our group page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122990755569 It is an open group, so feel free to join!

Now get out there and make Florida proud!

Cookie Cutter Test Prep Companies Fall Under Federal Scrutiny

Looks like Kaplan is getting a little unwanted attention for some of its business tactics. Test preparation in Miami-Dade and South Florida is just like that in other areas – it works best when it is customized to the individual taking it. Students get great results from a locally owned and operated boutique company.

Here is the story from the Washington Post:

“The Washington Post Co.'s Kaplan unit was accused in an antitrust complaint of dominating the market for LSAT test preparation.

The class-action lawsuit was filed yesterday in Manhattan federal court. It alleges that Kaplan conspired with the BAR/BRI bar-examination review firm to restrain competition in the market for the LSAT, taken by law-school applicants. Thomson Reuters, now BAR/BRI's parent, is not a defendant in the case. (read more here)”

School Counselors Feel the Pinch

As you already know admissions are getting more and more competitive as more students are looking to enter the university system. This article discusses in what ways it is affecting school counselors.


http://news.cincinnati.com

Medication Improves Test Results for Kids with A.D.H.D.

Drug therapy is effective for kids with A.D.H.D., and is linked with higher test scores on standardized tests. The NY Times reported the results of a recent study that lends clinical support to what some parents already know. Proper medication can lead to symptom reduction in kids with A.D.H.D. and consequently improve test scores.

Tara Parker-Pope wrote in the Times:
“Children with attention deficit problems make bigger academic gains if they are taking stimulant medications compared to similar kids who aren’t receiving drug therapy, a new study shows. (click for full article)”

Ruth A. Peters, Ph.D. Weighs in on Summer Learning for Children

We came across a great piece on retaining gains while on Summer break.

"How to stanch your kid’s summer learning loss

Many students lose more than 2 months of knowledge over the summer. Dr. Ruth Peters tells how to block the seasonal brain-drain

By Ruth A. Peters, Ph.D.

"Today" contributor

updated 10:41 a.m. ET, Tues., June 21, 2005

A few schools already have. Most are about to. Close their doors on the academic year, that is. And for many students that means that much of what they have learned in the past nine months goes out of their heads like summer heat rising from the blacktop. To offer advice on how to stanch this seasonal brain-drain, “Today” invited contributor and psychologist Dr. Ruth Peters onto the show. Here are some of her suggestions:

Summer will be here before you know it, and if you think those lazy, hazy months should be all play and no work, take a gander at the following statistics provided to me by Ron Fairchild, Executive Director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning. (Ron and I recently participated in a seminar in conjunction with Johns Hopkins and Sylvan Learning Centers and he was kind enough to provide this information to me.)

All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.

On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills during the summer months.

Low-income children and youth experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers.

Students may not have the same structured meal schedule and access to nutritious meals during the summer.

Studies show that out-of-school time is a dangerous time for unsupervised children and youth.

Important facts

Only about 10 percent of students nationwide participate in summer school or attend schools with non-traditional calendars.

A majority of students (56 percent) want to be involved in a summer program that “helps kids keep up with schoolwork or prepare for the next grade”.

Research shows that teachers typically spend between 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer.

At least 11 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 12 care for themselves over the summer months (unsupervised).

Action you can take
What can you do, personally, to help combat summer learning loss with your own kids?

Well, unless you live somewhere particularly remote, there are probably plenty of options in your community — you just need to be a bit creative and think outside the box.

For instance, my local newspaper, every April or May, has a special section listing all private as well as community-funded summer programs for kids. Many of these are eclectic-types of camps involving swimming, sports, crafts and field trips. However, more and more add in reading enrichment or remediation as well as math tutoring over the summer.

In addition to community and private day camps, check out the following options:

Learn to love your local library (and librarian!). It’s a wonderful place to promote the love of reading, and the librarian can suggest grade-level as well as pure recreational books that will keep your kid’s neurons clicking.

Check out safe, parent-approved Internet sites. There are many that offer a “summer camp” theme — a daily craft activity to do alone or with a parent each day, some brain teasers, video streaming of important world events (volcanoes erupting, the Martin Luther King “I have a dream” speech), and tons of grade-related math, reading and science work to be checked out in a fun way.

Consider your local newspaper — many have summer writing camps. Your performing-arts center has summer camps that involve singing, dancing and set décor as well as script reading (notice the reading part?).

Even if your child attends a public school during the year, many private schools offer summer programs for all students that involve academics as well as sports, crafts and field trips. Learning academics is more fun when interspersed with active movement and game-like activities.

The summer months are an excellent time for your child to fill in learning gaps or zoom ahead with enrichment activities at supplemental learning centers, or via tutors or last year’s teacher. Your child’s teacher is an excellent resource to give you ideas for summer books to read and math workbooks to complete in between play and television watching.

Sleep-away camps can be specialized for leaning opportunities, especially for niche fields such as computers, science and even math camps. Lots of other activities are interspersed to keep it an active experience for all. Also, consider Circus Smirkus in Vermont (www.circussmirkus,org), acting and film making in New York (www.nyfa.com), CyberCamps (www.cybercamps.com), and Omega Institute holistic learning camps (www.omegateencamp.com).

What you should do now
Before this school year ends, be sure to check with this year’s teacher(s) to get suggestions for summer workbooks and pleasure books, science activities, etc. He or she will know what will be helpful for next year. Also, you may be able to check with next year’s teacher to get his or her advice on interesting summer activities.

NOTE: This is especially necessary if your child is “on the bubble” (weak in a particular subject, afraid to answer questions in class for fear of being wrong). Summer is a great time to fill in the learning gaps and to begin the next year in a confident manner.

Learn from a vacation
Think of your summer vacation as a teachable moment. It’s sort of like tricking your kids into learning. Stealth learning is a neat way to get your kids reading, doing math or learning geography without them even realizing it!

Let the kids go online to sites such as Mapquest or one of the travel sites to help “research” the journey to and from the vacation site, as well as activities surrounding where you will be spending your summer vacation. Even if you can’t leave town for a vacation, have your child compile a “virtual vacation” by doing some research and downloading pictures of events that he or she would like to take part in. Who knows, maybe next summer they will be able to actually visit the location!

Local learning resources
Don’t forget summer learning opportunities locally, in addition to your library. Check out museums, the zoo, aquariums, concerts and parks that you don’t usually get to attend during the school year. Have them keep a journal (writing skills!) of their activities, and perhaps e-mail friends and relatives about what they are doing (again, stealth writing practice!).

Set some goals
Finally, try to motivate your child to complete five to 10 math problems (from a grade-appropriate workbook) a few times a week, and to read a chapter in a pleasure book several days a week also. Hopefully, the work will be fun (keep it low-level and simple), and the kid will do it for enjoyment.

Or, you can enhance motivation by saying, “You can turn on the television after you’ve read a chapter in your book.” Some parents skip the weekly allowance and reward their children for accomplishing some academics during the summer, by tying their allowance to task completion. You know your kids, use the option that will be most successful.

Dr. Ruth’s Bottom Line: Don’t delay — now is the time to take action for keeping the brain stimulated, as well as the body moving, over the summer months. Keep it simple, fun and stimulating. Let the kids pick out the books to read and the sites to research on the Internet (again, only safe sites allowed!). Learning alone and informally or via a structured group for part of the day or part of the summer will help to prevent summer learning loss and help your child stay sharp for school next year. But, please remember that summer is also for relaxing, taking some time off, and just being a kid. The trick is to balance fun with learning, and with all of the local options available to you, it’s a task worth tackling!

For more resources on summer reading, go to the reading resources pages at the National PTA Wesite, www.pta.org.

Copyright ©2005 by Ruth A. Peters, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Dr. Peters is a clinical psychologist and regular contributor to the “Today” show. Her most recent book,“Laying Down the Law: The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control,” is published by Rodale. (See excerpts here.) For more information you can visit her Web site at www.ruthpeters.com.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this column should not be construed as providing specific psychological or medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand the lives and health of themselves and their children. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician, psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8146912/"

SAT coming up May 2; Willa Chen Aces Three Big Ones

When you are getting ready for this Saturday's SAT exam, keep your eyes on the prize and shoot for the stars. You have worked so hard to get where you are and now you just need to put everything into place.

While I was thinking about the upcoming exam, this bit of news came my way about an intrepid young student from Michigan, Willa Chen, who aced the SAT, the ACT and the PSAT. While not many will repeat this feat, it is nice to see that hard work pays off.

This is from the AP:

"Student aces ACT, SAT and PSAT

Associated Press

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Willa Chen has a knack for tough tests.

The Detroit News reported Saturday that the 17-year-old senior at southeast Michigan's Canton High School got perfect scores on the ACT. And the SAT. And the PSAT.

The College Board administers the SAT and PSAT but says it doesn't track statistics on whether anyone has scored perfectly on both its tests.

Chen plans to attend Princeton University.

The student from Canton Township said she doesn't think she studied a lot but she said she tries to keep learning all the time.

She participates in the Math Olympiad and also finds time to enjoy jazz, tap and ballet."

SAT information and Tips from the Family Education Network

We found the Family Education Network when we were looking for resource sites that provide free and useful information about learning in general, and the SAT in particular. Check out these great tips:

"The SAT Is Not Like Your School Tests

I'm sure you know kids who don't do so well in school, yet somehow manage to ace standardized tests like the SAT. And you probably know other students who do really well in school, yet when it comes to the SAT these same students don't do nearly as well—and sometimes even bomb the test completely.

Why do so many bright students have so much trouble on the SAT? Because taking the SAT is nothing like taking tests in school. I mean nothing like it.

• To take one obvious example, school tests rarely last more than an hour.

Not the SAT. On the SAT you've got to stay mentally focused for over three hours.

• On school tests, your teachers give more weight to the more difficult questions. So it makes sense to spend more time on those questions than on easier ones—they're worth more.

Not on the SAT. On the SAT, all questions are worth the same, so it doesn't make sense to spend more time on hard questions. But that's exactly what most students do.

• On school tests, your teachers generally give partial credit for partial answers. If your answer to a long, complicated math question was mostly right, except for a "silly mistake," your math teacher would probably give you nearly full credit. If your answer on an English test was not the one the teacher was looking for, but you made a good argument for it, your English teacher would give you at least some credit—possibly full credit for originality!

Not on the SAT. There's only one right answer for each question, and no partial credit for anything else. On the SAT there's no such thing as just a careless mistake since any mistake costs you full credit, and then some.

Those are just a few of the many differences between the SAT and the tests you're used to taking. They may seem to be minor differences, but these differences will have a major impact on how you'll have to change the way you take the SAT if you want to achieve your maximum score.

Trust me: even if you're an excellent student—

• if you solve SAT math questions the way you're used to solving math questions in class
• if you read SAT passages the way you're used to reading novels or even your textbooks
• if you compose an SAT essay the way you're used to writing essays in English class

—then you're in for a rude surprise on the SAT. You'll need to learn a whole new set of skills for the SAT. Indeed, many of the academic and test-taking skills that lead to success in the classroom will work against you on the SAT."

College Board Backs Immigrant Students

The College Board, the group that administers and creates the SAT exam, announced today that it supports the opening of state schools to immigrants and supports a path to citizenship for these students.

From U.S. News and World Report

"Pending federal legislation that would create a path to citizenship for an estimated 360,000 undocumented high school graduates is receiving the support of the College Board, the organization that administers the SATs and counts 5,000 schools as members."

SAT Scores Out Now!

Today the March 14 test scores are being reported online. Please be sure to visit the College Board website to see how you or your student performed.

Along with the score news, this is the first month that Score Choice will be implemented. Score Choice gives each applicant the option to choose which scores to send to colleges in accordance with that school’s specific score-use practice. Colleges and universities that participate in this program will only receive the scores that are selected, and they will not be released without specific consent. It is important to verify with each institution’s admissions office to make sure which method they utilize and prefer.

For more information, please visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/score_choice.html?CampaignID=4267 We recommend taking the Score Choice tutorial. It is an easy way to learn how to navigate through the College Board site and see which schools are participating in the new program.

Along with the regular SAT Reasoning scores, please investigate whether or not each specific school or intended major requires you to take the SAT Subject Tests. A lot of students waste time worrying about these exams, when most schools do not require them. It is always wise to check with an admissions representative from the prospective college in order to find out if any SAT Subject Test is needed.

Lastly, it is imperative that each student sign up for their AP Exams in May. Most have probably already begun studying for these tests, but if you have not, start now! In these tough financial times, doing well on these AP exams could help pay for free college credits earned before a student even attends their school of choice.

Test Day Tips for 3/14/09 SAT Exam

Dear Friends:

The SAT Test has once again arrived! This is the third test of the season, and at this point, most of you are starting to feel the pressure. It is very important for those who are taking the test tomorrow to channel those feelings of pressure and anxiety into a constructive performance high. To help relieve some worries about Saturday's test, JLP has put together some tips to follow before the big exam.

Test Day Tips:

• Get a good night's sleep before the test. Make sure that you slumber for at least eight hours.
• The test is several hours long, so eat breakfast. Make sure you consume the right amount of proteins to give you the kick-start you need.
• When eating breakfast, complete a few test questions in order to fully awaken your brain.
• Bring Photo ID and your SAT Admission Ticket.
• Bring two No. 2 pencils and a good eraser—a pencil is required for the multiple-choice questions and the essay. Mechanical pencils are not allowed because they may have the wrong type of lead or punch through the answer sheet. Pens are not allowed.
• Bring a calculator with fresh batteries.
• Bring snacks. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you during these breaks. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
• Unless otherwise instructed, you need to arrive at your assigned test center by 7:45 a.m. Make sure you give yourself an hour to get there. Most times, a test is not given at the student's home school, so it may be difficult finding certain locations and rooms upon arrival. It is better to arrive early and use that time to study, instead of rushing due to tardiness. Testing should be completed between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

To receive more exclusive tips and strategies on each section of the test, please visit our group page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122990755569 It is an open group, so feel free to join!

NY Times reports: Well-Regarded Public Colleges Get a Surge of Bargain Hunters

One week before the second offering of the SAT Test (March 14), many of us are starting to feel the pressure of college looming in the not too distant future. During this time of economic woe, we must remember that the value of higher education is more important then ever. In a market where for every open job spot there are at least ten qualified applicants, it is important to keep ahead of the game. For parents, it is important to give your child the best collegiate education, without breaking the bank.

The New York Times recently wrote an article about the recent surge in state university applications and examines the admission numbers of many different state schools across the country. The less expensive state colleges, in every geographic region of the United States, seem to be noticing similarities in their admission trends. The number of applications being received are arriving in record numbers. In addition, more often then not, top high school candidates are saying 'yes' to acceptance letters from state schools, instead of holding out for more ivy league institutions. Experts believe that the "unraveling economy is making less expensive state colleges more appealing".

The Times reports:

"The application deadline is not until April 1, but officials here conservatively predict 15,500 students competing for 1,100 spots, a 12 percent jump over last year....Similar surges are occurring at public colleges and universities across the country, education experts say..... A poll by the center in December showed that people’s anxiety about paying for college is almost at an unprecedented high...."We’re not sure how they will respond, but we’re pretty sure they won’t respond by deciding not to go,” he added. “Middle class families understand that you’re going to be consigned to the minimum-wage economy if you don’t get some higher education or training"...So the admissions office is playing it safe. With more than 4,000 students already accepted, hundreds of qualified students who previously would have gotten fat envelopes are instead being added to a waiting list."

What does this mean for juniors and seniors who are relying on state schools and the cost of state tuition? It means that students and parents need to ensure their acceptance spot in any college, no matter where they decide to apply to. With the rising level of minority students and higher interests in post high school education in order to better compete in a failing economic market, the arena, once again, has become even more competitive.

Update on January 24 Test Score Report

Congratulations for making it through the first round of SAT testing! On January 24th, a lot of you took the first SAT of the 2009 year. Just last weekend, scores were announced online. Most saw an increase in their overall scores, while others saw an increase in certain sections. JLP is proud to report that no private student under our tutelage decreased in their overall score!

The New York Times announced:

"The officials trumpeted the size of the group that took the SAT — nearly 1.5 million seniors — and the expanded diversity of the test-takers. Hispanic, Black and Asian-American students accounted for 39 percent of the those who took the test, representing the largest proportion of minority test-takers since the SAT was introduced in 1926. In all, 35 percent of those taking the exam would be the first in their family to attend college."

This excerpt shows that minority and first-generation students are more college-bound than ever! JLP is proud to be a company who is helping narrow the achievement gap in South Florida neighborhoods by providing affordable standardized test-preparation and focused college counseling to students.

The New York Times also reported:

"The data also showed most minority and low-income students continuing to lag significantly behind white and affluent students. Many factors account for these differences, including the quality of local schools, parents' and students' expectations, the rigor of coursework, and access to tutors and special classes to prepare for the SATs and other standardized tests."

Statistics show that students who do not obtain professional standardized test preparation in between tests will continually score in the same range and percentile that they did on the original exam. Whatever the scores were this past test, unless you scored an 800 (perfect score in each section), you can always do better! Students, please use this past exam as a guide to show where you are and where you need to be. Never settle on the first set of SAT scores! Unless you are a uniquely disciplined student, please seek professional services to increase your numbers in each section and as a whole.

To congratulate the recent hard work of our young test-takers, JLP is offering a 15% discount to those who sign up for private or semi-private lessons in the next month. This promotion will end on March 14th, the next SAT test date. Help yourself and JLP Education Services provide the means and the inspiration for any student to gain access to the collegiate level and beyond!