Education Resource

Patricia Hawke asked:


As the San Diego schools graduating class of 2007 begin their senior year, school district superintendents across San Diego County are celebrating. The San Diego County Schools announced in September that, as of the class of 2006, the gap in passing the crucial math portion of the state exit exam is nearly closed between black/Latino and white/Asian students.

The county school report represented three years worth of student testing. The results break a long-standing pattern of lagging scores for black and Latino students.

Across the nation, as well as in the San Diego schools, gaps have long been evident between races in many academic measures, such as SAT scores, dropout rates, and college prep course enrollment.

There are many theories as to why the gap exists. Some believe high-achieving minority students are condemned by their peers as “acting white”, while others believe that racism is built into the institution to discourage minorities from enrolling in rigorous courses. It is even believed that predominantly low-income, minority schools generally employ inexperienced or uncredentialed teachers.

Whatever the problem, it seems the San Diego schools and other districts in the county are resolving it. About three years ago, 42 school district superintendents, including the San Diego schools, pledged to help black and Latino students bring their math skills up to par. The Superintendents’ Achievement Gap Task Force closed the gap by using teacher training, prep courses, increased teaching time for struggling students, and a symposia for county educators to share techniques and results. A variety of methods were employed to ensure students had every opportunity to succeed.

By class of 2006 graduation day, 92.3 percent of blacks and Latinos had passed the test, and 98.5 percent of whites and Asians had passed. When the class of 2006 first took the exam two years ago, 65 percent of blacks and Latinos passed the math portion, with 90 percent of whites and Asians passing it.

The math portion of the California High School Exit Exam covers middle school math and some algebra. A score of at least 55 percent must be achieved to pass the exam. Students first take the exam in their sophomore year and have numerous chances in their junior and senior years to retake the exam. The test was first administered in 2001, but the requirement to pass or not receive a high school diploma was implemented with the class of 2006.

Passing the math portion is of particular concern to the San Diego schools, where 43 percent of its students fall into this lagging behind category. Latino children represent its largest racial or ethnic group.

San Diego schools Superintendent Carl Cohn pointed out the importance of this test. He said it means the difference between a lifetime of unemployment and/or incarceration and a successful lifestyle for San Diego schools students. “It makes all the difference in the world,” stated Cohn. “The test is genuinely high stakes.”

The National Center for Education Statistics underscores the San Diego schools superintendent’s remarks. It reports that, if a student enrolls in algebra in the eighth grade, the chances that student will apply to a four-year college almost doubles.

With all the good results for the county’s class of 2006, 1,207 students were denied diplomas, because they did not pass the math portion of the exit exam. Thus, for the San Diego schools, a gap is still a gap. San Diego schools officials acknowledge that more work needs to be done to bring blacks and Latinos’ pass rates up within the San Diego schools.



Allen

bobiska asked:


I want to go to that umbc, but i’m not sure about the SAT score and what the GPA has to be.

Norma

Zack Fair asked:


One of the number one concerns for family’s that are moving is information regarding schools in their area. If you are looking for an elementary school within walking distance to your home that has a certain teacher to student ratio you will need to do your homework. But the good news is the information is available. One of the easiest ways to find out this information is to do research online.

In Dallas there are 7 independent Districts that have 51 school districts within them. Dallas metro area has over 250,000 students in over 400 schools in the area. This is one of the highest in the nation. These might seem like big numbers however the overall student to child ratio is only 13:1.

When you are looking for school information, there are 5 major categories that you need to look at. There are several sub categories that you can get information on as well. The first one is total enrollment. This is the total number of students that are attending a specific school. The reason that this is so important is based on how your child reacts with small groups versus very large groups. If your child is extremely shy and would not learn as well in a crowded school, then a school with a high number of students would not be beneficial to the child.

You also have the SAT Scores that are worth looking at. The SAT scores will give you an idea on how a certain school district is teaching children. It will also tell you how well the school is preparing your children for college.

The next is student to teacher ratios that is important to look at when choosing a new school. This number is very important because it will tell you how much time you child will get one on one interaction with the teacher. If the number is low, then the teacher will have more time where they can work individually with your child. It the number is high, your child will not have very much of an opportunity for this interaction.

School rankings are also a good thing to look at. When you look at the schools rankings, look at them over the course of a few years. This will tell you if the school you are looking at is improving overall or if it is staying the same or declining. This information is good to know because the better the ranking the better your child will be academically.

Money spent per student is another area of information that is important. This one may not be the most preferred one to look at for educational ratio. The reason this is, a school that is doing really well teaching students might divert some of their allocated money away from certain areas. This is just a figure to show how much money goes toward each student.

The 7 independent school districts are Arlington, Carrollton, Dallas, Grand Prairie, Hurst/ Euless/ Beford, McKinney, and Plano School districts. At this time, Dallas school system is bringing in very talented and gifted leaders to help insure that they continue to make continuous progress towards better education.

The school systems in the Dallas area are numerous and each is capable of providing children with the best possible education. Academically they are numbered among the best in the country and provide talented teachers who thrive on teaching students. If you know where and what to look for, you can make choosing the next school for your children very easy.



Chad

James Yee asked:


Background check was often done when someone applies for a job but mostly for those that requires high security or position of trust like a school, hospital, bank, airport, in law enforcement, etc.

It is traditionally done by the police but is now most often purchased as a service from a private business. Information usually includes the following: past employment, credit worthiness, and criminal history. These checks are important because they allow better informed and less-subjective evaluations to be made about a person.

However, they also pose risks including improper and illegal discrimination, identity theft, and violation of privacy. Pre-employment screening Pre-employment screening is used to verify the accuracy of an applicant’s claims as well as to discover any possible criminal history, workers compensation claims, or employer sanctions.

The problem screening tries to counter A number of annual reports, including BDO Hayward’s Fraudtrack 4 and CIFAS’s (the UK’s fraud prevention service) ‘The Enemy Within’ have showed a rising level of major discrepancies and embellishments on CVs over previous years.Such business fraud cost United Kingdom businesses 1.4 bn in 2005Almost half (48%) of organizations with fewer than 100 staff experienced problems with vetted employees. 39% of UK organizations have experienced a situation where their vetting procedures have allowed an employee to be hired who was later found to have lied or misrepresented themselves in their application.

However, recent research shows a reverse in the trend. They found that in the 2006/7 period CV discrepancies had fallen by 31% to 13%.

The Market

Larger companies are more likely to outsource than their smaller counterparts - the average staff size of the companies who outsource is 3,313 compared to 2,162 for those who carry out in-house checks.

Financial services firms had the highest proportion of respondents who outsource the service, with over a quarter (26%) doing so, compared to an overall average of 16% who outsource vetting to a third party provider. The construction and property industry showed the lowest level of outsourcing, with 89% of such firms in the sample carrying out checks in-house. there for making the overall average 16%. This can increase over the years.

Types of Checks

Employment References Education Verification - School grades, degree and any professional qualifications obtained Character Reference Check Gaps in employment history Identity and Address Verification - whether the applicant is who he or she claims to be.

Generally includes verification of the candidate’s present and previous addresses. Can include a money laundering, identity and terrorist check and one to verify the validity of passports. Whether an applicant holds a directorship Credit History - bankruptcies

Criminal History Report Regulation

The Financial Services Authority states in their Training & Competence guidance that regulated firms should have: Adequacy of procedures for taking into account knowledge and skills of potential recruits for the roleAdequacy of procedures for obtaining sufficient information about previous activities and trainingAdequacy of procedures for ensuring that individuals have passed appropriate exams or have appropriate exemptionsAdequacy of procedures for assessing competence of individuals for sales roles

The Financial Services Authority’s statutory objectives: Protecting consumersMaintaining market confidencePromoting public awarenessReducing financial crime Pre-employment screening in the US Laws Due to the sensitivity of the information contained in consumer reports and certain records, there are a variety of important laws regulating the dissemination and legal use of this information.

Most notably, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the use of consumer reports (which it defines as information collected and reported by third party agencies) as it pertains to adverse decisions, notification to the consumer, and destruction and safekeeping of records. If a consumer report is used as a factor in an adverse hiring decision, the consumer must be presented with a "Pre-adverse action disclosure," a copy of the FCRA summary of rights, and a "notification of adverse action letter." Consumers are entitled to know the source of any information used against them including a credit reporting company.

Types of Checks

There are a variety of types of investigative searches that can be used by potential employers. Many commercial sites will offer specific searches to employers for a fee. Services like these will actually perform the checks, supply the company with adverse action letters, and ensure compliance throughout the process.

It is important to be selective about which pre-employment screening agency you use. A legitimate company will be happy to explain the process to you. Many employers choose to search the most common records such as criminal records, driving records, and education verification.

Other searches such as sex offender registry, credential verification, reference checks, credit reports and Patriot Act searches are becoming increasingly common. Employers should consider the position in question when determining which types of searches to include, and should always use the same searches for every applicant being considered for one position.

Reasons

They are frequently conducted to confirm information found on an employment application or résumé/curriculum vitae. They may also be conducted as a way to further differentiate potential employees and pick the one the employer feels is best suited for the position. In the United States, the Brady Bill requires criminal checks for those wishing to purchase handguns from licensed firearms dealers. Restricted firearms (like machine guns), suppressors, explosives or large quantities of precursor chemicals, and concealed weapons permits also require criminal checks.

Checks are also required for those working in positions with special security concerns, such as trucking, ports of entry, and airline transportation. Other laws exist to prevent those who do not pass a criminal check from working in careers involving the elderly, disabled, or children.

Possible Information Included The amount of information included on a check depends to a large degree on the sensitivity of the reason for which it is conducted-e.g., somebody seeking employment at a minimum wage job would be subject to far fewer requirements than somebody applying to work for the FBI.

Criminal and incarceration records Birth certificate, citizenship, immigration, or legal status in the country Litigation records Employers may want to identify potential employees who routinely file discrimination lawsuits.

It has also been alleged that in the U.S., employers that do work for the government do not like to hire whistleblowers who have a history of filing qui tam suits. Driving and vehicle records Employers in the transportation sector seek drivers with clean driving records–i.e., those without a history of accidents or traffic tickets.

Drug tests are used for a variety of reasons–corporate ethics, measuring potential employee performance, and keeping workers’ compensation premiums down. Education records These are used primarily to see if the potential employee had graduated from high school (or a GED) and in fact received a college degree, graduate degree, or some other accredited university degree. There are reports of SAT scores being requested by employers as well.

Employment records

These usually range from simple verbal confirmations of past employment and timeframe to deeper, such as discussions about performance, activities and accomplishments, and relations with others. Financial information Credit scores, liens, civil judgments, or bankruptcy may be included in the report.

Licensing records

A government authority that has some oversight over professional conduct of its licensees will also maintain records regarding the licensee, such as personal information, education, complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions. Medical, Mental, and Physiological evaluation and records Military records Although not as common today as it was in the past fifty years, employers frequently requested the specifics of one’s military discharge.

Social Security Number (or equivalent outside the US).

A fraudulent SSN may be indicative of identity theft, insufficient citizenship, or concealment of a "past life". Polygraph test Also known as a psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD) examination. Other interpersonal interviews Employers will usually wish to speak with potential employees’ references to gauge employability. More intensive checks can involve interviews with anybody that knew or previously knew the applicant–such as teachers, friends, coworkers, and family members.



Norman

elena s asked:


SAT test has a mean score of 500 with a standard deviation of 100. And ACT test has a mean score of 18 with a standard deviation of 6.
a) Suppose that an engineering school honors program will accept only high school seniors with SAT or ACT score in the top 20%. What is the minimum SAT score for this program? What is the minimum ACT score for this program?.

Lorraine

Pinky P asked:


Does anyone here know what your SAT Score exactly has to be to get into the University of Michigan and also what are the requirements to get in?

Glenn

123456 asked:


I am going to be a senior in high school. I have taken the SAT twice and the first time I got 1540 and second 1670. My GPA is 3.9/4.00. I want to go to a good school in the Northeast. I am planning on majoring in Accounting. What schools are good and how can i raise my score?

Jared

styrofoamcup50 asked:


Alright, I just took the SAT in may and got a 530 on Critical Reading, a 620 on Math and a 580 on Writing coming to a total of 1730. I didnt do much prep for the test so i could probably raise it a bit if i take it again. I’m happy with my score but I’ll be honest, my grades suck, im usually labeled as an underachiever because I take AP/honors courses but usually just squeak by with a C. Its not that i dont try, I just don’t function well in a high school-style educational atmosphere. I do tons of extra corricular clubs/activities, but I feel like my grades might keep me from getting very far. Is a 1730 on the SAT going to do much to help me get into a decent college despite my average grades?

Frank

SHUBHRANSHU AGARWAL asked:


Are you a student having sleepless nights due to the nightmares of SAT? Are you too one of those parents who worry about the academic performance of your child especially when he/she is going to appear in SAT? Are you looking for a supplementary help to improve the capability of your child to score good in SAT? According to a recent national survey report, more than 75% American students and parents pass through these stages. It is a fact that more than 70% people hire the conventional tutoring services recommended by relatives, friends or community members because it is the easiest way. As a result, more than 80% candidates don’t get the expected grades even after doing their best and paying the high rates even beyond their limits. So, what may be the reason? Simply, they don’t get the right kind of guidance to improve their skills and to fill up the voids in their SAT preparation through conventional Pvt. tutoring. On the other side, online help for SAT preparation has been proved as a boon for countless students. Is online SAT preparation really so effective?

E- tutoring or online tutoring has proven its extra edge over traditional Pvt. tutoring. Some extra benefits of online SAT preparation help are – customized course modules, professional approach to assess the capabilities, weak points and learning interest, technologically advanced customized teaching practices, saving of commuting time, 24×7 hrs availability, readily available question banks, anytime access to previous sessions, cost effectiveness and many more. Increasing worldwide trend of getting online test preparation help also proves these benefits.

Is it enough just to hire the costliest e- tutoring company for SAT preparation? The yielded benefits depend upon the right selection of online tutoring. So, don’t engage the recommended online tutoring company without judging the suitability of tutoring company on the basis of your own parameters. Software, system and language to be used, tutors quality, teaching approaches, customization level, periodic assessment procedure, provided credentials and allied services like the questions banks, access to previous sessions and anytime help etc are some important issues which need specific attention. To judge the suitability and standards of tutoring sessions, attending trial sessions is the most reliable way. Many companies like tutorskingdom.com offer trial sessions and conduct assessment tests free of cost. So, as a clever customer get the advantage of tough competition among the quality tutoring companies. Here, comes another question of importance which is generally asked by the parents and students both – How can we improve the outcome of hired tutoring service?    

Personally, I believe that even the best tutoring service can’t deliver the expected results till we wouldn’t take our own initiatives. To improve up the outcome of Online SAT preparation one needs to be self disciplined. Familiarity with the technology to be used, basic knowledge about the topic of forthcoming session, asking without shy, regular revision of previous sessions and self assessment through various question banks certainly boost up the results.

Mr. Elison, consultant of tutorskingdom.com says, though the experts of online tutoring companies know to evaluate and tackle your real requirements but even then it is better if students themselves tell their specific interest and problem areas. Stipulate the task of SAT preparation in easy goals because it is easy to accomplish small tasks one by one as per preference. As you go ahead accomplishing your small tasks, you will feel more confident and less worried. This practice provides you sufficient time to check your comfortable level and perfection in entire SAT course. If you feel any problem, discuss it with the experts of hired online tutoring company. After all, every penny you pay is of worth.

Yes, if you want to know more about SAT preparation, please visit http://tutorskingdom.com/ or write at info@tutorskingdom.com.

Wising you all the success and Happy New Year.



Lillie

Blaze asked:


I’m planning on going to ECU (a nice but not extremely hard to get into sort of school) and I was wondering if colleges in general look at SAT scores separately?

The first time I took the SAT my sophomore year, I made a 1760 or else a 1240 on the old one. The second time I took the SAT I raised in my writing score by 50 pts but lowered on my math and especially reading score. Do they only take the highest score you received?
I want to go to ECU because I live near it, I have a good job that’s right beside it, free housing, and I plan on going to graduate school somewhere else. (I have everything planned out )

Stanley