AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > March > 10
Thursday, March 10, 2005
The Freshman Academy Concept
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some love it, some don’t. I learned this reading my favorite education blog not called Get Schooled…It’s called The Chalkboard
North Carolina parents have recently successfully fought a Freshman Academy coming to their school. The idea is to sequester freshman and make sure they get the resources and support they need to make it to tenth grade. But some parents see this as a plan that benefits remedial students, but not those who are advanced. Those students want to be a part of the whole high school. Also, with so much attention on ninth graders, the parents feel older students will lose out on course offerings.
Many metro Atlanta high schools have created freshman academies. Is this a good model?
Bring On the New SAT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After years of hysteria over the SAT adding a writing section, students will finally sit down and take the new SAT on Saturday. The change has been a boon for the test-prep industry, agony for students who say they can’t write well under time constraints and frustration for those who say their strength is math. (The college admissions test is now two-thirds reading and writing)
Lost amid the hype is this good news for the Class of 2006: Yes, you are the guinea pigs. Therefore, college admissions folks for the most part are going to cut you some slack. At most schools, including UGA, the writing portion won’t factor into the admissions formula this year. College admissions officers want to study the data for a couple of years and see whether performance on the writing portion is indeed a predictor of college success.
For more info on the new SAT, read my story, and check out the College Board Web site.
Parents and students, what do you think about the new SAT.
