Archive for August, 2007

2008 Inspiration Awards Call for Entries

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

The College Board is now accepting entries for the 2008 Inspiration Awards.  The Inspiration Awards celebrate America’s most improved high schools, awarding the three winning schools $25,000 each.

Winning schools initiate unique programs and create partnerships among teachers, parents, community organizations and local businesses to help more students attend college.

The Inspiration Awards are open to all secondary schools (public and nonpublic) in which 40 percent or more of the students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Schools should be able to demonstrate significant and consistent growth across the entire student population in:

  • Participation in rigorous curricula, such as the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) or International Baccalaureate (IB);
  • Participation in college-preparatory course work; and
  • The percentage of students accepted to two- or four-year institutions of higher education.

Get additional information or to download an Inspiration Awards application, call 212 713-8052, or e-mail InspirationAwards@collegeboard.org. Applicants will be notified of their status by late March 2008.

Posted in Grants | No Comments »

The College Board Is Getting Out of the Student Loan Business

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

The College Board is ending its Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loan program.  They will not accept new loan applications after Oct. 15, 2007, but will continue to honor its obligations to existing borrowers through the 2007-2008 academic year.

The College Board’s decision to end its student loan program was based on the enactment of new legislation and codes of conduct regarding the student loan industry.

Read the full press release.

Posted in Financial Aid | No Comments »

SAT Scores At All-Time Low

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

The College Board, the organization that develops and administers the SAT, announced that average composite scores on the math and critical-reading sections once again fell to an all-time low, dropping 4 points since last year when scores dropped a historic seven points.

This year’s average score in critical reading was 502 (1-point decline lower than last year). The average scores in mathematics and writing declined 3 points each compared to a year ago, bringing the scores to 515 and 494, respectively.

College Board officials cite the increase in then number of minority students taking the test as the reason for the drop in scores.  A record 1.5 million test-takers from the 2007 high school graduating class took the SAT.  Thirty-nine percent of them were minorities.

Read the full press release.

Posted in Admissions Exams | No Comments »