The 18-year-old student found out the passwords of two of his teachers to gain access to the school’s system. He is on one year probation, and has the option of spending 20 days in jail or doing 160 hours of community service. So, to all of you thinking of doing the same: you might want to reconsider.  Read more…

POTOMAC, MD–(Marketwire - February 20, 2008) - Over 50% of college students taking algebra fail. Colleges haven’t succeeded any better than high schools in teaching algebra despite the presence of free tutoring on most campuses.

Learn Without Limits has launched a new service — Instant Algebra Help (www.InstantAlgebraHelp.com) — that has become a “life saver” for college students struggling with algebra.

The trick to passing algebra is simple — don’t get stuck. To pass algebra, students need to practice. And to practice, students need to be able to get answers to their questions so they don’t get stuck.

Offered 24/7, students are connected immediately online with tutors using whiteboard and chat. Learn Without Limits has developed a technique to explain algebra using “illustrated answers with motion lines” that show all the necessary steps.

Michelle, a 48-year-old criminal justice major from Everest College, described her experience, “Learn Without Limits is such a life saver. Algebra is my last class to finish for my degree but I was failing. My professor even blamed me. But as soon as my Learn Without Limits tutor started helping me and answering my questions, I knew I had found the secret to passing algebra and getting my degree.”

Most students that face the challenge of college algebra also face strict budgets. Glynn Willett, CEO, commented, “Our goal is to make learning algebra not only possible but affordable to all college students. Students can try us for just $4.95 for 60 minutes. Compared to frustration from failing algebra, Learn Without Limits is very affordable.”

Instant Algebra Help eliminates the high cost, appointment and commute of tutoring but even better, Instant Algebra Help answers the student’s question while they are solving problems which is exactly when a student needs help.

With over 300,000 college students struggling with algebra each year, Instant Algebra Help is giving hope and opportunity for these students to graduate.

ABOUT LEARN WITHOUT LIMITS

Learn Without Limits (www.learnwithoutlimits.com) offers instant math help to high school and college algebra students. Whether working with students in class as online teaching assistants or as instant 24/7 homework help, Learn Without Limits helps students get unstuck when they have a math question. Offering solutions at a price that any student, school, or parents can afford, Learn Without Limits has become a life saver for struggling algebra students.

PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwire - January 31, 2008) - The United States continues to fall behind other major industrialized nations in terms of the percentage of the population with a college degree, according to a recent series of joint studies released by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and Jobs for the Future.

Currently ranked tenth among industrialized countries in the percentage of 25-34-year-olds holding an associate’s degree or higher, the U.S. is projected to slip further, ranking near the bottom in the percentage of entering students that complete a degree program. Notably, the U.S. now stands as one of the only countries where older adults are more educated than younger adults.

At the current rates of degree attainment, the U.S. will produce approximately 48 million new undergraduate degrees by 2025 — 16 million fewer degrees than the 64 million it would need to match leading nations Canada, Japan, and South Korea in the percentage of adults with a college degree (estimated at 55 percent) and to meet emerging national workforce needs. To make up the gap, the U.S. would need to produce an additional 781,000 college graduates a year — a 37 percent increase over current levels.

Only eight states are currently on track to reach the level of educational attainment needed by 2025 to compete with the best performing nations and meet workforce demands.

COLLEGE COSTS OUTPACE INFLATION

The studies, conducted as part of the Making Opportunity Affordable project, note that college affordability is increasingly affecting accessibility. Even when adjusted for inflation, tuition and fees at four-year public universities have risen 24 percent over the past five years, according to the Trends in College Pricing 2006 report by the College Board.

The result has been that lower- and middle-class families have been struggling more to pay for college, with fewer low-income students enrolling and two-thirds of college students graduating with debt. Today, the average student borrower at a public college or university owes $17,250 in student loans; 10 years ago, the average borrower attending a public institution graduated owing $8,000 in student loans, after adjusting for inflation.

The studies project that, in order to expand the percentage of its adult population with college degrees, the U.S. will need to increase college accessibility for low-income students, as well as for continuing education students and for students in minority groups that have been traditionally underserved in higher education.

COLLEGE FUNDING OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

In an effort to increase college accessibility for lower-income students, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. The bill, which went into effect on October 1, increases the maximum federal Pell Grant award and is set to cut interest rates on subsidized federal college loans in half over the next five years.

Students who don’t demonstrate enough financial need to qualify for subsidized federal college loans or a federal Pell Grant could still qualify for low-cost, low-interest unsubsidized federal Stafford student loans. Students aren’t required to make any payments on their Stafford student loans while they’re still in school (at least half time). Non-need-based low-interest federal college loans are also available for qualifying parents of undergraduates.

Students whose education-related costs exceed their available federal financial aid may consider private student loans. While private student loans may provide the additional financial assistance some students need, since federal student loans generally offer more attractive terms than private student loans, it’s strongly recommended that students and their parents look to available federal financing options first.

About NextStudent

NextStudent, Federal Lender Code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services, including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private student loan consolidation programs, and college savings plans.

For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit our website at NextStudent.com.

LITTLETON, Colo., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Applying to college is nothing if not a high-stress experience. High school seniors across the country are staying up until the wee hours of the morning to fill out applications and write essays for numerous colleges and universities and simultaneously struggling to maintain their grades. To ease this stress, CollegeZapps, LLC (http://www.collegezapps.com) today announced the addition of over 154 colleges and universities to the CollegeZapps web site.

“Spending hours filling out applications for seven colleges is a good way to get a hand cramp and a headache,” said Colorado St. Mary’s Academy senior Claire Godbolt. “I’d be on break at my school and trying to finish applications for college. I would much rather be enjoying my senior year or sleeping. I didn’t really have a top choice yet, for me all I knew is that I wanted to go out of state.”

CollegeZapps uses a proven technology platform to help ease the pain of the college application process. The online questionnaire efficiently collects required information from prospective college students and then auto-fills applications for one or multiple schools. Now, students can complete college applications faster, more accurately and more professionally.

“Helping students apply to college is what CollegeZapps is all about. Filling out forms, writing essays, taking tests, and meeting deadlines can be pretty overwhelming for someone who is simultaneously dealing with midterms, dating crises, graduation, and teen angst. More high school-age students are applying to college today than in years past. This means that there are more high-achieving high school students applying to the same number of highly selective schools,” said David Kenney, CEO, CollegeZapps.

The April 3, 2007, The Wall Street Journal article titled ‘Colleges Reject Record Numbers’ noted, “This year’s college-admissions competition is turning out to be more brutal than ever — and not just for students who applied to elite universities. A number of top-tier state schools and smaller liberal arts colleges say they received more applications this year from well-qualified students — and consequently are turning down a higher percentage of them.”

“I work with high school students every day in their college application process. It is a painful and tedious one. A few years ago students would want to apply to two or three colleges. Now, they want to apply to eight or 10. While the applications are available for download from the Internet, students have to print them, then fill them in by hand or by typewriter. This process is time consuming and leads to many errors. With CollegeZapps, completing college applications is so easy. Students can now spend more time choosing what colleges best fit them, applying to more colleges in less time, and reducing the redundancy that comes with filling out multiple application forms,” said Joe Eberle, independent education consultant and publisher of The College Gazette.

The May 11, 2007 USA Today article entitled “College Applications Take Off” said, “Every college admissions cycle has its own set of dynamics, and this year is no exception. Many selective private colleges are reporting a boom in applications and, as a result, expect to admit a lower proportion of high school seniors than last year.”

CollegeZapps is powered by Efficient Forms, LLC who specializes in business form and data collection automation software. This is a proven technology platform that directs an online interview to efficiently collect required information from prospective college applicants. The information is then used to expedite completion of all the college applications the students wish to submit.

“So often I think how much times have changed and the roadblocks students face just to apply to college. From ease of use to highly personalized applications, our proven, powerful technology helps students apply to college. The students are our highest priority,” continued Kenney.

CollegeZapps is compiling a collection of the applications of the most applied to universities and colleges in the United States. Additional colleges and universities will be added weekly to the site. Fees for the CollegeZapps service are $14.95 for one application; $29.95 for three applications; $49.95 for 10 applications; and $69.95 for 15 applications.

For more information, visit http://www.collegezapps.com or contact Nikki Butler at (866) 492-7607 or nbutler@collegezapps.com.

(PRWEB) October 31, 2007 — There’s no doubt that today students are under intense pressure to perform academically, but at what cost? The Institute of HeartMath® (www.heartmath.org) and Claremont Graduate University (www.cgu.edu) released a new study that depicts the high levels of anxiety students are shouldering due to the pressure to excel intellectually. Nearly two-thirds of the high school students who participated in the study reported being affected by test anxiety. The study underscores the detrimental impact of test anxiety on academic performance. Based on their findings, researchers say that students’ high levels of anxiety may jeopardize NCLB assessment validity and could be compromising testing results.

HeartMath researchers explain that feelings of anxiety drive up the level of “noise” or mental static to such a pitch that it overloads the circuits in the brain needed for paying attention, learning, focusing, and remembering.

When students are anxious about their test performance, their brain doesn’t function efficiently. They can look at a test question and literally not see certain words, become confused, or miss the meaning of a question. They can even miss seeing entire questions on the page.

Dr. Rollin McCraty, lead researcher on the study and director of research for the Institute of HeartMath, says, “When students are anxious about their test performance, their brain doesn’t function efficiently. They can look at a test question and literally not see certain words, become confused, or miss the meaning of a question. They can even miss seeing entire questions on the page.”

The primary study looked at nearly one thousand tenth-grade students from two California high schools. The schools were matched as closely as possible on academic performance and key sociodemographic factors. One school was the intervention site where students were taught HeartMath’s TestEdge® program which includes techniques to self-regulate emotions like stress, anxiety, and frustration. The other school served as the control group and used whatever methods they would normally use to prepare students for challenging tests or activities.

TestEdge is based on 16 years of scientific research on the psychophysiology of learning and performance (http://www.heartmath.org/education/testedge/why.php) – how emotions either enhance or inhibit our ability to think clearly, comprehend information, problem solve, and absorb and retain information. The program shows students how to use positive emotions to get in sync and stabilize the brain’s electrical activity. This results in “cortical facilitation,” which is associated with improved comprehension, memory recall, and the ability to solve problems – all skills required for positive test results.

The study examined whether providing students with the emotional management skills taught in the TestEdge program would enhance their ability to control anxiety. The researchers also sought to establish whether a reduction in the levels of test anxiety and other emotions that block performance would result in a corresponding improvement in academic and test performance.

In addition, researchers aimed to find out if, as a result of student emotion regulation skills, there would also be related improvements in stress management, emotional stability, relationships, and overall student well-being as well as classroom climate, organization, and function.

A secondary study was also conducted to evaluate how well the TestEdge program would be received, coordinated, and administered in a widely diverse variety of school systems across the country.

Pre-intervention results:
The primary study established the magnitude and consequences of stress and test anxiety in a large sample of students:

• 61% of all students reported being affected by test anxiety.
• 26% of students reported frequent high levels of test anxiety.
• Twice as many females experienced high levels of test anxiety as compared to males.
• Students with high levels of test anxiety scored, on average, 15 points lower on standardized tests in both Mathematics and English-Language Arts than students with low test anxiety.

Post-intervention results:
After the TestEdge program was delivered to the students at the intervention school site, there was strong, consistent evidence that the intervention had a positive effect on these students when compared with the students in the control school:

• Of those students at the intervention school who had reported being affected by test anxiety at the beginning of the study, 75% had reduced levels of test anxiety by the end of the study.
• In four matched-group comparisons, there was a significant increase in test performance in the experimental group over the control group, ranging on average from 10 to 25 points.
• In two of the matched-group comparisons, the significant increase in test performance was associated with a decrease in test anxiety in the experimental group.

HeartMath researchers say that anxiety inhibits cognitive and physical performance because emotions affect the rhythmic activity in the nervous system. For example, feelings like frustration, anger, and anxiety literally cause the nervous system and the brain to get out of sync, disrupting our ability to think clearly. On the other hand, uplifting feelings such as appreciation lead to increased harmony and synchronization of the brain and nervous system, enhancing our ability to think clearly.A surprising finding of the Institute’s research is the important role the heart plays in determining how “in sync” we are. Dr. McCraty explains: “The heart puts out a powerful, rhythmic signal that the brain responds to. Nerve impulses originating in the heart dramatically affect how we think, perceive, and perform. In a way, you could say that the heart and brain ‘talk’ to one another – and together they set the rhythms for the entire nervous system and body.”

HeartMath researchers say that the heart actually sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart. Dr. McCraty continues, “The signals the heart sends – whether harmonious or chaotic – can make all the difference in our performance. Chaotic activity in the nervous system leads to what is called ‘cortical inhibition.’ Our reactions are slowed and we cannot think clearly.”

According to HeartMath, the more refined mental processes required on exams – such as abstract reasoning or comprehending the deeper meaning of what is being read – are especially affected.

“What we’ve observed is significant in light of the rigorous testing in our schools,” says Dr. McCraty. “A low score or failing a test doesn’t necessarily indicate the student hasn’t learned the material or doesn’t know how to think through a problem. It is highly possible that the student hasn’t learned how to deal with the anxiety caused by taking tests.”

Experts say there should be concern about current educational strategies that require students to conform to high intellectual standards at an accelerated pace without providing them with the tools and emotional skills required to handle such pressure.

For more information about this study, please visit www.heartmath.org/tendssummary to download an executive summary. The complete 335-page study can be downloaded at http://store.heartmath.org/store/scientific-monographs/Tend-Report

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) July 3, 2007 — Based on the results and feedback of thousands of students, teachers and parents around the world, Learning Upgrade has fined-tuned its popular online reading course, Reading Upgrade, to help students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities overcome reading blocks and effectively learn how to read.

Learning Upgrade found one of the keys to teaching students with dyslexia is to prevent the use of traditional coping methods such as memorization and guessing, which provide short term fixes rather than real, sustainable results.

Reading Upgrade Version 2 incorporates music, video, interactive games and randomization of questions and answer choices to create a fun, engaging and highly effective learning tool for all students and adult learners. Students with dyslexia, ADD and other special needs find that Reading Upgrade works where other methods fail because Reading Upgrade is able to fully engage the student and make learning fun.

Randomly switching the order of questions and answers has proven to be a particularly effective strategy for students with dyslexia. Memorization, a favorite coping method, is rendered ineffective. Students can no longer simply repeat the tests over and over until the order is memorized. Guessing is reduced through the use of restructured sentences specifically designed to encourage more focused reading. Students learn flexible reading strategies which can be applied in the classroom and the real world.

Reading Upgrade Version 2 features:

• A more robust online reading course (more words, sentences, passages)
• Innovative techniques to help with special needs education
• Reduced memorization (improves results for students with dyslexia)
• Updated songs, videos, games focused on clarity and improved learning
• Reduced guessing (questions restructured to increase motivation to read accurately)
• A new final challenge that gives students a true sense of accomplishment

Reading Upgrade is a research-based course, modeled after the results of the National Reading Panel’s April 2000 Report. The course aligns to state curriculum standards for Language Arts and is rooted in effective learning strategies that work.Pop songs, videos, games and a fast-paced interactive atmosphere keep things light and fun, giving students the true motivation they need to learn reading. Students say it feels more like playing than doing homework so they actually look forward to learning.

“Our challenge was to improve the course and still keep the fun stuff,” said Vinod Lobo, CEO of Learning Upgrade. “We received feedback from teachers, parents and students from around the world. The result is a course that is even more engaging with songs, videos and games and is better suited to help struggling readers find reading success.”

Learning Upgrade’s online education courses have been providing consistent positive results to students and adult learners since 2001. More than 50,000 students from 40 countries around the world have used the online courses (Reading Upgrade, Comprehension Upgrade and Math Upgrade) to improve test scores, jump reading levels and to prepare for standardized tests including entrance exams for teaching and nursing school.

The course is for students of all ages (including adults). It takes between 3 to 8 weeks to complete and reading skills can improve by 1 to 2 grade levels or more. At just $99.95 per student, Learning Upgrade’s online courses deliver highly effective results for thousands of dollars less than expensive tutoring programs.

Enroll for a free 7-day trial of Reading Upgrade Version 2 (no credit card required) and learn more about how the course helps students with dyslexia, special needs, adult learners or anyone who wants to improve the reading skills of their child, their student or themselves.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 — Home School students from across America stand out as champions, this year, in three of the nation’s biggest competitions: The 80th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, The 5th Annual National Word Power Competition, and the 19th Annual National Geographic Bee. Each champion praised the flexibility of the Home School Curriculum and the dedicated help of their Home School teachers for their wins.
Evan O’Dorney (thirteen), champion of the much coveted 80th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, prepared for his win by juggling balls around the living room; while, being drilled by his Home School teacher - his mother. Surprisingly, Evan was more excited to talk about his love of math at a post-win interview. This well-rounded bright young man is also an accomplished pianist and Tae Kwon Do, level one, black belt. Evan’s Home School Curriculum affords him the flexibility to study in his own way, at his own pace and this Home School scholar certainly excels.

In fact, many children excel in the self-paced, family-oriented, Home School environment. On the Scripps official website it listed that out of the 286 contestants participating at this year’s Bee, five of the fifteen listed, as this years’ top contenders were Home School scholars.

Another top scholar following the Home School Curriculum is Matthew Evans (twelve), winner of the 5th Annual National Word Power Challenge. Kathleen Bordelon, executive director of the contest describes Matthew’s command of the English language as “staggering”. Matthew praises his Home School teacher, his mother, as the best coach “in the world.” Matthew is also a talented sketch artist, pianist and like other young men, enjoys camping and basketball; yet, another example of a young scholar flourishing in the Home School environment.

Caitlin Snaring (fourteen), another notable Home School scholar, achieved a double honor as the first girl in seventeen years to win the 19th Annual National Geographic Bee. The questions at this event require contestants to integrate their understanding and knowledge of sociology, anthropology, history, language, and current events with geography - no small feat. Caitlin praises the open system of the Home School Curriculum for affording her the time to prepare for the contest by combining all her subjects with geography. This young champion is already considering her college options, but at present is concentrating her efforts on competing for the international title at the National Geographic’s World Championship, in August.

Another newsworthy young man, Joey Logano, sixteen, made NASCAR history after winning his race in the Featherlite Coaches 200. This Home School scholar won his third Grand National Division race in four career starts by beating Kevin Harvick (winner of the NEXTEL Cup All-Star Challenge and the Daytona 500) by nearly two and one half seconds.

Home School scholars are coming out on top. Their academic prowess, although remarkable, is not the only area in which these children surpass excellence. These students are excelling with the Home School Curriculum because they are allowing themselves the room to grow and learn at their own pace, in their own unique way. As public schools become increasingly overcrowded and continue to lack the funding and resources required to provide a proper education and safe environment; Home School is becoming a more viable, affordable option than ever before.

Citizens’ High School provides quality Home School education and a Home School Curriculum tailored to meet the particular needs of each student. Founded in 1981Citizens’ High School is a pioneer in distance education, by setting high standards of education in United States. Students have the chance to earn an actual, accredited High School Diploma, not an equivalency certificate, while enjoying a flexible, self-paced Home School environment.

For more information please complete the inquiry form provided on the school’s official website at http://www.citzenschool.com to obtain a school information packet at no cost. Or fax queries to (904) 272-6702 or phone toll free 1-800-736-GRAD (4723). For all written correspondence address mail to: Citizens’ High School, 188 College Drive, P.O. Box 66089, Orange Park, FL 32065-6089.

Probably not, because the cost has simply spiraled out of control, and education is in many ways less important than experience.  Of course, to get the best experience you need a get education.

Read more on MSN Encarta’s take here.

PHOENIX, AZ — (MARKET WIRE) — May 03, 2007 — Each year the cost of a college education continues to increase, along with the debt that students incur in order to finance their education. New proposed student loan legislation is under consideration to lower interest rates and accomplish other helpful initiatives that reduce the burden of funding college but has not yet been enacted. States have rallied to the cause, working in tandem with university administrators to implement policies that greatly reduce tuition for in-state residents and lower-income students. However, a little-considered method for reducing debt when attending college comes down to students acting as their own “college funding resource” by completing comprehensive, in-depth scholarship searches for FREE money, according to NextStudent, the leading Phoenix-based education funding company. In fact, since most students and their parents don’t spend enough time in their attempt to find FREE money for college, they are more likely to miss the unique opportunities that greatly would reduce the amount they borrow.

There are quite a few more scholarships out there than most people realize; it just takes a significant commitment of time and effort to uncover them, which most people fail to do. There are over $3.4 billion in total awards from more than 2.4 million scholarships available from some 42,000 funding sources that may be located through NextStudent’s free, online Scholarship Search Directory. Unfortunately, many of these awards remain unclaimed, largely since people may not know the awards are available or because they fail to fully qualify.

In order to be best positioned for success, it is essential that students start with a plan when attempting to find the scholarships that best fit their circumstances. It is wise to make this process as simple as possible, by first searching for awards for the year the student will be attending school (”Year of Study” link), and by the college of choice (”College(s)” link). Next, students may narrow down their parameters by where they live (”State of residency” link) as well as looking to see if either of their parents’ employers offers scholarships for students by selecting the “Corporate Employer(s)” link. Third, a search may be performed by the academic major the student will be pursuing (”Academic Major” link). Finally, there are many unique, individual situations that may be searched by category for students with special needs or according to very specialized circumstances (”Unique Situation” link).

Regardless of a student’s specific needs, abilities or goals, there are numerous scholarship awards for which students may qualify. When students choose to commit the time and resources to obtaining FREE money for college, they most likely will reap bountiful rewards for their efforts, significantly reducing their debt burden.

About NextStudent

NextStudent, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private student loan consolidation programs, and college savings plans.

The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private — and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion.

For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.