Tier One Tutoring Blog

GAO Investigation Reveals Widespread Fraud and Deceptive Recruiting At For-Profit Colleges — Kaplan College, Among Others, Busted

tier1tutor — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:45:23 +0000

On Wednesday, a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed fraudulent and deceptive practices among several for-profit colleges. For example, an admissions officer for Kaplan College told GAO investigators posing as applicants that Kaplan College has the same accreditation as Harvard University. According to investigators, the misleading tactics are not unique to Kaplan College. In fact, GAO investigators observed similar practices at University of Phoenix, Everest College and Argosy University. Besides being disingenuous, the recruiting ploys that some for-profit colleges use to increase their enrollment and bottom dollar also place billions of dollars in federal student aid at risk. How? According to the report, students who attend for-profit colleges are more likely to default on their student loans. The problem is that for-profit colleges receive nearly one-fourth of all federal aid to college students. Despite the billions of dollars at stake, investigators said that they still encountered cavalier attitudes among admissions officers at for-profit colleges. Here are some quotes from admissions officers at for-profit colleges about student loans — this is what they tell prospective students and applicants:

“It’s not like a car note, where if you don’t pay they’re gonna come after you” — Recruiter on a Florida campus of MedVance Institute.
“I owe $85,000 to the University of Florida”… “Will I pay it back? Probably not. I look at life a little differently than most people. I look at life as tomorrow is never promised.” — a Florida-based Kaplan college recruiter.

Kaplan, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Company, says that the activities that the GAO described are “contrary to our standards and values in every way.” The company has suspended enrollment at its campuses – located in Pembroke Pines, Florida and Riverside, California– pending an investigation of the GAO findings. According to Kaplan spokeswoman Melissa Mack, the company is working “to ensure that such incidents are not repeated anywhere at our 75 campuses or among our 16,000 higher-education employees.”

Other schools are taking similar actions. According to reports, the University of Phoenix has begun an internal investigation and may fire employees who violate policies that protect students during enrollment. Similarly, Everest College opened an internal investigation at the campuses GAO investigators visited.

If you need help in the college application process, feel free to visit Tier One Tutoring, LLC at www.tier-one-tutoring.com . Our company provides academic advice and instruction at an affordable rate.

Addressing the T.C. Williams Issue

tier1tutor — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:27:21 +0000

When it comes to the problem of why TC Williams is an underperforming school, a number of commentators have pointed the finger at teachers, at administrators and even at the very same students who are in need of our help and support. The point is that everyone needs to take part in our students’ education. In many cases (not all), the problem lies in the fact that the students, parents, teachers, and the administration all take part in what is known as the “by-stander effect”. Everyone is aware that John Doe, an 11th grader is failing Math and cannot read beyond a Fifth Grade level but everyone takes a back seat hoping that someone else will solve the problem — John’s parents look to the teachers and administrators, John’s teachers look to the parents and John, and many times because John’s administrators feel so far removed from the situation, the administrators do not even take the time to look to anyone else. This is the problem and quite frankly until everyone recognizes this, the problem will never be solved, and some of our students will continue to be pegged as “low achieving.” In a case like the hypothetical John Doe, everyone should take accountability for John Doe’s progress or lack thereof and brainstorm together to come up with a solution. It is true that some students will never be receptive to this kind of problem solving. However, there are those students who will acquiesce to improve their study habits and improve their grades with teamwork, the right push, the right tutor, and/or the right mentor. Here are a few tips that some commendable parents and teachers employ:

For Parents - Get involved in your child’s education. This includes: (1) meeting with teachers to come up with a plan to get your child back on track; (2) taking away privileges until your child makes progress in school, i.e., get rid of that iPod, the Xbox and all the other distractions that children have these days; (3) seeking a tutor to ensure that your child gets the additional help he or she needs; (4) requesting that the teacher provide ongoing progress reports to track the child’s progress in class; and (5) seeking a mentor if your child is not connecting with you.

For Teachers - Identify the student’s problems early on. The earlier that you identify the problem, the earlier it can be addressed. This includes: (1) meeting with parents to come up with a plan to get the student back on track; (2) answering parents questions and providing him or her what she needs to help the child improve (I have seen correspondences between parents and teachers where the parent asks for a syllabus or the next few homework assignments and the teacher fails to get back to the parent or fails to address all the parents requests and concerns); (3) making yourself available to provide additional help when needed; and (4) familiarizing yourself with a local tutoring agency where you can refer students for additional help when you yourself cannot provide such help.

Another issue that must be addressed is the “B” word, “BORED.” We hear that 5 letter word all too often, it is typically used in the phrase ”I AM BORED.” You have three types of students who use the “B” word. Some students are BORED because they do not understand the material. Then you have those students who are outstanding but are still BORED so they misbehave or lose focus in the classroom. Finally, you have those students who are being labeled as “low achieving” who are pretty brilliant but lack motivation and thus, do not try to achieve academic success. Parents of these three types of children may want to seek help from a tutor. A tutor can help students who have fallen behind to catch up by obtaining the basics needed to compete at a high school level. In addition, for the outstanding students who want to soar but have to wait on the curriculum to catch up with their aptitude, a tutoring company can provide additional resources to challenge them in preparation for the rigors he or she will face at the university level.

Tier One Tutoring, LLC provides academic instruction at an affordable rate. For more information, go to www.tier-one-tutoring.com.

Spanish Made Easy

tier1tutor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:14:43 +0000

Many students struggle with Spanish because they find it very difficult to grasp the differences between the English and Spanish languages, especially in the area of verb conjugation. Students ask “why do I need to change the ending of this adjective from an ‘o’ to an ‘a’?” The short answer to this question and others like it is simply that Spanish has a lot of rules.

The best way to learn the rules in Spanish is repetition, repetition, and more repetition. Honestly, repetition is probably one of the most effective ways to learn and master the Spanish Language. Almost everyone has heard the cliché saying, “practice makes perfect” – well that cliché is very true in the realm of the Spanish Language. Repetition is likely the only way to learn when and how to use the imperfect tense instead of the past tense or when to use the subjunctive instead of the indicative. Repetition is the only way in which one can build his or her vocabulary.

Second, it is very true that if you do not use it (Spanish), then you will lose it. In other words, if you do not practice listening or speaking in Spanish, you will likely lose your skill set in those areas. Therefore, it is in your best interest not to let your skills become analogous to our vestigial structures (organs that we have but do not use) but rather, constantly put your skills to the challenge. Watch the Spanish channel to improve your listening skills; use flash cards to build your vocabulary; and finally, to practice your communication skills using the numerous verb tenses, find someone who speaks Spanish and speak with them at least once a week using Spanish only.

Finally, to supplement your students of the Spanish language, do not be shy about hiring a tutor. Tutors are great resources because they have already ‘been there and done that!’ I assure you that if you use these tips, Spanish will be smooth sailing from this point forward.

Tier One Tutoring, LLC is a tutoring agency based in Northern Virginia. Tier One Tutoring serves the Washington DC Metropolitan area, which includes Northern VA, DC and MD. Our Spanish tutors are qualified, talented, and skilled individuals who are grads and prospective grads of some of the best schools in our nation – Duke University, University of Illinois, New York University, Syracuse University, and American University to name a few. All of our tutors are qualified to assist students in Spanish. For example, one of our tutors, has a Masters of Arts in Hispanic Languages and Cultures from New York University and did her coursework in Spain - the very place where the Spanish language and culture originated! During her time in Spain, this tutor worked as an ESL teacher for a year and a half. In short, the tutors at Tier One Tutoring have helped students improve their Spanish skills. If you are interested in hiring a Spanish Tutor of such excellent caliber and want more information on Tier One Tutoring services, visit www.tier-one-tutoring.com or contact Tier One Tutoring directly at http://www.tier-one-tutoring.com/contact.html.

American Heart Association Reports that Students’ Physical Fitness is Associated with Academic Achievement

tier1tutor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:50:33 +0000

This week, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a report which indicates that physical fitness is associated with academic performance in young people. While this is not new information to the public, the AHA’s study is useful because it provides data to support and define the nature of the relationship between children’s physical fitness and their academic performance.

To study the association between children’s physical fitness and their academic performance, Lesley A Cotrell, an associate professor of pediatrics at West Virginia University, analyzed the body mass index percentiles, fitness levels and standardized academic test scores of 725 fifth grade students in Wood County, West Virginia. Cotrell and her colleagues then compared that data to the students’ fitness and academic performance two years later when the 725 students were in the seventh grade. According to the study, children who had the best average scores in standardized tests in reading, math, science and social studies were fit at the start and end of the study. In contrast, children who were not physically fit in either the fifth or seventh grades, had the lowest academic performance in all four subjects at the end of the study.

The take away point here is that there is a direct correlation between physical fitness and academic performance. Therefore, it is critical for parents to get involved in the early stages of their childre’s academic career to ensure that their students are physically fit and on track to achieve academic success!

Tier One Tutoring understands the importance of supplementing student’s regular education with physical fitness. Tier One Tutoring offers athletic physical training sessions that result in healthier, happier, and smarter children. For more information, visit http://www.tier-one-tutoring.com/training.html or contact Carl Smith, the Director of Tier One Tutoring’s Scholar Athlete Division at carl@tier-one-tutoring.com.

Additional resources: To learn more about the American Heart Association’s advocacy efforts to strengthen physical education programs in schools, visit fitkidsact.org.

President Obama’s High School Challenge

tier1tutor — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:17:07 +0000

President Obama is challenging high school students to compete in a contest where the winner will have him speak at their graduation this spring. Students must answer four essay questions and submit a video about how their school is meeting President Obama’s 2020 goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

President Obama specified in a video message that investing billions of dollars in strengthening the nation’s schools will ensure that the U.S. reaches that goal. “Graduation is an important moment for anyone. But a high school diploma is also important to our success as a nation.”

Students from public high schools must complete their application by March 15 th . Six finalists will be selected by the White House and the Department of Education. These schools will be featured on the White House website where the public can vote for the top three schools. President Obama will select a national winner from the three finalists and visit the winning high school to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2010.
Click here to find more information on how to enter the competition .

Tier One Tutoring LLC has qualified tutors on staff to assist in essay writing as well as other subjects to help students reach their highest potential. Visit us on the web at www.tier-one-tutoring.com .

One-on-One and Online Tutoring: How You Can Stand Out

tier1tutor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:14:09 +0000

Statistics show that students who receive one-on-one tutoring excel in all subjects including math, science, spanish, statistics, writing, and accounting courses. Students with the highest grades get into the top universities. Students showing strong academic performance during college and graduate school are more likely to stand out in the current competitive job market.

Students are strenghtening their knowledge by harnessing the power of technology and online learning.

Northern Virginia based Tier One Tutoring LLC (www.tier-one-tutoring.com) offers online tutoring programs for K-12, post secondary, collegiate, and graduate students of all ages. Tier One Tutoring LLC sets itself apart because all of their tutors are from top universities. Their tutors know what it takes to excel at academically rigorous programs of study. Whether a student is taking courses at a traditional college or online, the student receives completely individualized attention so their retention rate as well as their success rate is optimized.

Increasingly, states and school districts are using technology or online learning to improve the delivery and efficiency of elementary education and beyond. As many as 1 million children around the nation are participating in some form of online learning. Today, 27 states offer statewide virtual schools that allow students to take classes online, and 24 states and the District of Columbia allow students to attend a virtual school full time.

If you are looking for one-on-one tutoring instruction so you can take your exam scores and your educational experience to the highest level, go to www.tier-one-tutoring.com or contact us at info@tier-one-tutoring.com or call 703.727.9942.

Ten Year Old Boy Heads to College

tier1tutor — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:50:43 +0000

A 10-year old boy from Cherokee County in Kansas is headed to Pittsburg State University this Spring. The boy, who turned 11 this month, scored a 23 on the ACT test. The average composite score on the ACT is 21.1. The young scholar will take university choir, recital, chemistry, calculus and biology. His parents say that the class load is light for the young brain. Do you think that he is too young to go to college? Is this a good idea?

Encouraging children to enjoy education and to push themselves is a good idea. However, sending an 11 year old to college can be detrimental for the youngster in that there are potential social ramifications of not developing mentally, physically, and academically alongside his or her peers.

Tier One Tutoring, LLC provides tutoring services for ACT prep, SAT prep, LSAT prep, Math, Science, Spanish and more! Visit us at www.tier-one-tutoring.com .

California Seeks Tougher Standards for Student-Athletes in the Fight Against Concussions

tier1tutor — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:13:20 +0000

Recently, California legislators and the state’s high school sports federation have introduced new legislation and proposals to protect student-athletes from concussions. The move towards more protections for student-athletes follows massive media attention surrounding the near death of San Jose High Academy football player Matt Blea and new scientific evidence that indicates how vulnerable student-athletes are to the debilitating effects of brain trauma.

According to Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, “[i]njuries are a part of any sport” but “…if you don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of a serious sports injury, it can be life-threatening.” To address this issue, Ms. Hayashi has introduced two bills. The first would require coaches to learn about and identify the symptoms of head injuries. The second bill calls for a doctor’s clearance before an injured athlete can return to the field. The second bill is very similar to the proposal by the California Interscholastic Federation.

Despite Hayashi’s enthusiasm to pass legislation that can ensure the present and future well-being of student-athletes, Hayashi has her work cut out for her. For example, a proposal to mandate new training, was rejected because of potential cost concerns. Thus, Hayashi will need the support of colleagues and other California residents to pass this legislation.

Tier One Tutoring helps student-athletes achieve academic and athletic success. For information on our Student-Athlete program, go to http://www.tier-one-tutoring.com/services.html.

Senator Ralph Northam Wants Uniform Grading System in Virginia Schools

tier1tutor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:19:29 +0000

Senator Ralph Northam says that he will introduce a bill that would ask the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to do a study about creating a state-wide grading system in Virginia public schools. According to Northam, the grades in Virginia are not uniform. For example, in Norfolk a 93 percent is an “A” whereas in Virginia Beach a 93 percent is a “B.” Most school districts in Virginia recognize a 7-point scale while others recognize a 10-point scale. Regardless of which scale is used, the Virginia Department of Education should mandate that one grading scale be used state wide so that students can have the same competitive advantage when applying to universities state-wide and otherwise.

Northam has his work cut out for him given the fact that similar bills have been rejected in the past. According to VDOE spokeswoman Julie Grimes, the last time that the VDOE discussed the issue was in 1987. Further, there are many school board members who disagree with Northam’s position and are not interested in a “one size fits all system.” For example, Fairfax County school board member Stuart Gibson believes that grading should be a local issue. According to Gibson, “[e]ach school board needs to have the flexibility necessary to adapt its grading scale to its local needs.”

Northam plans to introduce the bill within the first two weeks of the legislative session.

For more news on education, visit http://www.tier-one-tutoring.com/blog.html.

Parents Get Probation in Home Schooling Case

tier1tutor — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:58:43 +0000

The Associated Press reports that two women were sentenced to one year of probation after giving up their fight against charges that they were not adequately educating their home-schooled children.

On Tuesday, December 29, 2009, an Allen County judge in Indiana sentenced mothers Lila Ferguson and Molly Williams to a year of probation after they pled guilty to misdemeanor charges and entered into an agreement that required them to enroll their children in school and not have unexcused absences. The attorneys for the two women tried to have the charges dismissed on the grounds that state law does not provide specific guidelines for parents who want to home-school their children. In his court filing, the defense attorney wrote: “The statute fails to sufficiently define the term education and fails to define how someone deprives a dependent of an education.” The Allen County Chief Deputy Prosecutor agreed that the state has no real standard or curriculum for home schooling. However, the real issue was that the New Haven women were not able to provide any documented evidence that their children were being taught at home.

The takeaway point here is that a parent who chooses to home school his or her child should consult and follow any state guidelines regarding curriculum for home schooling. Additionally, parents should maintain accurate records to demonstrate that their children are receiving an adequate education. Parents may also consider tutoring services to supplement their home schooling program. For information on Tier One Tutoring, LLC’s services, go to www.tier-one-tutoring.com.