State of Texas Selects ConnectEDU to Create an Online Resource to Help Students Transition to College and Careers

BOSTON, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Education Agency, in conjunction with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, announced that they have selected ConnectEDU to develop their Online College Preparation Assistance Pilot Program.  This program will help high school students manage the complex college selection and application process.

The pilot program will provide free college and career preparation tools for students and families in Texas in a single online resource.  Counselors, teachers, and administrators will also benefit from using this resource.  The Online College Preparation Assistance Pilot Program will bring together critical information in one easily accessible place to assist students in preparing for college.

Barbara Knaggs, TEA's associate commissioner for state initiatives, said, "We are excited about working with our partners to provide this opportunity to the thousands of Texas students who will be participating in the pilot program.  We believe this program will help students successfully transition from high school to college or career."

"This pilot project complements the joint work that the TEA and Coordinating Board have done with the College and Career Readiness Standards," said Dr. Judith Loredo, Coordinating Board assistant commissioner for P-16 Initiatives.

A growing body of research points to the importance of guidance, information, and support in helping students apply to and pay for college.  In order to be successful, students must complete a series of specific tasks, many of which are time dependent.  This resource uses state-of-the-art technology and individualized student data to help students stay on track to graduate and to effectively navigate the college search, application, and selection process or take the steps necessary to successfully transition directly to a career. 

"We are particularly excited to be working with the State of Texas to help implement this pilot program, and we look forward to working with them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of students," said Craig Powell, CEO, ConnectEDU. "We applaud Texas for leading the nationwide charge to implement college and career readiness standards and meeting the challenge of providing better assistance for students as they transition from high school to college or career. This pilot will provide students and families throughout Texas with a personalized tool that will help streamline the college and career planning process, while helping to achieve the state's goal of graduating all Texas high school students ready for college and career success."

The tools that will be available include:  college search and match tools, managing and tracking multiple college applications, financial aid resources, personalized student portfolios, and career assessment and planning.

To read the State of Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's press release, see http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=8426.

For more information on ConnectEDU, call 888-887-8380 or visit www.connectedu.net.  

About ConnectEDU, Inc.

ConnectEDU is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their career.  Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities.  We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective.  ConnectEDU's approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

SOURCE ConnectEDU, Inc.