The Princeton Review Launches College Readiness Initiative for the Harlem Children's Zone

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Princeton Review today announced that it will work with the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) to launch a College Readiness initiative at its Charter High School, Promise Academy.

Beginning November 2010, the program will support HCZ's goal of having all of its students attend college by providing content instruction, college admissions advisement, and test preparation to the Promise Academy's junior class of 63 students – the school's first group poised to graduate and move on to a post-secondary education.

"It's an honor to be chosen as the college preparatory arm for the Harlem Children's Zone's Promise Academy," said Scott Kirkpatrick, President of the Test Preparation and Admissions Services Division at The Princeton Review. "We are completely committed to supporting HCZ's focus on ensuring that 100 percent of the Academy's junior class are not only accepted into college but also well prepared for a post-secondary education."

A Pledge to Success

"The Princeton Review has deep experience in applying College Readiness best practices, and we believe they can play an important part in supporting HCZ's efforts to help prepare students for the college admissions process," stated Promise Academy Principal, Marquitta Speller.

Ms. Speller added that as part of the program, HCZ and The Princeton Review developed the 100% Club where students and parents pledged via an oath their commitment to achieving the program's goals—100 percent of the graduating class of 2012 accepted to and attending college.  Each student then received a pin that became part of their HCZ uniform to indicate membership in the club.

"The following morning after we announced the program our 11th graders were walking around with their 100% pins on," said Speller. "They were asking other 11th graders who missed the event if 'They're in the club' and if a student said 'No...what club?' they'd start talking about the program. It is fantastic!"

A Focus on Comprehensive Services

Kirkpatrick noted that The Princeton Review's work with HCZ was another example of how it has become a comprehensive higher education services provider for all types of institutions and demographics.  "Our work in developing and implementing College Readiness programs across

the county including successful initiatives for Broward County Public Schools (Florida), as well as the Henry Street Settlement in New York City has more than prepared us for this challenging but exciting assignment," he said.  "Whether it's teaching students how to research and identify schools that are the right fit or helping them use time management, study and decision-making skills – so they don't become part of the 30 percent of students who drop out after their first year – we will do everything possible to ensure that each and everyone of these terrific kids gets into and is successful in college."

He added that program components will be delivered via a combination of live in-person and live online, and metrics will be developed to aggressively track progress toward goals. Key program elements will include:

• Early Edge: A modular math and English Language Arts (ELA) program that provides supplemental academic instruction based on the results of student's individualized pre-course assessment reports.

• College Admissions Advisement:  A series of interactive and engaging programs and activities designed to guide students through – as well as demystify – the college admissions process. This initiative will also help students understand and navigate how to plan and pay for a higher education – including financial aid options – and provide tools and skills for succeeding in school once they've begun their college careers.

• Test Preparation: Instructional classes and materials designed to ensure students succeed on the high-stakes SAT and ACT college admissions exams.

About Harlem Children's Zone

The nonprofit Harlem Children's Zone® targets a 97-block area of Central Harlem with a comprehensive network of education, social-service and community-building programs for children and families. Serving more than 8,800 children, the HCZ Project pipeline begins with The Baby College® parenting workshops, then supports students through its charter schools and after-school programs and finally its College Success Office. The goal of all its programs is to break the cycle of generational poverty through education.

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (Nasdaq: REVU) has been a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals for more than 28 years through college and graduate school test preparation and private tutoring. With more than 165 print and digital publications and a free website, www.PrincetonReview.com, the Company provides students and their parents with the resources to research, apply to, prepare for, and learn how to pay for higher education. The Princeton Review partners with schools and guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education. The Company also owns and operates Penn Foster Education Group, a global leader in online education.  Penn Foster provides career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster High School and Penn Foster Career School (www.pennfoster.edu), which are headquartered in Scranton, PA.

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SOURCE The Princeton Review