Follow the Money, 2

[Susan Ohanian <SOhan70241@AOL.COM>]

New test prep program seeks to boost scores
 By Joanna Massey, Standard-Times staff writer
 NEW BEDFORD -- As the connection between standardized testing and student
success grows stronger, an on-line test preparation company has dedicated
itself to boosting the test score of every student in the city.
 Rick Bolton, a New Bedford native and president of the newly-formed TestU,
says he wants to democratize access to quality test preparation by offering
on-line programs for as little as $30 per student.
 "Standardized tests are becoming more and more important to students' lives,
and preparation shouldn't be a function of economics," Mr. Bolton said
yesterday at a study session for New Bedford High School students taking the
SAT exam on Saturday.

 "Most test preparation is focused on a demographic that is affluent, and we
want to level the playing field. We want test prep to be available to every
student, no matter what their background or where they go to school."
 Yesterday, officials from TestU, who launched their SAT preparation Web site
in April, led about 25 high school juniors through several of the site's
"practicals," where students can choose from hundreds of sample test
questions and test-taking strategies, as well as learn vocabulary and math
concepts.
 The company, formed last July, is piloting its programs here and in three
other cities -- Providence, R.I., Nashville, Tenn., and Fresno, Calif.
 Although TestU programs are currently available only for the SAT exam, Mr.
Bolton, whose mother and grandmother worked in the New Bedford school system
for many years, plans to release test prep programs for the Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment Systems test later this year.
 "We just released similar programs in New York, where the students who took
the state-mandated exam this year are required to pass it to graduate," he
said. "And as we know, that's coming here too."
 While the majority of traditional test preparation programs cost several
hundred dollars, the TestU program, which students access through a password,
costs only $50. Administrators can purchase a site license for the entire
school at a cost of about $30 per student, Mr. Bolton said.
 "The goal of course is to reach millions of students across the country,"
said Mr. Bolton, who expects the New York-based company to see a profit by
next year. "Kids will be able to use us anywhere where they can get on the
Internet."
 At yesterday's study session, students were awarded dozens of prizes,
including TestU memorabilia and gift certificates, in an effort to promote
the company. One student was also awarded a brand new Apple iMac computer,
and all were asked to give feedback on TestU.
 "The idea is really helpful," said junior Jocelyn Desrosiers. "It's so much
more interesting than learning from a book."
 "Teen-agers don't have much time so this is a good way to prepare because
you can come back to it whenever," said junior Kyle Dubois. "And we're on
line anyway."

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