An online learning platform announced last week that it will be offering free, online prep classes for students preparing to take the ACT and SAT.
Varsity Tutors, a Missouri based company, announced its “Test Prep 4 All” initiative, saying the goal is to give away $50 million worth of classes, which the company said is valued at $779 per student. The goal is to help “tens of thousands” students gain access to prep classes so they can succeed on the tests and have a better chance at making it into colleges.
Students across the country will be able to participate in the live online classes, but Highland High School students will also be able to participate by attending the ACT class in the Paula Wallace Memorial Library at HHS. The class will be streamed live in the library with students also having access to computers to login individually.
Superintendent John French said, "It is important for our kids to have an option at school because many of our students don't have access to internet at home and for many that do have access, it is unreliable." French also said that the district only learned of this opportunity on Monday 9-23-19, but they are working on plans to provide food and possibly transportation for students who attend the classes at school.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is also backing the initiative, and Varsity Chief Executive Chuck Cohn said he expects the governor’s office to publicize the classes to school districts throughout the state, which will consist of ten sessions, each two and a half hours long, for a total of 25 hours of instruction. The classes will feature teaching assistants to help answer student questions as well.
The online classes are designed to prepare students for the ACT or SAT college-admissions exams. Each class includes 25 hours of live instruction by Brian Galvin, chief academic officer of the Clayton-based company, along with practice exams and a 650-page test-prep book.
The ACT prep course will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and runs through Thursday, Oct. 24. Sessions will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Classes for the SAT will begin on Monday, Sept. 30. The course will run through Wednesday, Oct. 30. These classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
To sign up, visit www.varsitytutors.com/free-sat-act-prep-course.