(Newark, NJ) The Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) is pleased to provide free SAT preparation for Newark high school students for the fourth consecutive year. Done in partnership with the Abbott Leadership Institute (ALI) and East Side High School, and with support from the Rutgers University–Newark Chancellor’s Office, this course offers an intensive eight-week preparation for the May 4, 2019 SAT exam.
Included in the course are 15 hours of instruction on test-taking strategies from experts at The Princeton Review, practice workbooks, in-person and online practice exams that simulate the real SAT, and an interactive online student portal with SAT, ACT, and other college resources. Valued at more than $1,000 per student, this type of rigorous preparation is often out of reach for low-income prospective college students.
Eliminating the cost barrier associated with SAT preparation could help to expand Newark students’ college-going options. A recent report released by NCLC and the Rutgers-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration finds that after high school, fewer than 10 percent of Newark students attend highly or very competitive colleges, like Rutgers-New Brunswick or NJIT, and only 1 percent attend the most competitive colleges, like Harvard or NYU. Newark students are often staying close to home after high school and attending less selective institutions even if they are qualified for highly selective institutions, a phenomenon known as “undermatching.”
“The SAT is one of the most widely used measures for college admission, but when it comes down to it, a student’s score is really reflective of preparedness to take the exam,” said NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “By helping students prepare for the SAT and achieve higher scores, we’re actually helping to strengthen their applications and to increase college access.”
Beyond simply preparing students for the exam, the partnership with ALI ensures that students will have all the support they need to successfully transition to college. ALI works through its College Success Center to help students and families as they prepare to enter college and the workforce. In addition to collaborating with NCLC to coordinate the SAT Prep Course on the Rutgers-Newark campus, ALI is also providing ongoing support to students as they complete their applications, look for scholarships, and otherwise prepare for the transition to college.
“There is no better preparation for the SAT than The Princeton Review [model], but for many Newark families it is not affordable,” said ALI Director Kaleena Berryman. “Students in Newark are brilliant and capable. What they often lack is access to game-changing opportunities that will empower them to truly compete. We are proud to serve as a partner with NCLC in this initiative.”
In total, 100 high school juniors are participating in this year’s course, split between the Rutgers-Newark campus and East Side High School. Each site receives the same intensive resources from The Princeton Review.
“This opportunity and educational experience is a game changer for my students (and their families) as they ready themselves for the SAT exam. It is gratifying to partner with such an innovative and dedicated organization committed to the success of our amazing students,” said East Side High School Principal Michael West.
NCLC’s goal is to ensure that Newark students have the opportunity, information, and access to go to college, afford college, complete college, and ultimately obtain good jobs. Through SAT Prep and other initiatives that equip Newarkers to succeed, NCLC helps Newark build and sustain a college-going culture.
Superintendent Roger León, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Shakirah Harrington were joined by more than 450 students and nearly 60 teachers for the 2019 NJIT Stem Day, held at NJIT on March 14th.
The Stem Day was led by Ivory Williams, Special Assistant of Science Teaching and Learning, and her staff; Bethany Davis, Demiana Awad and Melissa McLain of the Science Team. NJIT hosts were Jacqueline L. Cusack, Ed.D, Executive Director for The Center for Pre-College Programs, Division of Academic Support and Student Affairs and Levelle Burr-Alexander, PhD, Director of Special Projects at NJIT.
Senator Ronald L. Rice sits down with Executive Director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC), Reginald Lewis, to discuss how NCLC is working to build a college-going culture in Newark. View the episode here: https://vimeo.com/317060607
Newark, NJ — With the start of the spring semester this week, nearly 40 Newark high school students also began classes on the Rutgers University–Newark campus. The result of the first-ever dual enrollment memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Newark Public Schools (NPS) and Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences–Newark (SASN), students are participating in such course offerings as Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Caribbean Studies. Students are able to earn three college credits for each course.
“The opportunity for our high school students to realize now that college is possible is embodied in dual enrollment,” said Superintendent Roger León. “This experience is beyond realizing that our students can complete college courses [but that they can] compete at the very highest levels.”
Added Mario Santos, Assistant Superintendent of High Schools, “As a former principal…I know first-hand the advantage of providing resources to our students. I want to thank Rutgers University and encourage our students to take advantage of everything this awesome opportunity provides as they begin their journey through college.”
The MOU, approved by the Board of Education in December 2018, is in line with NPS’s increasing emphasis on college readiness. A recent report released by the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) and Rutgers–Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration found that while 54 percent of 2011-2016 Newark high school graduates immediately enrolled in college, only 23 percent earned any type of degree or credential within six years. NCLC brokered the dual enrollment partnership as a direct follow up on the report’s recommendations to improve college matriculation and completion for Newark students.
“Our goal at NCLC is to help as many Newark residents as possible to get into and through college, which is why we are excited to provide this opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school,” said NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “By expanding access to more rigorous course options, like dual enrollment, we ensure that more of our students are on track to graduate high school on time, as well as graduate ready to do college-level work.”
Notable about the agreement is that high school students attend classes on campus alongside current Rutgers undergraduate students, rather than taking online courses or courses offered on high school premises.
It is “not only an opportunity for high school students to enroll and experience the rigors of a college course, but to also get a glimpse into the college student experience. They will engage with our faculty [and] have academic and social exchanges with college students in and outside of the classroom,” said Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education at SASN, LaToya Battle-Brown.
Angela Mincy, Principal of Barringer High School, said, “This dual enrollment opportunity…will undoubtedly be a game changer for students. What better gift can we give our youth than exposure and access to high quality opportunities to push their intellectual and physical boundaries beyond the traditional high school walls?”
Indeed, physically being on a college campus is a key element for high school students to envision themselves as college students in the future. As Barringer High School student Yellybeth Diaz said about the Introduction to Psychology course she is taking on campus this semester, “Taking this class will give me a first-hand experience of what college life will be like…[and] will teach me how to be even more responsible academically and most importantly how to manage my time.”
Plans to expand the current dual enrollment agreement are already underway to include more NPS students and additional higher education institutions, including NCLC’s nine other higher education partners from the Greater Newark area. Increased dual enrollment opportunities provide pathways for more Newark students to successfully transition to college and ultimately earn their desired degrees.
Remarked Mr. Lewis, “The city has a lot of momentum; it’s more than just getting young people through high school, we’re building Newark’s emerging college-going culture.”
NCLC partners at the Berkeley College Foundation launched its newest resource to help students succeed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 8, 2019. A food pantry, located at Berkeley College’s Newark campus on Broad Street, was made possible through a $10,000 donation from the Foundation.
“There are many factors that contribute to success,” said Kevin L. Luing, Chairman, Berkeley College Board of Trustees, who spoke about his 15-year relationship with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Now we can help with basic needs, and offer another resource to help our students be successful.”
The Center for Food Action estimates that one-third of undergraduate college students nationwide face food insecurity. According to a study by Feeding America, Essex County has the highest rate of food insecurity in New Jersey. Berkeley College is one of 20 colleges offering food pantries on campus in the Garden State.
“Our students are working hard in the classroom, at their internships, and at their jobs, but hunger can make it hard to focus, and hard to be successful,” said Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College. “Students go to college to build better lives for themselves and their families. They should not have to choose between going to school and eating a healthy meal.”
The mission of the Berkeley College Foundation is to provide financial support for student success, including through scholarships and educational enrichment.
“The Berkeley College Foundation recognizes both the basic and complex challenges that students face every day as they pursue their dreams,” said Dario A. Cortes, PhD, Executive Director, Berkeley College Foundation. “It is our hope that through this food pantry, we can remove some of these barriers to success, so our future leaders can reach their full potential.”
Michelle Jansen, Director of Schools and Community Outreach at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, voiced her support of the Foundation’s efforts.
“We know that students across the state struggle with the hard decision of paying for tuition, paying for books, paying for housing, and paying for food,” Ms. Jansen said. “It is a decision no one should have to make. With the creation of this food pantry, we know hunger has no place on this Berkeley College campus.”
Erica Xicara of Linden, NJ, Vice President of the Student Government Association at Berkeley College in Newark, will complete her Associate’s degree in Health Sciences this year. The wife and mother of two shared her personal challenges in balancing her education with the basic needs of her family.
“The real struggles are the ones we face outside of school,” said Ms. Xicara, adding that she and her husband made significant career adjustments so she could pursue her degree. “The food pantry will ease the burden of students who struggle to feed their families because they have made the choice to better their lives.”
The food pantry offers more than 30 items such as pasta, tuna fish, granola bars and soy milk. The resource will be open three days a week to Berkeley College students from all campuses.
See the Photos:Click here to view photos from the food pantry ribbon-cutting ceremony at Berkeley College in Newark.
