With increasing urgency, parents, educators, politicians, and businesspeople are asking: What can be done to raise American public schools to world-class standards? "Supertest" tells the story of the IB and its introduction to a steadily increasing number of American schools. The IB (International Baccalaureate) is a high school program recognized throughout the world. Students all over the world take the IB to prepare for the challenges of college. The IB makes demands on students and teachers. At one time the IB was considered most suitable for gifted students of elite private schools; it's now acknowledged that the rigorous IB program works especially well in "problem" public schools, many of which have witnessed truly remarkable results following their adoption of the IB.
"Supertest" interweaves the story of one American school that adopted the IB -- Mount Vernon High School -- with the story of the IB itself, how it was conceived, created, and developed.

Smarten Up—It's Time to Choose the Right College
Think that your life's growth, success, and happiness depend on which college you attend? The higher-profile school, the better, right? Wrong! Neither is true.
Written by, yes, a Harvard grad, Harvard Schmarvard rebuts the perception that image is everything when it comes to college and emphasizes this simple fact: What you will be measured by in life is your talent and energy, not your college's name. Packed with practical information and insider tips, this must-have guide will help you determine which school fits you. Inside, you'll find:
·How to survive the application process without losing your sanity or sense of humor
·Tips on writing essays, visiting campuses, and keeping cool during your college interviews
·The truth about search letter scams and the early admissions game
·Plus loads of other invaluable insight!
So take a deep breath and exhale your worries and fears. Let Harvard Schmarvard debunk the myths, expose you to the truth, and clear your mind so you can weigh what's really important.

How AVID levels the playing field, helping underserved students come out ahead In Question Everything, award-winning education writer Jay Mathews presents the stories and winning strategies behind the Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID). With the goal of preparing students for the future whether that future includes college or not AVID teaches students the personal management skills that will help them survive and thrive. Focused on time management, presentation, and cooperation, the AVID program leads not only to impressive educational outcomes, but also to young adults prepared for life after school. This book tells the stories of AVID educators, students, and families to illustrate how and why the program works, and demonstrates how teachers can employ AVID's strategies with their own students. Over the past thirty years, AVID has grown from a single teacher's practice to an organization serving 400,000 middle- and high-school students in 47 states and 16 countries. Question Everything describes the ideas and strategies behind the upward trajectory of both the program and the students who take part. * Learn which foundational skills are emphasized for future success * Discover how AVID teaches personal management skills in the academic context * Contrast AVID student outcomes with national averages * Consider implementing AVID concepts and techniques into current curricula As college readiness becomes a top priority for the Federal Government, the Gates Foundation, and other influential organizations, AVID's track record stands out as one of success. By leveling the playing field and introducing "real-world" realities early on, the program teaches students skills that help them in the workplace and beyond.

When Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin signed up for Teach for America right after college and found themselves utter failures in the classroom, they vowed to remake themselves into superior educators. They did that and more. In their early twenties, by sheer force of talent and determination never to take no for an answer, they created a wildly successful fifth-grade experience that would grow into the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), which today includes sixty-six schools in nineteen states and the District of Columbia.
KIPP schools incorporate what Feinberg and Levin learned from America's best, most charismatic teachers: lessons need to be lively; school days need to be longer (the KIPP day is nine and a half hours); the completion of homework has to be sacrosanct (KIPP teachers are available by telephone day and night). Chants, songs, and slogans such as "Work hard, be nice" energize the program. Illuminating the ups and downs of the KIPP founders and their students, Mathews gives us something quite rare: a hopeful book about education."