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Participation in Texas Schools’ Advanced Placement Program on Increase but Minorities Underrepresented

The rigorous coursework in the Advanced Placement (AP) program has proven to build a good foundation for high school students, who plan to attend college after graduation. Most college and universities give course credit for AP exam scores of three or higher — students score from one to five on the exam. Even students who score one or two on the exam have proven to be better prepared for college-level work, than students who do not participate in the program.

A report by the national College Board, which oversees the AP program across the nation, was recently released. It showed the number of students taking the exams and the diversity representation, though it concentrates only on Hispanic, African American, and Native American student groups.

For the Texas schools, participation in the AP exams has increased by 61 percent since the year 2001. Hispanics and African American students, however, were underrepresented in the AP exams.

Texas schools African Americans students had the biggest gap between total student population in the state and the percentage taking the AP exams. The African American students make up 13.5 percent of the total population, but only 6.8 percent took the exams — a disparity of almost half of the African American students opting not to participate in the AP program.

The Hispanic gap is closing in the Texas schools with 35 percent Hispanic students in the total population and 32.2 percent taking the exams.

The Texas schools have totally eliminated any gap for its Native American students with 0.3 percent of the population and 0.5 percent taking the AP exams.

Texas schools’ Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley stated that they need to do a better job encouraging its minority students in middle school, so that they elect to take the AP classes and exams in high school.

The Texas schools students taking AP exams last year were 54,706 Caucasians, 34,976 Hispanics, 10,007 Asian Americans, 6,826 African Americans, 514 Native Americans, and 5,234 who marked “other” or gave no response for ethnicity. Minorities and “other” made up about 49 percent of the Texas schools testing population, as compared to the national average of 33.5 percent.

There were 204,403 AP exams taken by Texas schools students last year, many taking multiple exams. They scored three or higher on 99,428 of them. The Texas schools designated:

• 8,861 students as AP Scholars for scoring three or higher on three or more exams;
• 3,152 as AP Scholars with Honors for:
 An average score of at least 3.25 on all exams, and
 Scores of three or higher on four or more exams;
• 4,447 as AP Scholars with Distinction for:
 An average score of at least 3.5 on all exams, and
 Scores of three or higher on five or more exams;

The national College Board named 752 Texas schools students as National Scholars for earning an average score of at least four on all exams, with scores of four or higher on eight or more AP exams.

Though these results are impressive, the Texas schools know they must continue to expand the overall enrollment, as well as increase the diversity levels in the AP program. State incentives make the AP program more accessible to students by lowering the per exam fee by $30, so that no student pays more than $52 for an AP exam. Further, combined funding from federal, state and local subsidies reduces the per exam fee to only $5 for low-income students.

Additionally, the Texas schools have expanded its course offerings to entice more students to participate and used state incentives to train more teachers for the AP program.

With post-graduation success depending so much on a college degree, the AP coursework and exams are essential for all students to succeed in college. Minorities must be equally represented in Advanced Placement classes. The Texas schools still have work to do.

For more information on Texas schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/index.html

Tags: Advanced, Increase, Minorities, Participation, Placement, Program, Schools, Texas, Underrepresented

Participation in Texas Schools’ Advanced Placement Program on Increase but Minorities Underrepresented

The rigorous coursework in the Advanced Placement (AP) program has proven to build a good foundation for high school students, who plan to attend college after graduation. Most college and universities give course credit for AP exam scores of three or higher — students score from one to five on the exam. Even students who score one or two on the exam have proven to be better prepared for college-level work, than students who do not participate in the program.

A report by the national College Board, which oversees the AP program across the nation, was recently released. It showed the number of students taking the exams and the diversity representation, though it concentrates only on Hispanic, African American, and Native American student groups.

For the Texas schools, participation in the AP exams has increased by 61 percent since the year 2001. Hispanics and African American students, however, were underrepresented in the AP exams.

Texas schools African Americans students had the biggest gap between total student population in the state and the percentage taking the AP exams. The African American students make up 13.5 percent of the total population, but only 6.8 percent took the exams — a disparity of almost half of the African American students opting not to participate in the AP program.

The Hispanic gap is closing in the Texas schools with 35 percent Hispanic students in the total population and 32.2 percent taking the exams.

The Texas schools have totally eliminated any gap for its Native American students with 0.3 percent of the population and 0.5 percent taking the AP exams.

Texas schools’ Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley stated that they need to do a better job encouraging its minority students in middle school, so that they elect to take the AP classes and exams in high school.

The Texas schools students taking AP exams last year were 54,706 Caucasians, 34,976 Hispanics, 10,007 Asian Americans, 6,826 African Americans, 514 Native Americans, and 5,234 who marked “other” or gave no response for ethnicity. Minorities and “other” made up about 49 percent of the Texas schools testing population, as compared to the national average of 33.5 percent.

There were 204,403 AP exams taken by Texas schools students last year, many taking multiple exams. They scored three or higher on 99,428 of them. The Texas schools designated:

• 8,861 students as AP Scholars for scoring three or higher on three or more exams;
• 3,152 as AP Scholars with Honors for:
 An average score of at least 3.25 on all exams, and
 Scores of three or higher on four or more exams;
• 4,447 as AP Scholars with Distinction for:
 An average score of at least 3.5 on all exams, and
 Scores of three or higher on five or more exams;

The national College Board named 752 Texas schools students as National Scholars for earning an average score of at least four on all exams, with scores of four or higher on eight or more AP exams.

Though these results are impressive, the Texas schools know they must continue to expand the overall enrollment, as well as increase the diversity levels in the AP program. State incentives make the AP program more accessible to students by lowering the per exam fee by $30, so that no student pays more than $52 for an AP exam. Further, combined funding from federal, state and local subsidies reduces the per exam fee to only $5 for low-income students.

Additionally, the Texas schools have expanded its course offerings to entice more students to participate and used state incentives to train more teachers for the AP program.

With post-graduation success depending so much on a college degree, the AP coursework and exams are essential for all students to succeed in college. Minorities must be equally represented in Advanced Placement classes. The Texas schools still have work to do.

For more information on Texas schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/index.html

Tags: Advanced, Increase, Minorities, Participation, Placement, Program, Schools, Texas, Underrepresented

Healthcare Jobs Placement Service

Health care jobs placement services offered by established recruiting agencies are a tremendous help to job seekers as well as employers, enabling them to save a great deal of time and effort. Numerous healthcare jobs are open in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, healthcare centers and other medical facilities.

Maximize Your Job Opportunities

To regularly fill in the vacant positions, healthcare facilities usually keep in touch with these recruiting agencies and post the job vacancies on their respective websites. As vacancies arise, the recruiters will inform the candidates who have registered in their database.

Through their online services, they assist the job providers and jobseekers with reliable career search services. The recruiting agencies can help the candidates find better job positions in reputable medical facilities with excellent remuneration. Years of experience and creditable educational qualifications in the particular field are important factors that maximize the job possibilities.

Jobs Carrying a Range of Benefits

Along with attaining appropriate job positions, the candidates can enjoy some other benefits including professional liability insurance, short-term disability insurance, section 125 cafeteria plan, additional state license, continuing education programs, cancer insurance, 401k benefits and more. Short-term or long-term, temporary or permanent healthcare jobs as occupational therapist, physical therapist and speech language pathologist can be obtained through these healthcare jobs placement services.

Find Jobs in Your Choice of Environment

Job seekers can easily find jobs that meet their requirements with the help of efficient recruiting agencies. To ensure the highest level of patient care, most of the medical facilities prefer trained and qualified professionals.

Hence, the candidates have to undergo a thorough screening process before they are appointed in a medical facility. The resumes are scrutinized thoroughly to make sure that the candidates have the right qualifications and are well-trained. International candidates are given support for immigration clearance, visa processing, healthcare insurance and more.

Tags: Healthcare, Jobs, Placement, Service

Healthcare Staffing and Placement Services

Numerous job opportunities are available in the field of therapy – physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology. Qualified candidates can apply for lucrative positions through providers of healthcare staffing and placement services.

Therapy professionals work to meet the rehabilitation needs of individuals with physical, mental and emotional disorders. After evaluating the patient’s strength and limitations, the therapist develops and implements a treatment plan in collaboration with assistants and aides.

Necessary Requirements

Start a therapist career by acquiring a master’s degree in rehabilitation therapy. Upon post-graduation, it is necessary to secure a state-issued license to practice in various locations in the United States. To work as therapy assistant, an associate degree or certification program in rehab therapy is essential. Through on-job training, an individual with high school diploma can become an aide. The therapy assistant is not expected to have exhaustive professional knowledge, but requires practical knowledge of therapeutic exercises and techniques. Aides are not licensed to do the tasks of a therapist assistant.

Choose the Setting Right for You – Personally and Professionally

Therapy professionals with appropriate skills, certification and experience can provide high quality therapy service to improve the physical functioning ability of patients. Enjoy your rehabilitation career as a therapist, therapy assistant or aide by choosing the setting you like to work in. Rehab job opportunities are currently available in many wonderful and exciting locations in the United States with flexible schedule options. In these settings, you can look for permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time, long term or short term job assignments.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance
Life insurance
Travel allowance
401(k) retirement savings plan
Incentives and bonuses
Section 125 Cafeteria plan
Professional liability insurance
Paid housing
Immigration processing (for foreign candidates)
Relocation expenses

Find a Career of Your Dreams

View the job database provided in the websites of healthcare staffing and placement service providers. If you find suitable job positions, apply online.

Tags: Healthcare, Placement, Services, Staffing