IGNITE PROGRESS BRINGS INNOVATION & SERVICE TO TEST PREP

NORTHFIELD, ILLINOIS (June 11, 2014) – Ignite Progress is proud to announce the first-year completion of its Advance ACT Training Course.  With 35 students participating from five high schools over four sessions, the Advance program was designed to equip students with standardized test-taking skills and allow them to connect with their peers around Chicagoland through serving opportunities.

In phase one, students from the north and west suburbs of Chicago took 8 two-hour ACT test prep courses from 2 coaches.  In small groups of 4-6, they received personalized coaching based on their skill levels and areas of needed improvement.  After learning these test-taking skills, the students then spent a daylong training session being developed to tutor their inner-city peers.  Not only did they learn to teach ACT test prep, but were also coached in cross-cultural dynamics.

In phase two, the suburban students coached their peers in an under-resourced Chicago school or community, traveling there for 6 ninety-minute sessions.  The urban students had access to test prep resources previously unavailable, and the suburban students cemented their knowledge by repetition.  As a result, with only some of the 2013-2014 ACT scores reported, students from both phases are already experiencing an average ACT score increase of 3.23 points.

This innovative type of programming is one part of Ignite Progress mission to see students of every background empowered and equipped for higher education, and is making a concrete difference.  As parent Sandra Paterakos notes, “The tutoring aspect totally reinforced all the necessary information our daughter needed to succeed.   And the service aspect was the most important part of this program - one our daughter will never forget.”

For more information on Ignite and Advance, check out www.igniteprogress.com.