Early Assessment Program

EAP LOCAL Information

ALERT

En Español

Parents of 11th graders Encourage your child to take the Early College Assessment on the STAR Test this year

Did you know that 60 percent of the 40,000 freshmen admitted to the California State University (CSU) system require remedial education in English, mathematics or both?

Students who take remedial classes in math and English in college must pay for these classes, but do not receive graduation credit. The cost in time, money, and lost opportunity to these students is substantial.

In an effort to reduce the number of students requiring these remedial courses, the CSU recently developed an Early Assessment Program (EAP) for 11th graders that will address college readiness and provide appropriate learning opportunities senior year if needed.

In the past, once students were admitted to a college or university, they were required to sit for several placement exams in order to accurately determine which English and math courses were most appropriate. If they failed the placement test, it meant taking a remedial course or two (and paying college tuition prices) at their chosen campus before they could enroll in college English and math and begin earning credits toward their degree. The EAP may change all that.

As part of the STAR test that students take in the spring (late April through early May this year), 11th grade students may now choose to take an augmented portion of the English and math exams. Fifteen additional multiple choice questions in both math and English, plus an essay, comprise this voluntary portion of the exam. Results from these tests, combined with the required California Standards Tests results, provide juniors with early signals regarding their readiness for the rigor of college English and mathematics courses.

If the student passes this assessment, he/she will be scheduled directly into college level coursework upon admittance to a CSU campus. If gaps are identified, students will then have their entire senior year to polish their skills before enrolling in college.

Parents, talk to your students about this opportunity and encourage them to take this short extra portion of the STAR. It will give them information about their college readiness (even if they are not certain about applying for a CSU school) and may save you and them some money in college tuition!

Further information is available at the California State University website at http://www.calstate.edu/eap

Sonoma State University's EAP service the following High Schools

MARIN COUNTY
Novato * Redwood * San Marin * San Rafael * Sir Francis Drake * Tomales * Terra Linda * Tamalpais

NAPA COUNTY
Calistoga * Napa * New Technology * St. Helena * Vintage

SONOMA COUNTY
Analy * Career Academy of Piner-Olivet * Casa Grande * Cloverdale * El Molino * Elsie Allen * Geyserville * Healdsburg * Maria Carrillo * Montgomery * Pathways Charter School * Petaluma * Piner * Rancho Cotate * Roseland University Prep * Santa Rosa * Sonoma Valley * Windsor

Local EAP Activity

Sonoma State University strives to work with every school in its district to disseminate information, educate teachers, students and high school adminisrtators, and provide necessary professional development.

Classroom Visits
Our goal is to visit every 11th grade English class in all our area high schools during the school year to explain the merits of taking the EAP test and, more generally, preparing for college. In most cases, a student from SSU talks to the juniors about what they wish they would have done differently to prepare better for college. We believe this peer-to-peer communication is the most effective way for us to convey our message.

If we have not made contact with your school and you would like a visit, please email katheryn.horton@sonoma.edu.

Professional Development
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Focus Groups
SSU is in the process of forming focus groups in each of three area counties: Sonoma, Napa and Marin. Meeting on a bi-monthly basis, groups of high school administrators, teachers and SSU staff will discuss issues surrounding the effectiveness of the EAP Assessments, getting information out to students, implementing new curriculum, etc.

Parent/Community Communication
We are interested in addressing parents and other members of the community at various school and education-oriented events. We are also interested in presenting to business and charitable organizations. Let us know if you would like to present the EAP at your meeting or activity.