A Note from New England Region VP Mike Bartini
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 Mike Bartini |
Welcome back to another academic year. We have so many great things planned for this year, and we have already started with our Fall Counselor Workshops. I hope to see many of you at regional events and our various professional development opportunities. I want to let you know that we have settled into our new offices. Our new address is 1601 Trapelo Road, Suite 12, Waltham, MA 02451, and the telephone number is 781-663-2700.
New this week from the College Board is its 2009 College-Bound Seniors report, which provides us with academic, demographic and socioeconomic data about students who took the SAT in 2009. Forty percent of SAT takers were minority students this year — the most diverse group in history — with Hispanics leading the growth among minority participants, now accounting for 13.5 percent of all participants. In 1999, 29.2 percent of SAT takers were members of minority groups, and 7.8 percent were Hispanic students.
Also, we learned that more than one-third (36.1 percent) of participants reported that their parents’ highest level of education was high school or less. And a quarter of 2009 SAT takers (25.2 percent) reported that English is not exclusively their first language, compared to 18.3 percent in 1999.
In New England, we are proud of our high levels of participation in the SAT, led by Maine with 100 percent participation, as this is a good marker for college readiness and success. Our region has also set new records for minority participation. In Massachusetts, 23.3 percent of the commonwealth’s 60,591 college-bound SAT participants were minorities. This is a tremendous increase from 16.7 percent in 2004. In addition, 32.1 percent of Massachusetts SAT takers will be first-generation college students. Connecticut, which ranks fourth in the nation in SAT participation, increased the percentage of its minority students sitting for the SAT from 17.8 percent in 2004 to 25.4 percent in 2009. And nearly a third (30 percent) of Connecticut’s 35,799 SAT takers will be the first in their families to go to college.
How Much Are College Students Borrowing? is another recent report from the College Board. Coauthored by College Board Senior Policy Analyst Sandy Baum, the report offers information about all students who completed an associate or bachelor’s degree or a certificate in the 2007-08 academic year. Forty-one percent of them graduated with no debt, while the number graduating with debt increased from 54 percent in 2003-04 to 59 percent in 2007-08. The largest increases were found among the students who earned certificates and two-year degrees. For more information, click here to access the full report.
Events & Workshops
Click here to see events and workshops in the New England Region.
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During this pivotal time in our nation, the College Board invites you to join us for two special opportunities to connect with education professionals dedicated to effecting change and increasing college readiness.
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The College Board |
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