Kaplan and Simon & Schuster Publish
Parent's Guide to the California STAR Program: Grades 3-4
By Cynthia and Drew Johnson

New York, NY (September 6, 2000) - Without exception, the explosion of high stakes standardized tests is the single most debated education topic in decades. Students are under great pressure to do well. Never before has understanding the test-and student requirements-been more important. To help students and their families get a handle on California's exams, Kaplan, the leader in test preparation, announces the publication of Parent's Guide to the California STAR Program: Grades 3-4 (Kaplan and Simon & Schuster Publishing; September 2000; $6.95.)

This year all of California's public school students in grades two through eleven will be required to take the state tests in California. These new tests are designed to measure achievement in basic academic skills in reading, written expression (language), spelling, and mathematics. Since 1998, the first year in which the California State tests were administered, California students continue to perform at or below the national average in most categories on the exam.

For all the concerned parents who are unfamiliar with these tests and want to ensure their children's success, Kaplan's invaluable guide offers the essential facts and expert advice parents need to help their children prepare including:

An overview of the objectives covered by the test:
- Test strategies specifically tailored to the question types found on the California tests
- Word games, dictionary sprints, and other fun activities to help students master the skills measured by the tests
- Test consequences for both the school and the student
- Tips for reducing test anxiety
- Parent's Guide to the California STAR Program: Grades 3-4 is the latest book by the state test book team of Drew and Cynthia Johnson. The authors are state test experts, and have written test review titles for 5 other states.

About the Authors:
Cynthia Brantley Johnson is the author of several educational books for young people, including Word Smart Junior and Writing Smart Junior, both of which received the prestigious Parents' Choice Gold Award in 1995, and were included in Curriculum Administrator magazine's list of "Top 100" educational products for 1996.

Drew Johnson is the author of Kidding Around Austin!, a travel activity book for children visiting Austin, Texas, and co-author of Kaplan Learning Power, a guide to improving study skills. Drew is currently an education writer and editor, creating workbook, textbook, and Web-based educational materials for students of all ages.

Cynthia and Drew Johnson are AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW to serve as experts on: the California tests; test-taking strategies; and trends in state testing.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan offers test prep and admissions services (www.kaptest.com); early childhood resources and K-12 educational programs for kids and parents through SCORE! Learning, Inc. and www.eSCORE.com; on-site education and professional development at schools and universities; books and software; professional education services; and an extensive array of distance learning programs (www.KaplanCollege.com). Kaplan, Inc. is also a shareholder in BrassRing, Inc. (www.BrassRing.com), the business-to-business recruitment and hiring company that helps employers find and hire the right candidates faster. Kaplan, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

PARENT'S GUIDE TO THE CALIFORNIA STAR PROGRAM: GRADES 3-4
ISBN 0-7432-0178-7
Price: $6.95; Publication date: September 2000

Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965