Kaplan and Simon & Schuster Publish
Parent's Guide to the ISAT Grade 3

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 the new Illinois exam, Kaplan, the leader in test preparation, announces the publication of Parent's Guide to the ISAT for Grade 3 (Kaplan and Simon & Schuster Publishing; September 2000; $6.95).

The ISAT was first administered in February 1999 in accordance with the new state standards (Illinois Learning Standards) that were developed in 1997. Of the approximately 140,000 third-graders who took the exam in 2000, 38% scored below standards in Writing, 32% below standards in Reading, and 21% scored below standards in Math. In addition, 6% scored at the lower academic warning level in Reading and Writing and 10% scored at the academic warning level in Math.

Parental involvement has been shown to make a difference in how well students perform on similar tests, and this new guide empowers parents to get involved in the preparation process. In addition to explaining the basic structure of the tests and the objectives being measured, this concise guide offers a range of home activities designed to reinforce basic test-taking techniques and develop skills measured by the test.

Kaplan's Parent's Guide to the ISAT for Grade 3 shows parents how they can play a valuable role in demystifying the test and help their children approach the ISAT with confidence.

The guide includes:

An overview of the objectives covered by the test
Test strategies specifically tailored to the question types found on the ISAT
Word games and other fun activities to help students master the skills measured by the test
Test consequences for both the school and the student
Tips for reducing test anxiety
Parent's Guide to the ISAT for Grade 3 is the latest book by the state test guide 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 Illinois 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 ISAT GRADE 3
ISBN 0-7432-0179-57
Price: $6.95; Publication date: September 2000
Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965