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Welcome to
AYAP's temporary homepage. Currently we are in the process of developing our program and would like to hear from both students and educators willing to lend advice, time or resources in the interest of our team's goals. We are determined to organize a project over the next two months that will link interested and talented college students in the city with high school students preparing to take college entrance exams or advanced credit AP classes.
Recognizing that NYC students regularly receive marginally lower scores on these exams than students in the rest of the state, our organization wishes to make a difference both in the number of local students who go to college and the number of students who are able to attend the school of their choice
(read more about NYC test scores here). While many students are able to substantially raise their scores on such tests through private tutoring, classes, or the use of published testing materials, we find it unfortunate that many students may be limited in their access to such resources in preparation for college admissions tests. And while many tutoring companies and publishers have turned a great profit over the years in helping those able to pay raise their scores through pratice and instruction, New York City lacks still a system that links motivated high school students with volunteers who were able to raise their own scores through training and have the talent to pass on the methods for free.
Over the next several months the members of AYAP will change this. We believe in the ability of every student to substantially raise their scores and increase their likelihood of gaining access to higher education, and we refuse to believe that the NYC students from the high schools and neighborhoods surrounding our university could collectively be so different that their scores would not join state and national levels if they were given similar opportunites to train and practice. In times of fiscal crisis, it is especially important that community service efforts join NY schools in helping students reach their goals. With so many capable college students available in the area, it is long past time for an organization to commit to linking them to students willing to learn and score higher.
We have lofty goals for our program. While we have long term hopes of connecting tutors with students in many schools, and expanding our own program to include AP exam preparation and college application help, we have a long way to go before we can launch our first pilot class. We seek the help of students willing to become part of organization initially as part of a research and outreach team. As our program develops, we will continually be seeking both motivated high school students who are in need free tutoring as well as NYU students with the talent and desire to be part our team.
To join our team or learn more, please contact our office headquarters at (212) 443-7041. Of course, be sure to check back here at
ayap.blogspot.com for the latest updates on the progress of our revolutionary program and new opportunities to join us.
Thank you very much for your interest.
Sincerely,
Team AYAP
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THE PROBLEM
New York City students are less likely to take college entrance exams and thus are less likely than their other New York state counterparts to attend college. Seventy-three percent of New York state students took the SAT compared to only 35 percent of the New York City students. Even then, of those taking the test, the non-N.Y.C. students scored between 40 and 50 points higher than the N.Y.C. students on each section of the SAT.
Both city- and state-administered tests show that about 60 percent of elementary and middle school students are not reading at an acceptable level, and 70 percent are not at a proficient level in math. Elementary school numbers are particularly distressing. Of the 677 public elementary schools in N.Y.C.:
Less than 29 percent have at least 30 percent of their students reading at an acceptable level.
Less than 50 percent have at least 40 percent at that level.
Less than 10 percent have more than 70 percent of their students reading at that level. In New York, there are currently 105 schools on the state's list of chronically failing schools. All but eight of those schools are in N.Y.C.
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