Some Interesting Numbers

FAU last year....12,800 high school seniors competed for 2,500 seats.

University of Florida....27,223 freshman application for about 6,400 spots...

UCF...22,030 freshman applicants....3,932 enrolled

FSU....23,687 applied.....6,219 enrolled

UNF....8,875 applied...1824 enrolled

USF....18,307 applied.....4,307 enrolled

UWF...3,401 applied.....934 enrolled

FGCU.....4,783 applied....1634 enrolled

These are not rock solid facts, I will not guarantee any of these numbers, but found them all doing a little research...I am sure they are pretty close to accurate....

Out of State Tuition

There were a couple of interesting articles I read last week and thought some of the info would be interesting to share.

If you are an in-state resident you save $13,345 per year at FAU. Over four years that about $54,000 in savings.

A student from up north used to be able to come down here for a year, go to school that year, and then claim Florida residency....thus paying lower tuition. A new Florida law is going to make it harder for college and university students to gain in-state residency for tuition purposes.

The new law basically requires students from out of state to prove residency by living or working here for one year BEFORE enrolling in school. The intent is to prevent students who are in Florida solely for school from obtaining residency.

Out of state parents are fuming. They would pay the higher rates for one year, and then try to gain residency. Schoos in the system used to interpret the law differently, with some more lenient than others. A drivers license, apartment lease or utility bill used to be enough in some cases.

Now, that is no longer permissible. Clear and compelling evidence needs to be shown.

I think this is a good law. It should help bring more funds into the state university system helping alleviate some of the funding that has been withdrawn from the schools. Plus, all of us who live here and do it the right way should benefit from out of state funds coming into the system.

Problem is, our state universities need the money and are looking to out of state students to fill budget gaps, leaving less spots for our kids....

Everything is tough these days...huh??!!

One of Palm Beach County changes this year

Changes this school year

"D high schools: The school day will be broken into eight instead of the traditional seven class periods, allowing students to take additional courses. Students who struggle in science, for example, could take a biology class and a second class focused on material covered in the 11th grade science FCAT."

Does this make sense? Why is the school a "D" rated school in the first place? Demographics? Lack of good teachers? Students who don't care? Parents who don't care? Could be a combination of all of the above. But is adding an eight period going to fix the problem? It is a "D" rated school because of FCAT scores. What are you doing to turn kids onto learning? there are more kids in each class this year than ever before. Less attention for each student. More time for kids to full around, teachers to get frustrated, and the whole educational environment swirls downhill.

I don't have an answer on how to fix it. I do know adding an eight class to a school where kids are already turned off to learning, isn't going to turn them on!!!

Change.....

It's Monday...open house at the elementary schools. Meet your teachers, see your classrooms. Palm Beach County has a new program for elementary kids starting this year. The kids travel from room to room, just like middle and high school students, to learn certain subjects. For example, my daughter, going into first grade, leaves her room and goes to another first grade teacher for math and reading. There are three first grade gifted classes so each teacher sees all the kids. (At least that is how I understand it)

Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? I think, it is a good thing. These kids, as human beings, have to learn to deal with others, learn to deal with leaving good teachers at the end of the year, and learn to deal with bad teachers all year. So why not start the process in first grade? there is no avoiding it? "It" meaning, learning to deal with change, learning to deal with adversity, cause isn't that what life is about? If we are going to bring good citizens into society, our children, shouldn't we assist and promote their dealing with these issues?

Sunday at the Den...

It is the Sunday before school starts in Palm Beach County. Parents are out buying school supplies and stuff for lunch. Open houses at schools take place tomorrow and school starts Tuesday. We are excited about the upcoming academic school year. This will be our third year, and we look forward to continuing to grow. I am looking forward to talking to parents, getting students motivated again, and growing the business.

A new location will open next Monday in Wellington. We will be starting a Student Den at Villa Olympia in the community of Olympia located at Forest Hill Blvd. and 441. This is really exciting, and I am looking forward to making it work. Open house this Wednesday from 4-8, in the afternoon.