Educators are in one of the most precarious balancing acts in the history of education. They are expected to provide high-quality instruction despite the daily Covid interruptions. In addition, there is currently a lack of staff and substitute teachers at many of our schools, and teachers and administrators are expected to cover job vacancies when a colleague is out for the day. Our educators are under an incredible amount of stress and getting burned out. In order to help alleviate this for our educators, Horizon Education has designed a SAT online learning course with our own highly qualified, experienced teachers. 
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Our goal is to help students to do their best on the SAT by offering virtual live instruction, pre-assessments, test prep materials, and proctored practice assessments. We provide students with a comprehensive breakdown of the SAT and proven test-taking strategies for the different sections and question types. Our teachers pace their instruction to meet the needs of each student, allowing for accommodations and opportunities for reflection. 
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Virtual SAT Online Readiness Course Includes:

• Experienced teachers
• 18 hours of live instruction
• Three full-length practice tests with answer keys
• Additional challenge lessons
• Alternative options for students with individualized learning needs‍

1. Exposure to SAT Content

The first key to succeeding on the SAT is knowing the test. Our teachers begin by providing details about its structure, format, and timing along with key strategies to use in the Reading, Writing and Language, and the Math section of the test. 

In order to create an intentionally inviting online environment, all the SAT curriculum is contained within our LMS, and our teachers engage learners by exposing them to small learning units on short-term assignments. High yield strategies are taught in short, easy to understand sections, followed by immediate practice. 

2. Pacing of SAT Lessons and Improving Access

Choosing lesson content well and implementing sound instructional strategies are two components of a powerful lesson. Horizon teachers pace their instructional time and engagement with SAT content to meet the needs of all students to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. Our focus is on addressing systemic barriers that result in inequitable learning opportunities and outcomes.

Special attention is given to students with disabilities and those learners who may be struggling with grade-level learning expectations. Checks for understanding, reteaching, and small-group breakouts are common strategies used to ensure all learners are able to engage with SAT prep material. Pre Assessment and subsequent progress monitoring assessments drive the engaging and responsive teaching provided by Horizon Education instructors.

SAT Prep Classroom

• Class sessions are taught by two or more instructors. 
• Team-teaching approach allows one to focus on targeted instruction while the other instructor(s) on the team are focused on student engagement, supporting struggling learners, and reviewing student results. 
• Uses a blend of whole-group and small-group instruction to tailor the instruction to match student needs
• Focuses on creating a welcoming environment for all learners
• Instructors walk students through a guided thinking activity when preparing for the SAT. The purpose is to guide students to the right mindset which will allow them to get the most out of their test preparation and be ready for the actual test day. 
• Instruction is focused on practical, easy to apply strategies while building a solid foundation of academic knowledge and skill.
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Horizon Testing Platform to Improve Access

Horizon Education works with schools and districts to ensure that all students with accommodations have access to the assessment. Our SAT Prep Curriculum includes: 

• Text-to-speech tools
• Special instructions for administration with a test reader
• Interactive testing tools
• Audio recordings
• More time for practice with feedback
• On-by-default testing accommodations
  

For those students who want to challenge themselves after each session can access our additional video resources. Students can observe and work alongside teachers as they apply strategies from the course to the most challenging SAT items.

Horizon Education’s thorough understanding of the SAT’s approach, design and administration, as well as belief in equitable outcomes and access for all students and families, positions us to provide a best-in-class suite of support for optimal student success. We strive towards building the capacity of students, families and educators to empower student success by understanding each student's unique needs and assets. Each year our goal is to break down educational norms and begin seeing cultural shifts within students and families around college and career readiness.
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3. SAT scores, Progress Monitoring, and Goal Setting

After Pre Assessment, Students and their Teacher Will:

• Understand how to interpret SAT data using the student detailed score report
• Progress monitor each level of mastery within each subsection of the SAT assessment
• Analyze detailed score reports to measure student growth throughout the course as well as detailing areas of needed instruction
• Determine areas of strength and weakness, and set goals based on career or college plans (Setting SAT Goals with Students)
  

Students will receive:

• An overall scaled score
• An overall subscore result
• A breakdown of their top five opportunities for growth that allows students an opportunity to analyze and learn from their errors
  

Teachers/administrators will receive:

• Overall performance for a group of students
• Histogram of student performance to help find patterns in the data
• Section scores for EBRW and Math
• Benchmark scores for each content area
• Strength and improvement areas
• Test details on student subsection performance, item with answer choice selection rates, and test item analysis
  

Student Detailed Score Report: 

Data Used to Measure Student Growth/Progress Monitor

4. Reflection and Revising

Our SAT teachers use accessible, engaging, and detailed information to drive instruction and provide students with a personalized learning experience. Results from SAT assessments are available instantly within the Horizon Education platform, reducing any lag time between assessment and action. Our SAT teachers access individual student reporting that can help them make the best decisions to support each student and students can then begin to set their own personal academic goals. 

Each class ends with a survey to ensure that instruction is meeting the needs of all students and adjustments can be made when needed. At the end of every course, students are asked to evaluate their experience.

Student Class Reflection Responses: 

• Good lesson. Using context is important.
  -  Michael G.
• Today's class was really awesome, especially the math class and reading class techniques were very helpful. Most of the time I got nervous on some math questions but after today's math class I feel so much confident and waiting for the time to get a good SAT score.
  - Mohammad R. 
• Feeling more prepared by the minute.
  - Nyla L.
• I really enjoyed the lesson. As usual, the strategies are very helpful and understandable.
  - Nia T.
• I really liked today's lesson. I felt like I made a lot of progress in my reading and writing section.
  - Sevinch U.
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Horizon Education has a teaching and learning team of professionals who have spent years in the classroom and know how to engage with students virtually. We support over 1,000+ high schools throughout 30 U.S. states and our passion is to provide access to best in class instructional tools that all students can engage with. Some of our largest school district/state partnerships include Los Angeles Unified, the New York City Department of Education, the Louisiana State Department of Education, and Fulton County Schools in Georgia.

We are the only test preparation provider in the U.S. that is partnered with a school's Student Information System and Data and Assessment Platform (PowerSchool, Illuminate Education, OnCourse Educational Systems, etc.) that allow us to provide all stakeholders with meaningful data around performance and accountability after our programming concludes.