Category Archives: increasing student achievement

3 New English Language Learning Bundles

Posted on July 28, 2011 by meritsoftware

Introducing 3 new suites of its online English language programs. The suites present several of Merit’s popular reading, vocabulary, writing, and grammar programs grouped by level of ability and offered at discounted prices. For information, pricing, tours, and implementation ideas … Continue reading →

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Cheating in Schools – Lessons Learned

Posted on July 27, 2011 by meritsoftware

The recent discovery of vast numbers of teachers in Atlanta who faked students’ scores on high stakes tests is an astonishing twist in the use of tests in U.S. public schools. To deal with this issue, some have called for … Continue reading →

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Need for College Remediation Linked to Before High School Performance

Posted on June 24, 2011 by meritsoftware

There is a clear link between college remediation needs and how well students performed before entering high school, according to data released by the New York City Department of Education. This analysis was published in a recent New York Times … Continue reading →

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Grammar Fitness Online Named Best Reading/Language Arts Finalist

Posted on May 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

Merit Software is pleased to announce that Grammar Fitness Online has been named a finalist in the 2011 Association of Educational Publishers’ AEP Awards, the highest standard for quality in professional educational resources. Grammar Fitness Online is a 100% web-based … Continue reading →

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H.S. Dropouts Strongly Affected by Poor Early Reading Skills, Study Says

Posted on April 26, 2011 by meritsoftware

Students who struggled with reading in early elementary school grew up to comprise 88 percent of those who did not receive a high school diploma, according to a new study. This new report highlights the need for effective strategies to … Continue reading →

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Incentives Offered to Raise College Graduation Rates

Posted on March 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

In what amounts to a ‘Race to the Top’ for higher education, the U.S. Department of Education is offering competitive grants to help states increase their college completion rates. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the program would offer … Continue reading →

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College Student Passes English Requirement Thanks to Essay Punch

Posted on March 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

I am writing to thank you for making Essay Punch. Having missed exemption from English after my first try on the college entrance exam, I realized I needed to brush up on my essay skills. I found your website and … Continue reading →

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Persuasive Writing Ability Key for College, Career Readiness, Teachers Say

Posted on March 16, 2011 by meritsoftware

Both English and mathematics teachers are more likely to rate the ability to write clearly and persuasively higher than mathematical ability as absolutely essential or very important for college and career readiness. This is one of the key findings in … Continue reading →

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How Merit Makes a 3rd Grade Teacher More Effective

Posted on February 25, 2011 by meritsoftware

A 3rd grade teacher at a California public school recently wrote how, and why, she likes using Merit’s Basic Skills Pack with her students. I like Merit because it is not just drill and kill. It helps my students think … Continue reading →

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On IBM’s Watson and Educational Technology

Posted on February 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

IBM’s Watson computer recently crushed the competition on the popular game show “Jeopardy.” One can’t help but wonder about the current and future role of technology in education. During the competition Watson was able to access answers to a variety of … Continue reading →

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