{"id":1795,"date":"2018-08-20T19:21:27","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/the-history-of-academic-approach\/"},"modified":"2023-07-17T14:50:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T14:50:58","slug":"the-history-of-academic-approach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/the-history-of-academic-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of Academic Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In the Beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Academic Approach story begins with its founder, Matthew Pietrafetta, as a PhD candidate and instructor at Columbia University in New York City. While simultaneously teaching core curriculum classes to Columbia freshmen and tutoring high school students for the SAT and ACT, Matthew took note of significant challenges that were facing these transitional students. Primary among them were disparities in test scores, college readiness, and student opportunities, as well as a chasm between test preparation and institutional education. Soon, Matthew began to look for ways to turn those challenges into opportunities for student growth and education innovation and quickly became passionate about the idea of revolutionizing test preparation.<\/p>\n

Matthew sought an alternative to traditional test prep, which for years was maligned for teaching to the test and using generic test-taking strategies for a nonexistent \u201caverage student.\u201d The idea for Academic Approach was born in a method of test preparation based on academic skill development and customized for students at a wide range of achievement levels.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a><\/p>\n

Founding Principles<\/strong><\/p>\n

The company itself was founded in 2001 using three principles as its bedrock:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tests are standardized. Students are not.\u2122<\/strong> There is no average student. While some may look similar on paper, students vary greatly in learning styles, personalities, and many other dimensions. Academic Approach would tailor its programs specifically to the individual student, eschewing the one-size-fits-all traditional approach.<\/li>\n
  2. Skills-based Test Preparation<\/strong>.\u2122 Strategy, tips and tricks, gaming: these are not the ways to build lasting skills and knowledge. Academic Approach would bring rigorous college readiness and enduring academic value to test preparation, enabling student growth in high school, on test day, and throughout college.<\/li>\n
  3. Teaching Beyond the Test<\/strong>.\u2122 By challenging the \u201cteaching to the test\u201d stereotype and working with other educators and institutions to improve academic progress holistically, Academic Approach would live out its mission to teach beyond the test.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    School Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Transforming test preparation into a personalized, academically enriching form of teaching is undoubtedly beneficial and will always be at the core of Academic Approach\u2019s mission. However, to truly maximize the company\u2019s impact and address the larger issues of barriers to education and college access, Matthew pushed the company to find ways to reach students in underperforming schools and underserved communities.<\/p>\n

    Academic Approach began to develop school program services to support students from these communities and their school leaders in raising student achievement. Directors from Academic Approach work intimately with school partners to develop readiness solutions that meet the school\u2019s and students\u2019 needs. In addition, Academic Approach offers scholarships, discounts to faculty children, and other discounted programs to bring high-quality instruction to a greater diversity of students. More than 50 urban schools have already partnered with Academic Approach to improve student achievement and outcomes.<\/p>\n

    \"Books<\/a><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Academic Approach\u2019s one-on-one tutoring and school program services make a real difference for students who strive to maximize their academic performance and compete in the college admissions process. The educators and students served\u2014and their remarkable growth and achievement \u2014 make Academic Approach a true social impact company. It\u2019s a privilege to bring the specialized methodology to a range of students, including some of those who need it most, and Academic Approach leaders are ever-focused on improvement and growth, to allow many more students to improve and succeed.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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