GOP Resolution Challenges College Board Monopoly

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 19, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

The College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. History course got much-needed attention at the State Republican Party Convention in Athens on May 16th. Opposition to the new course prompted Republicans to pass a resolution explaining why the course should be rewritten or completely replaced.

The major problem is the College Board monopoly over course work and testing for college bound students in the United States and other countries. As a private nonprofit corporation, the College Board is not accountable to the public, although it develops, administers, and owns standardized tests and curricula used in public schools K – 12 and beyond.

That means, the trademarked Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), which is privately developed and beyond parental influence, is used to screen most high school juniors and seniors for college, and parents pay extra for the test. Parents who have no influence on the test or content of the course were charged $98.50 for their child to be tested on June 2nd and another $31.90 for the study guide. The College Board derives additional revenue from selling study guides, tools and services to students, parents, colleges and universities, and from private donations. Continue reading →