In a move to improve public school student achievement results utilizing existing funds, the Lakewood school district Administration, Board, and General Counsel Michael Inzelbuch have embarked on an innovative and effective program to further improve student achievement and better prepare Lakewood students for post secondary opportunities.

The program provides supplemental academic instruction and offers incentives such as movie tickets, trips, and funds to students who meet criteria – all of which is generously sponsored by Inzelbuch.

The Scholastic Assessment Test (“SAT”) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States since 1926, and is administered to high school students. The SAT assesses students in the areas of Reading, Writing and Language, and Math.

Students who achieve average to above average results on the SAT often receive admissions to better colleges, and, as most applicable to Lakewood public school students, all who qualify to receive free and reduced lunch in accord with Federal economic criteria, receive financial scholarships to colleges and universities.

“All residents of Lakewood want to help all kids do better – fact,” said Inzelbuch. “The SAT program is modeled on our highly successful Advanced Placement Initiative that we started last year that demonstrated significant growth in test scores. Our kids, many of whom come from homes where English is not the native language, where going to college would be a first for the family, and who are economically disadvantaged despite parents working often 2-3 jobs – not to mention our students working before, after, and on weekends need us.”

Inzelbuch added, “The SAT Initiative provides test taking strategies and supplemental instruction by teachers who are so dedicated to our students after school and on Saturday.”

“The kids love it,” one teacher told TLS. “They really feel the Board and Inzelbuch care about them and are doing things that help them. The incentives also go a far way to get kids of whom many face an exhausting day between going to school and working and who don’t have the resources and support that many students in surrounding towns have.”

More than 50 students have already participated and have seen positive results on the SAT.

The attached video is of a recent SAT Pep Rally at Lakewood High School, where all district 11th graders attended. At the event, more than 200 students registered to take the SAT test for the first time.