Low-cost SAT/ACT prep available

There’s a way for students to cut the cost of preparing for college entrance exams.

The Florida High School Athletic Association has approved eKnowledge to offer SAT and ACT prep courses online or for download via a DVD at a cost of $17.55 instead of $200 to $300.

“Wehave found studentathletes appreciate it more but it’s for all students,” said Mike McCraken, eKnowledge’s press liaison.

Even though backed by the FHSAA, the state program isn’t just for athletes. All high school students who are interested can get the discounted price by ordering the program with this FHSAA link: www.eKnowledge.com/FHSAA1.

The separate SAT and ACT prep programs each include 10 to 11 hours of instructional video and 30 to 40 of class work and practice problems. It’s realistically a two-month program, McCraken said.

“With students, they are really into video and interactive things to keep them engaged,” FHSAA spokesperson Corey Sobers said.

This eKnowledge program has been going on for eight years but itwas previously only offered to students who were home schooled, participated in the Boy Scouts of America or were the child of someone in theU.S. Military.

This is the second year that the FHSAA has partnered with eKnowledge. In the 2012-2013 school year eKnowledge received 62 orders from students through FHSAA’s program.

“The student part of student athlete is also import to our organization,” Sobers said. “Everybody has got to take these tests … it just seemed like something that made a lot of sense.”

The program is 100 percent funded by eKnowledge.

Professional athletes from the NFL and MLB, such as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, Roy Miller and Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves, lend their names to help promote the project, but they don’t make any financial contributions.

“There’s a small percentage of kids who can really afford professional prep, this makes it available to almost anybody ,” said Roger Dearing, FHSAA executive director.

Dearing said that the FHSAA has neither donated money to eKnowledge nor received any money from the company. The program retail cost of $250 is waved but eKnowledge does charge $17.55 for shipping and handling and material and tech support.

“When we get a chance to do something at just the bare min operating costs, we’re glad to do it,” McCraken said. “Because it does help. You can’t even get an SAT prep book for just $20.”

Report results

Coaches or their representatives are asked to report daily results of events as soon as they are completed.

There are three ways to submit results: email to highschoolsports@sunsentinel. call 954-356-4635; or fax to 954-356-4566.

All results should be called in no later than 9:30 p.m. to make the print edition; after that, the results can be found online at SunSentinel.com.