Livius Centers Reopening: Keeping you Safe and Prepped

Here's how we are keeping you safe with Livius centers reopening.

As of Monday, September 14 our Livius centers in Wellesley, Newton, and Lexington have reopened! We approach our Livius centers reopening with the safety and care of our families at heart. (We’re still working on our reopening plan for our Plymouth, MN center. We will update about this location when more information is available.) Our […]

What Are Learning Pods and Are They Right for Your Family?

These guidelines help form learning pods.

Learning pods have been a hot topic lately among parents and educators. This speculation follows the release of the updated guidelines for safety protocol from the DESE and the CDC on how schools should resume in-person learning in the fall. Many states and school districts have yet to solidify their plans. Parents are getting anxious […]

How are Schools Preparing to Reopen for Fall 2020?

Get prepared for the fall school reopen.

 Many people believe that the summer is just an extended vacation for teachers, but that has never been the case. This year is certainly no different. Normally, teachers use the summer to get caught up. They complete professional development, expand resources for their classrooms, and plan for the beginning of the next school year. This […]

Meeting the Emotional Needs of Your Child in COVID-19

Emotional needs must be met in COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began, school districts have been doing their best to navigate our new normal.  Teachers and staff have trained to administer instruction through various online platforms. Our primary concerns concern remains: how do we keep our children academically up to date? How do we maintain their rigorous course load with remote learning? Now […]

ACT Fall 2020 Test Dates: Mark Your Calendars

New ACT fall 2020 test dates are here.

Earlier this week ACT, Inc. announced that they were adding three new ACT fall 2020 test dates. You can find more info about this announcement in our FAQ below. When Are the New ACT Fall 2020 Test Dates? Normally, the ACT holds three autumn test dates, which are on the following Saturdays in 2020: September 12th, […]

Harvard & Ivy League Test Optional Admission Changes

The Harvard test optional announcement raises questions.

In mid-June, Harvard announced an amendment to their admission process, making SAT/ACT scores “optional” as part of their college applications this coming year. The remaining Ivy League universities followed the Harvard test optional admission announcement. This included a reversal from Princeton University, which initially stated they would not be making test scores optional for 2025 […]

Online Learning and COVID-19: How Do Colleges Adjust?

COVID-19 is affecting education at all levels, and online learning is one solution.

For high school juniors and seniors, preparing for college can be stressful. As schools switch from in-person to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, this stress may be compounded by the fact that colleges are physically closed. Your carefully constructed college timeline might seem in jeopardy. However, there are ways to adapt to these […]

ACT Update: Online Testing Plan

The ACT online test is coming in September.

We’ve been carefully monitoring ACT, Inc. for updates to the exam in light of ongoing changes from COVID-19. After this week’s latest announcement, here’s a summary of what’s going on regarding ACT online testing. What Did ACT Announce? On Thursday, June 18th, 2020, ACT, Inc. announced that they were postponing the September roll out of […]

Fall Semester 2020: New Guidelines for School Return

Schools are planning to reopen for Fall semester 2020.

On June 8th, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) confirmed their next steps for reopening schools in the fall semester 2020. This news came only a few short weeks after the CDC released their suggested guidelines for how districts can safely implement in-school learning once again. Not every state is taking the […]

COVID-19 and Your College Application Essay

The college application essay allows students to explain this year's obstacles.

Lately, I’ve been asked during our regular webinar series is how COVID-19 will affect or change the college admissions process. Students are worried that their application will suffer because their summer plans are cancelled. Parents are wondering whether standardized test scores will now be less of a requirement. Families ask whether they should use the […]

Are School Expectations Too Low or Too High?

Are school expectations too low or too high?

School expectations and student workload are always topics of conversation in education. With rigorous statewide testing and the newly adopted Common Core State Standards, schools have received backlash. Students, teachers, and parents argue that the expectations for students are too high. You may agree or disagree with this statement. However, it is a proven fact […]

Updates on the ISEE and SSAT

The recent SSAT and ISEE update means changes for students.

By now you have probably heard that the current coronavirus pandemic crisis is seriously affecting the administration of the ACT and SAT this spring. Of course, the pandemic is affecting other tests as well. Each spring, tons of middle schoolers take the ISEE or SSAT as part of their independent high school admissions process. The […]