Rossford High has no link to sales of test prep

Phone solicitations push $100 materials

5/4/2011

Rossford High School is warning parents and students of a telephone-solicitation scam in which a company selling ACT test-preparation materials is claiming the school district has approved its costly offerings.

A parent recently called the school district about such a telephone call, asking if the high school was involved with backing the materials that cost more than $100, said Dan Saygers, guidance counselor for juniors and seniors.

"It was a pitch reading somehow like it came from the high school for something they should do," he said.

Rossford High School has not approved any company's promotion for ACT test-preparation materials, he said.

In fact, Mr. Saygers added, the high school has free materials students can use to prepare for the ACT college admission and placement exam. ACT Inc. sells test-preparation materials for around $20, he said.

Bookstores also have ACT test-preparation materials, said Ralph Myers, principal of Woodmore High School.

Woodmore, Clay High School, and Northwood High School have not heard of any such scams from parents or students, principals and other educators said. Mr. Saygers said he has not heard of problems at other high schools, either.

The ACT is administered nationwide, asking 215 questions about English, reading, math, and science. Scores are accepted at U.S. colleges and universities, according to ACT Inc.

Nearly 1.6 million high school graduates in 2010 took the ACT, it said. The test first was administered in fall 1959.

Information about preparing and registering for the ACT, including some free test-preparation options, is available at actstudent.org.