American Book Company (1996)

Last updated
American Book Company
Company type Private
IndustryEducational publishing
Founded1996 (1996) by Dr. Frank Pintozzi and Colleen Pintozzi
FoundersDr. Frank Pintozzi and Colleen Pintozzi
Headquarters
Area served
United States
Products Textbooks
Educational software
ServicesOnline practice testing
Number of employees
25-50 (2009)
Website www.americanbookcompany.com

American Book Company is a textbook and software publishing company. Its main focus is on standardized test preparation materials. It offers books covering language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies tests. The company also produces transparencies, basic review books, and ACT and SAT preparation books.

Contents

It currently publishes nearly 200 materials, most of them specifically developed for Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Company history

American Book Company was founded in 1996 by Dr. Frank Pintozzi, a professor of reading and English as a Second Language at Kennesaw State University, and Colleen Pintozzi, a math teacher and supervisor of General Educational Development programs.

They began writing textbooks for nearby South Carolina. After finding success, they created more books for states across the country.

Book Features

American Book Company books have frequent references to standards provided by state departments of education. Each book is based around multiple practice tests modeled after the relevant state test.

Many of the company's books include links to online modules curated by the National Science Teachers Association's sciLINKS program. [1]

Validation Study

In 2006, publishing consultant Lois Eskin Associates studied the effects of using American Book Company books to prepare for standardized tests. The goal of the study was to find if students were more likely to pass standardized tests after studying with American Book Company books. The study included schools in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas.

Results were positive, with every school showing success attributed to American Book Company. In particular, Tranquillity High School increased its pass rate on the CAHSEE by 135%. [2]

Books Adopted by State Boards of Education

As of 2009, the following fourteen American Book Company books have been officially adopted by the Alabama and Georgia departments of education: [3] [4] [5]

Mastering the GA CRCT 7th in Language Arts by American Book Company Mastering the GA CRCT 7th in Language Arts by American Book Company Cover.jpg
Mastering the GA CRCT 7th in Language Arts by American Book Company

American Book Company books are also listed as a resource by the New Jersey Department of Education [6] and schools in many states, including Minnesota, [7] California, [8] and Alabama. [9]

Other Ventures

Screen from Protein Synthesis Animation Protein Synthesis Animation by American Book Company.JPG
Screen from Protein Synthesis Animation

American Book Company offers online practice testing and classroom management software.

It has also recently begun making brief web video lessons.[ citation needed ]

Its community involvement includes working with Adopt-a-Book, [10] Must Ministries, and Habitat for Humanity, [11] among other organizations.

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References

  1. "American Book Company Joins NSTA SciLinks Program". Reuters. May 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  2. "Validation Study of American Book Company's High School Graduation Test Preparation Programs" (PDF). Lois Eskin Associates. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-19. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  3. Many state departments of education maintain lists of books recommended for their member schools.
  4. "Classroom Improvement Publications". Alabama State Department of Education. Archived from the original on 2009-03-19. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  5. "2008 K-8 English Language Arts/Reading State Recommended Learning Resources" (PDF). Georgia Department of Education . Retrieved March 11, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Resource List". State of New Jersey Department of Education. Archived from the original on 11 March 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  7. "The Winner's Circle". Camden High School. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  8. "CAHSEE English Course Outline" (PDF). Visalia Unified School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  9. "AHSGE Prep Resource Links". Paul W. Bryant High School. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  10. "Adopt-a-Book Partners". Adopt-a-Book. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  11. "Covenant Partners". Knoxville Habitat for Humanity. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2009.