High School Counselor Week

Read the full letter from universities opposing ‘government intrusion’
PBS News – April 22, 2025
More than 200 college presidents and other officials signed a letter Tuesday protesting the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that higher education is facing under the Trump administration. “We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses,” the letter, released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, stated.

Supreme Court weighs who should decide public school curriculum: Judges or school boards?
NPR – April 22, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court jumps back into the culture wars Tuesday, as the justices tackle a clash between two bedrock values in American public schools: On one side is the longstanding tradition of local school boards determining class curriculum for everyone. On the other side is the notion that public schools should accommodate religious objections to some materials by allowing parents to opt their kids out of some classes.

20 Education Resources for School Counselors
Simply.Coach – April 22, 2025
As a school counselor, you play a pivotal role in guiding students through academic, emotional, and social challenges. Your influence significantly shapes their development and overall well-being. To maintain effectiveness in this demanding field, access to appropriate counselor resources is essential. Whether adapting to new educational trends or addressing evolving student needs, the right tools can greatly enhance your practice.​ A recent study highlights that many of you feel underprepared in areas like college admissions counseling, underscoring the need for targeted professional development. Engaging with specialized resources offers opportunities to acquire innovative counseling techniques, stay current with the latest research, and implement best practices. Let’s look at these resources that enable you to better meet student needs and amplify your impact within the school community.​

Putting the “Counsel” Back in “College Counselor”
ACCIS AdmitAll Blog – April 16, 2025
22. That’s how many seniors cried in my office from September through October; 22 students in roughly 40 school days. Each instance was for a different reason, but the college process was at the core of their emotions. As college counselors, our title has two separate but equally important words: “college” and “counselor.” The “college” part is easier; it’s something that we can learn. “Counselor” is more challenging. Counseling requires empathy, active listening, and strength. We are asked to take on the responsibility of a parent, therapist, or peer, even though we are none of these to our students, but there are ways we can still help as “counselors.”

Preparing Students for the Real World: Why Career Education, Not College, May Be the Answer
MarketScale – April 7, 2025
Amid a nationwide reassessment of the “college-for-all” mindset, data reveal that millions of young adults in the U.S. are neither in school nor working. With rising tuition costs, high dropout rates, and a rapidly evolving job market, education leaders are urgently asking: how do we better prepare students for lives of purpose and prosperity in a world that’s changing faster than our classrooms?

Here are the smartphone apps every parent should keep an eye on
KPRC 2 Houston – April 11, 2025
In today’s digital age, kids and teens are spending more time on their phones, connecting with others, and exploring new platforms. But not all apps are created equal, and some come with more risks than others. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of which apps your kids are using and the potential dangers that come with them. Here’s a breakdown of some popular apps that parents should know about, categorized based on their features and risks.

Report: 1 in 7 teens exchange explicit images online for money or goods
Mashable – April 22, 2025
A new survey is a wakeup call for parents who believe their teen would never exchange sexually explicit imagery of themselves for money or other valuable items like gift cards, clothing, gaming currency, and social media followers and likes. Though parents have to manage an ever-growing list of online threats to discuss with their children, there are ways to talk about commodified sexual interactions not only to emphasize that teens’ bodies “are private, but also that those interactions can be dangerous.

College Uncovered: Tag, You’re In!
The Hechinger Report – April 17, 2025
What if colleges started applying to you instead of the other way around? As competition for students intensifies, more states desperate for workforce talent and schools dependent on tuition dollars are turning to direct admission – a system in which students receive college acceptance offers and scholarships before they even apply.

How To Choose Between Colleges Before The May 1 Deadline
Forbes – April 16, 2025
If you are a student weighing offers from multiple impressive schools, making a final choice can feel equally daunting and exciting. Navigating this decision is complex, and students should approach it with thoughtfulness and long-term strategic vision. If you are weighing your options, here are three key points to help you decide with clarity and confidence:

College decision day is coming. How to decide which school you can afford in this crazy economy.
MarketWatch – April 22, 2025
While experts always advise parents to talk about costs from the start and build a college list that they can afford, many don’t listen. But what you might have thought you could afford for college may have changed in the last few months. What now? “They should choose the cheaper college, and that’s always the answer,” said Mark Kantrowitz, a college-financing expert.

Do You Need A New Student Loan Every Year? Yes and Here’s Why
The College Investor – April 10, 2025
Every spring, millions of families fill out the FAFSA or compare private student loan options to help cover the next year of college tuition. But for many, there’s confusion about how long student loans last and whether a single loan covers all four years of school. It doesn’t. Borrowers must apply for a new loan each academic year. This applies to both federal student loans and most private loans. The process may feel repetitive, but there’s good reason for the system: students’ academic paths, financial aid eligibility, and expenses shift from year to year.

What Happens To Financial Aid If You Take A Gap Year
The College Investor – April 20, 2025
With the stock market fluctuating and new tariffs raising concerns about family finances, some families are re-thinking the college decision (at least in the short term). While it might not be off the table, taking a gap year or deferring enrollment is an option for some. But what happens to financial aid?

Gen Z says AI has made their college degrees irrelevant
CIO Dive – April 21, 2025
Businesses show no signs of slowing AI adoption, and already almost half of Gen Z job seekers say the technology’s adoption has made their college education irrelevant, compared with about one-third of Millennials. The ongoing push to deemphasize college degree requirements in job postings has led half of Gen Z job seekers to view their degrees as a waste of time and money, according to the report.

Schools push career ed classes ‘for all,’ even kids heading to college
The Hechinger Report – April 21, 2025
As backlash to ‘college for all’ grows, a new ‘CTE for all’ model blossoms. Backers say it engages students and prepares them for the future, but others worry it comes at a cost.