High School Counselor Week

Voters express broad concerns about AI and tech in schools, survey shows
K-12 Dive – September 2, 2026
A majority of respondents across the political spectrum want clear guardrails on technology use in classrooms, a Century Foundation survey shows.

NYC, the nation’s largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade
WBAL-TV (MD) – September 2, 2026
The one-year moratorium is part of a broader assessment of how children in the nation’s largest school system interact with the technology. At the same time, the city is establishing twice-yearly AI literacy classes for all public high school students. It will also launch pilot programs allowing some high school students to use a handful of AI platforms under an educator’s supervision. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades, officials said.

Federal judge tosses Trump lawsuit over trans athletes in California school sports
The Guardian (US Edition) – September 1, 2026
A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging California’s policy of allowing transgender youth to play on sports teams that match their gender, a major loss for Donald Trump and the Department of Justice. The ruling came two months after the US supreme court’s conservative supermajority upheld Republican-backed laws in 2 states that barred trans girls from girls’ teams. The supreme court decision was narrow, with the justices concluding that those states could maintain their anti-trans laws, without saying every school must adopt similar restrictions.

New Trends (?) in College Admission
Post – September 2, 2026
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.

Welcome Back – A Senior To-Do List for the Fall
Post – August 26, 2026
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Is There a Counseling Gap for Non-College-Going Students?
Education Week – August 31, 2026
Even as school district leaders’ interest in work-based learning continues to grow, high schoolers say their schools are still geared mainly toward preparing them for matriculation at four-year colleges—even if the students themselves are hoping to take a different post-graduation path. The research from the RAND Corporation draws from three national surveys of district leaders, principals, and high school students fielded in spring 2026. Overall, students who don’t plan to get a bachelor’s degree are less likely to say that the information their schools are providing about post-grad options is aligned to their interests. In addition, even when students want to take concrete steps toward post-graduation plans, a substantial percentage have trouble completing them.

The Truth About Social Emotional Learning From A School Counselor
The Counseling Teacher – August 12, 2026
With so many myths floating around about Social Emotional Learning (SEL), I felt the need to come clean with what I know about it. As a former RAMP certified School Counselor, I am all about data collection and data driven lesson planning. I have personally witnessed the effects of teaching SEL activities across many grade levels during my classroom interventions. But, I want you to be the judge for yourself. Let’s take a closer look at common questions and the truth about Social Emotional Learning from a School Counselor’s perspective. Hint, it’s pretty much all positive.

What parents and students should be doing ahead of college admissions
WUSA9 (DC) – August 31, 2026
The clock is already ticking on college applications and many early deadlines are just weeks away. Here’s how parents and students can prepare.

 

 

 

5 Tips for Finding a Best-Fit College
Seattle Magazine – September 1, 2026
With nearly 3,000 four-year colleges and universities in the United States, how do you find the ones that suit your child academically, socially, culturally, and financially? Finding the best-fit college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Here are five tips for finding schools that will help your student grow.

What College Admissions Counselors are Really Looking For
Tulsa Kids – August 27, 2026
Applying to college can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time students and their families. We asked Anna Smith, an admissions counselor at the University of Oklahoma, to answer some of the most common questions she hears—from when students should start preparing to what makes an application stand out.

FAFSA Updates Explained: How New Rules Could Affect Your College Aid
UNCF – August 30, 2026
Paying for college already feels like aiming at a moving target, and the rules just shifted again. Between a redesigned application and a sweeping new law, the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) looks different from the form your older siblings probably completed. Here’s a plain-English guide to what changed and how it could shape your aid.

CSS Profile vs. FAFSA: How Are They Different?
NerdWallet – August 28, 2026
To get federal financial aid for college, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. But your school may also want you to submit the CSS Profile, an additional application that determines state and institutional financial aid. The CSS Profile is only used by certain schools, listed on the CSS Profile site, as part of their financial aid process for aid like grants and scholarships.

What to Do if You Can’t Afford College (Even With Financial Aid)
Coursera – August 27, 2026
If you can’t afford college even with financial aid, you may also consider alternative paths, such as certificate programs, boot camps, apprenticeships, or trade school. Explore some common ways to fund a college education, as well as ways you can approach your next steps if you can’t afford college.