High School Counselor Week
Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country
.February 26, 2026
Congress Gave MSIs Funding, but Uncertainty Looms
Inside Higher Ed – February 25, 2026
Minority-serving institutions find themselves caught in an uncomfortable limbo.Congress appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars for minority-serving institutions, but after the administration axed the grants last year, colleges and universities are making backup plans.
Justice Department expands footprint in K-12 civil rights issues
K-12 Dive – February 19, 2026
While the Justice Department has independent authority to investigate civil rights violations in education even without U.S. Department of Education referrals, its involvement in K-12 issues has expanded under the second Trump administration.
Trump administration issues warning to hundreds of colleges with low student loan repayment rates
CNBC – February 19, 2026
Trump officials are warning hundreds of colleges that they could risk their access to financial aid if a high percentage of their students don’t repay their student loans. The notice comes as the Trump administration grapples with a surge in student loan borrowers falling behind on their payments. But consumer advocates say the Education Department’s policies have worsened the situation for borrowers.
Counseling Ratios Are Down. That’s Good—Right?Post – February 25, 2026
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.
More students have access to school counselors, data shows
K-12 Dive – February 23, 2026
The updated ratio means that about 529,000 more students had access to a school counselor last school year than in the previous year. Additionally, the high school student-counselor range of 195 to 224 students for every one counselor for the first time meets the ASCA recommended ratio of 250-to-1, the association said. Research has pointed to benefits of smaller student-counselor ratios, including better standardized test performance, attendance, GPAs and graduation rates. Lower ratios also are linked to decreased discipline infractions and increased likelihood of students talking with school counselors about college and other postsecondary plans.
School counselors support struggling students
Hawaii News Now – February 19, 2026
Counselors have a lot of responsibility and are often the first ones to take action to help a student who’s struggling. But, parents sometimes tend to be confused about what they can and can’t do.
Parental Guidance: Setting Sophomores Up for Success
U.S. News & World Report – February 19, 2026
If there’s a theme to this newsletter, it’s that Getting In is about Getting Organized. In this installment, we’re going to be looking at what high school sophomores can be doing to set themselves up for success in a formal application process that is a bit more than a year away. No, you and your child don’t need to become college admissions obsessives this early in high school. But there are definitely some things you can do now to make things go more smoothly.
How High Schoolers Are Using AI in College Search
Inside Higher Ed – February 25, 2026
A survey of over 5,000 high school students by the enrollment consulting firm EAB reveals that 46 percent of students are using AI in the college search process—though only about 7 percent said they turn to chatbots first when they are looking for information about a specific institution.
These college majors have the highest earning potential and lowest unemployment rates, study finds
CBS News – February 24, 2026
Attending college still confers significant benefits in the labor market, but another factor may be even more important when it comes to finding a decent job after graduation: what you study. A recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ranks employment outcomes for college graduates based on their major, including how much money they can expect to earn early on in and midway through their careers.
Can Colleges See Your DMs And Other Social Media?
The College Investor – February 19, 2026
If you publish something online, it’s safe to assume anyone can see it. Even if you don’t provide your social media handles, that won’t stop many admissions officers from seeing what you’re up to on TikTok or Instagram. Colleges don’t have access to your DMs or your accounts if they’re set to private, but it’s still worth being cautious. While something you posted might technically be private, a connection could take a screenshot and share it. If you’re concerned about colleges seeing questionable posts, it might be a good idea to start thinking about what you post and why. Setting rules for your social media usage now can pay dividends in the future.
6 Things to Know About Merit Aid
U.S. News & World Report – February 23, 2026
When paying for college, merit aid is one way to close the gap between the cost of attendance and need-based financial aid. Merit aid is a form of college financial aid that might cover a student’s entire tuition or be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Here are six things to know about merit scholarships.
5 Ways to Pay for Community College
U.S. News & World Report – February 18, 2026
In most cases, community college students are eligible for the same type of federal and state financial aid as undergraduates at four-year schools. However, institutional aid resources – those provided by the school itself – are less common at community colleges, experts say. Here are five ways to fund your community college education.
4 ways to spot SAT prep scams
CantonRep – February 22, 2026
For parents of high school students, SAT and ACT scores are a huge deal. With college admissions and scholarships on the line, paying for tutors and test prep materials might be worth the price. Watch out for con artists eager to take advantage of that. Scammers with access to kids’ names and school information are tricking parents into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials.
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College Prep Checklist for Juniors
sponsored by Fastweb
March College Prep Checklist for High School Juniors
Time to research schools, plan campus visits and more.
Why More Boys Are Developing Eating Disorders—And the Symptoms Parents Shouldn’t Ignore
Parents – February 24, 2026
In observance of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, experts explain why eating disorders in boys are on the rise and what parents can do to help.
Girls Are Twice as Likely to Quit Sports by Age 14—Here’s How to Change That
Parents – February 19, 2026
To better understand what keeps girls in sports—and what pushes them out—a national youth sports organization surveyed more than 1,500 parents and their daughters who participated in its programs within the past three years. What surprised them is that across all age groups, girls said they play to build skills and have fun. Winning ranked last. So, if girls aren’t playing for first-place trophies, what’s pushing them out—and how do we keep them in the game?
DOJ: ‘Shocking overuse’ of restraint, seclusion in Missouri district
K-12 Dive – February 24, 2026
A two-year probe finds more than 300 students secluded almost 4,000 times and nearly 150 students restrained 777 times. ″The Justice Department will not tolerate the abuse of our most vulnerable students,” said U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in a Monday statement. “Parents should not have to worry that their children could be subjected to solitary confinement and dangerous restraint techniques at school because of their disabilities.”
The un-college revolution: Students are seeking bigger paychecks in trade school, and a new $7,395 workforce training grant could accelerate the shift
MoneyWise – February 25, 2026
Here’s why more students are reconsidering the university path, why skilled trades are gaining traction and how to determine which post-secondary option may make the most sense for you.
I Asked Students Whether They’d Want to be Teachers? They Responded, ‘Why Would I?’
The 74 – February 22, 2026
These students’ observations align with national trends. While nearly 20% of college freshmen said in 1970 that they were interested in a teaching career, less than 5% said the same in 2020, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Many teachers report low levels of job satisfaction, and 52% polled by Pew in 2024 said they would not advise young adults to become teachers. Research consistently shows that compensation, working conditions and professional support play a central role in job retention. When those elements erode, so too does workforce stability.
Career and Technical Ed Benefits All Students. 4 Ways to Expand This Opportunity
The 74 – February 18, 2026
Today’s CTE looks very different from the vocational education of the past. Historically, vocational tracks typically functioned as sorting mechanisms, steering low-income students and students of color away from academic options into job pathways with limited mobility. Modern CTE breaks from that legacy. This CTE Month, we are celebrating multiple pathways that view work as a legitimate place for learning, not a second-rate substitute for college.