High School Counselor Week
Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country
.March 5, 2026
Students feel safer in school when their concerns are heard, YouthTruth finds
K-12 Dive – March 2, 2026
Survey findings reveal gaps between staff and student safety perceptions and the need to include student voice in preparedness.
Is Your School’s SEL Strategy Working? The Questions Every Educator Should Ask
Education Week – March 2, 2026
When students participate in evidence-based, explicit social and emotional skill instruction, they do better and feel better at school. They have better test scores and grades, better attendance, and better engagement in school and their communities. They are better able to handle stress, anxiety, and peer pressure. They make healthier choices in the face of bigger emotions and are less likely to hurt themselves or someone else. But the challenge is that the SEL programs marketed to schools today teach different skills, toward different ends—not all of which are evidence-based. It’s not the only reason SEL has been politicized, but it certainly isn’t helping the case.
The Education Department’s 9 interagency agreements: What is going where
Higher Ed Dive – February 25, 2026
In moves to downsize, the department is sending some higher education and K-12 programming to other agencies. To date, the Education Department has announced nine such interagency agreements with four agencies. They cover billions of dollars in program responsibilities under several education-related laws, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Higher Education Act and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. These are the Education Department’s interagency agreements that have been announced and signed to date.
What Does College Ready Look Like?Post – March 4, 2026
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.
Teacher-to-counselor collaborative project shows significant impact across South Carolina’s largest school district
Clemson News – March 4, 2026
A research project designed to aid Greenville County Schools in “growing its own” school counselors has already shown great impact across the district, with more cohorts on the way. The project —funded by a $5.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Education — has paid off in thousands of hours of counseling services for students and in initiatives that draw on the knowledge educators from the district can bring to their work.
With Teens Comfortable Confiding in AI, Should Schools Embrace It for Mental Health Care?
EdSurge – March 3, 2026
Navigating budget shortfalls and limited mental health staff, some high schools are using an AI platform to vet students’ mental health needs. Alongside — an automated student monitoring system — is an example of the growing category of tools that are marketed to K-12 schools for similar purposes. It flags when a student may be at risk for harming themself or others based on what the student types into a chat, and sends alerts to counselors when needed. One notes the tool is exceptional at putting out the “small fires.” Plus, students sometimes find it easier to turn to AI for dealing with emotional problems. Despite the positives, there are numerous cautions schools should keep in mind, several of which are covered here.
Instagram Will Now Alert Parents if Teens Search for Suicide or Self-Harm Terms
Parents – February 26, 2026
Instagram’s latest parental feature goes beyond just blocking content by notifying parents of potentially harmful search activity.
Parental Guidance: Testing… Testing… Or Maybe Not
U.S. News & World Report – February 26, 2026
How to tackle test prep once your kid has determined which (if any) standardized exam to take.
College Application Checklist: Timeline And Printable Calendar
The College Investor – February 23, 2024
Applying to college is a muti-step process, and most high school students have not managed a multi-month process on their own. That’s why you might want to make a college application checklist. While there are always adults who can help you through the process, most students will want to take ownership of the application process. After all, you are the most important stakeholder in your college decision.
Do College Admissions Check for AI? A Clear Guide for Applicants
Business Standard – March 3, 2026
The truth is that some institutions use AI detection software as part of their evaluation process. However, technology is only one component of review. Human readers continue to make the final decisions. Understanding how the process works can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Colleges face a choice: Try to shape AI’s impact on learning, or be redefined by it
The Conversation – February 23, 2026
The arrival of artificial intelligence in college classrooms has been swift and, for many schools, disorienting. As professors we are confronting a question that now cuts across all colleges and universities: What is the purpose of a college education, as AI is rapidly reshaping how students think, learn and prepare for careers? While much of the public debate has focused on plagiarism and credit for student work, the deeper issue extends beyond rule-setting.
A New Approach To Financial Aid Ties Scholarships To Graduation
Forbes – March 3, 2026
A new approach to financial aid for college students is emerging that rewards academic progress and degree completion rather than just initial enrollment. Called InTuition Scholars, it flips the traditional awarding of institutional scholarships on its head — instead of awarding the scholarship to students as a tuition discount when they enter college, it rewards them with a rebate when they complete it.
The Cost of Private vs. Public Colleges
U.S. News & World Report – March 2, 2026
Private colleges are typically associated with higher sticker prices, but they can also offer more financial aid.
What Is FAFSA Verification? Your Step-By-Step Guide
The College Investor – February 26, 2026
FAFSA verification is a routine federal review process. Being selected does not mean you made a mistake. Below is what FAFSA verification means, what schools expect from families, and what happens if you do not respond.
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Honoring Women’s History Month
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Supreme Court blocks law against schools outing transgender students to their parents
AP News – March 2, 2026
The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for California schools to tell parents if their children identify as transgender without getting the student’s approval, granting an emergency appeal on the basis that the existing school policies violated free exercise of religion. The split decision comes after religious parents and educators challenged policies aimed at preventing schools from outing students to their families. California, on the other hand, argued that students have the right to privacy about their gender expression, especially if they fear rejection from their families.
How often do kids bring guns to school? Here’s what we know.
Chalkbeat – February 27, 2026
Despite mounting anxiety about school shootings, the task of tracking the number of guns in U.S. public schools is about to get even harder. Severe cuts to the National Center for Education Statistics now jeopardize the future of already shaky statistics about the number of K-12 students caught with firearms on campus.In lieu of accurate, timely federal data, we used past NCES reports, Gun Violence Archive data, and public health research to try to understand how guns end up in American schools.
Real Skills, Real Income: Why Youth Apprenticeship Is Resonating Now
New America – March 3, 2026
During our focus groups in November 2025, families shared how they are recalibrating their views of post-secondary pathways. Young people and their parents are actively searching for pathways that feel practical, flexible, and financially responsible. Youth apprenticeship fits that moment well once people learn more about today’s programs and realize that they expand options after high school. Below, we explore the notable findings and reflections that emerged.
The Real Talent Shortage Isn’t Degrees—It’s Pathways
Forbes – March 3, 2026
America doesn’t have a shortage of ambition or investment right now. It has a shortage of skilled people. Across core skilled‑trade jobs, there are about 2.9 million openings each year, but only about 1.25 million newly trained workers coming through colleges, trade schools, and registered apprenticeships. Too many young people are leaving high school without either a college plan or a concrete pathway into skilled work. At the same time, we have better evidence than ever that structured CTE pathways work. The real divide is not between ‘college’ and ‘the trades’, but between those with a clear pathway and those without.