High School Counselor Week

ESSER now in rearview mirror for most districts
K-12 Dive – January 28, 2025
Tuesday’s spending deadline marks the end to federal COVID-19 emergency allocations dedicated to K-12 for most school districts. However, even half a decade after COVID emerged and nearly $190 billion in federal aid was disbursed, students in certain subgroups and grades are still struggling academically, on average. The chronic absenteeism rate is still high. And in some localities, the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund is causing financial shortfalls leading to program cuts and staff layoffs.

Federal school safety board disbanded under Trump administration
EdSource – January 24, 2025
The Trump administration has disbanded a newly formed board meant to advise federal agencies about school safety strategies and practices to protect students. Organized in June, the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board included school safety experts, parents of children killed in school shootings, school district leaders and advocacy groups. The board held its first meeting in October and was in the process of establishing its priorities. Three board members confirmed to EdWeek that they received a Department of Homeland Security memo notifying them of the plan to terminate the current board members as ‘future committee activities will be focused solely on advancing our critical mission to protect the homeland.’

From Defiant to Compliant, Schools Take Varying Tacks to Possible ICE Raids
The 74 – January 28, 2025
From strategic defiance to more open compliance, school districts across the country are gearing up in very different ways for how to respond if — or when — immigration agents arrive on campus. The move is seen as possibly violating Plyler v. Doe, the landmark 1982 Supreme Court ruling that a child cannot be denied a public education based on immigration status, and could potentially create a trove of data making undocumented students more vulnerable to ICE enforcement. Educators say campus immigration enforcement will traumatize ‘all students attending public schools.’ School attendance is already reportedly down. Most school protocols for visits from law enforcement agencies, including immigration agents, she said, call for a school official to greet the officer; ask for credentials and any order, subpoena, or warrant; and to get a specific administrator to interact with them.

Trump freezes federal grants. What does it mean for schools?
Chalkbeat – January 28, 2025
A Trump administration order freezing all federal grants is fueling widespread confusion among schools, nonprofits, and state governments even as the White House scrambles to clarify that the freeze shouldn’t affect key programs such as Head Start preschool and Title I funding for high poverty schools. The stated purpose of the freeze is to find grants that could run counter to Trump administration priorities of ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as well as those that recognize the existence of transgender people and offer them support. Federal grants fund everything from charter school start-up costs to teacher training to emergency response. The school superintendents association said in a blog post that the school lunch program, which depends on ongoing payments, could be affected. Funding for homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Act likely is not affected, but many programs that serve homeless youth and vulnerable families expected to lose funding.

Boosting the College Readiness of Students With Disabilities With a Focus on Self-Efficacy
Edutopia – January 24, 2025
For many students with disabilities, the transition to college can feel like a daunting and uncertain step. Beyond the academic demands, there are new social dynamics, different teaching styles, and a need to self-advocate—all of which can be overwhelming without the right mindset and skills. However, one of the most important factors that can help students with disabilities succeed in college is not just boosting their confidence, but fostering self-efficacy—the belief in their ability to manage challenges and achieve their goals. Ultimately, self-efficacy isn’t just about feeling confident—it’s about believing that with the right strategies and support, success is possible. As educators, counselors, and families, we can help students with disabilities build that belief in themselves, equipping them not only for college but for life.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Students Disappear From Education Department Website
U.S. News & World Report – January 23, 2025
Since being in office, Trump has signed executive orders to crack down on federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and limit gender to only two options when filling out federal forms and documents. But the online pages that disappeared this week extend beyond those issues. Students identifying as sexual and gender minorities have lost access to government webpages addressing harassment and discrimination. The Education Department’s page containing legal resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex students went down in the early hours between Wednesday and Thursday. The Child Welfare Information Getaway’s page on equitable practices for LGBTQ+ individuals, the State Department’s page on human rights for the LGBTQ+ community and the Department of Labor’s list of resources for LGBTQ+ workers have also gone dark. Outside of the White House, a Health and Human Services website that listed information about reproductive health care rights, such as access to abortion and birth control coverage, is no longer available.

How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome College Admissions Rejection
Forbes – January 27, 2025
Parenting a teen through the college admissions process can feel like steering a ship through choppy waters. On one side, the relentless pressure to succeed—to ace the SATs, craft a standout essay, and secure a coveted spot at their dream school. On the other, there’s the looming specter of rejection. For many teens, that moment feels crushing, as if their future has been rewritten in an instant. But what if rejection wasn’t something to fear? What if, instead, it was a stepping stone—an essential, even transformative, part of the journey? Enter rejection therapy prep…

Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants
K-12 Dive – January 27, 2025
Applicants from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds continued to outpace their peers during the 2024-25 cycle, the company found.

How students are sharing life experiences to gain college admission
My Central Jersey – January 25, 2025
After analyzing data from the Common App, Forbes reported that the number of first year applicants has increased by 5%. But it’s not just the number of applicants that’s impacting the college admissions process. It’s the diversity. First-generation applicants have increased by 15% and applications from lower income zip codes are outpacing students from wealthier zip codes.

Test-Optional Admissions Hurt Poor Kids
Reason – January 28, 2025
A new working paper from Dartmouth College researchers is providing yet more evidence that test-optional college admissions ended up hurting the very disadvantaged students the policy change was meant to help. Instead of boosting the chances of low-income or first-generation students, researchers found that not sending in their scores dramatically reduced their chances of admission. This latest paper, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that the test-optional policy encouraged disadvantaged applicants to not submit their scores, even if they had relatively high scores.

Federal student loans, Pell Grants not tied up in funding pause, but will be reviewed
USA Today – January 28, 2025
Students across the country expressed relief Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Education confirmed direct student loans and Pell Grants won’t be stopped amid a broad federal funding pause ordered by President Donald Trump. However, the Office of Management and Budget has asked the ED to clarify whether federal student financial aid programs ‘promote gender ideology,’ support ‘illegal aliens,’ or ‘promote or support’ abortion ‘in any way.’ As a result, those programs are still included in a massive list of government funding streams the Trump administration is reviewing to ensure they comply with his suite of recent executive orders.

Federal vs. Private Student Loans: Which Is Better?
The College Investor – January 22, 2025
After you’re admitted to college, you’ll receive a financial aid package that breaks down your cost of attendance minus any grants, scholarships, or other sources of financial aid you’re eligible for. This financial aid package includes federal student loans. We explore the differences between federal vs. private student loans and what you should consider before signing on the dotted line.

Understanding Financial Aid for College: A Guide
U.S. News & World Report – January 23, 2025
Financial aid is any form of funding that helps a student pay for college, such as a Pell Grant, loan or merit-based scholarship. However, navigating the financial aid process to help pay for college can be challenging. Here are a few answers to common financial aid questions.