High School Counselor Week

Does Facial Recognition Belong in Schools? It Depends Who You Ask
EdSurge – December 5, 2024
In response to school shootings, some districts have turned to the use of facial recognition technology capable of alerting officials if school cameras detected anyone who had been banned from district property. While security companies — and some school districts — frame facial recognition as a powerful tool in preventing school shootings and saving lives, they are opposite a movement of students, technologists and civil rights advocates who see it as a dystopia-tinged addition to already heavily surveiled schools.

Supreme Court declines K-12 cases on gender support plan, race-conscious admissions
K-12 Dive – December 9, 2024
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear two closely watched K-12 cases, one regarding a Wisconsin school district’s ‘gender identity support plan’ policy and another on temporary admissions policies meant to diversify student bodies at three competitive Boston schools. Here’s an overview of the court’s latest punt on trans issues and race-conscious admissions in K-12 schools.

U.S. Education Department Pings States, Schools to Set Policies on Cellphone Use
The 74 – December 8, 2024
The U.S. Education Department called on every state, school and district on Tuesday to adopt policies on cellphone use in schools. The department asks schools to have well-thought-out policies on the matter, but does not dictate exactly what those policies should be, claiming there is no ‘one-size-fits-all policy.’ Moreover, the ED acknowledged the role cellphones can play in keeping parents connected to their kids, especially in emergency situations, while also highlighting the increasing evidence on the harms social media can have on youth mental health, such as sleep deprivation and depression.

Why Attending Professional Conferences Are a Must as a School Counselor
Counseling Essentials – December 2, 2024
Work self care is doing those things that help us professionally, reignite our passion, spark our enthusiasm and reconnect us with like minded individuals who are going through what we are going through on any given day. Attending a conference does all that. So, what do you need to feel more empowered and fulfilled in your position this year? Would learning about MTSS and program alignment help? How about learning how to use Motivational Interviewing techniques? Or maybe, how to create more engaging lesson plans? It doesn’t matter if you go to your State SCA annual conference (NYSSCA provides a great one that I attend every year) or ASCA’s annual conference or even a virtual conference like the Summer Counselor Conference, just make it a priority to invest in yourself and go. So as you think about going to a conference, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your experience.

Do Mom and Dad really know what’s best? A psychologist explains why kids see their parents as bossier than they are
The Conversation – December 2, 2024
As a psychologist who studies family relationships, I can tell you that a parent’s No. 1 job is to keep their kids safe. When a kid becomes a teenager, their world becomes more dangerous as mental health, complicated relationships with friends, and drugs and alcohol become more prevalent. To protect their teens from those dangers, parents have lots of strategies ranging from disciplinary measures like grounding to expressing their dissapointment verbally. If your parents have ever acted like that with you, then it is likely about keeping you safe. Most parents understand the dangers you face and want you to avoid making the same mistakes they made. If your parents’ guidance is keeping you from harm, I’d say that they really do know what’s best.

3 Common College Application Essay Mistakes That ChatGPT Actually Makes Worse
Edutopia – December 9, 2024
ChatGPT is capable of delivering a grammatically correct response to college admissions essay prompts. The problem is that while technically sound, the response is also generic and uninspiring. Unfortunately, that isn’t stopping high school students from leaning on AI tools during the college admissions process—especially for the Common App, where prospective students are asked to ‘tell their unique story’ in essay form. While it’s not realistic to tell students to never use AI in support of their writing efforts, it’s helpful to affirm to college applicants that their authentic voice should be prioritized over flawless writing conventions.

Does What College You Go To Matter?
The College Investor – December 7, 2024
Deciding what college to attend is a big decision. It could potentially affect your entire life. But will it? Does what college you go to actually matter? Prestigious schools definitely have some benefits, such as networking opportunities and name recognition on your resume. But do the benefits outweigh the costs? Is there proof that prestigious universities offer more opportunities and financial footing, or is it just a dream we’re bribed to fall into?

Is calculus an addiction that college admissions officers can’t shake?
The Hechinger Report – December 9, 2024
Calculus can be a miserable slog for many high schoolers. It’s estimated that 20 percent of students (about 800,000 a year) take the subject, generally when they are seniors. I was surprised to learn that it’s not just students who despise the pressure to take calculus. Professors, math education experts and equity advocates also hate how the subject seems to have become obligatory for every college-bound student. In fact, many university professors in non-STEM fields think high school students would be better off learning more useful math, such as statistics, data analysis, accounting and spreadsheets.

Forget FAFSA, says one state. We got you
The Hechinger Report – December 9, 2024
The FAFSA has long been a sticking point for students, with billions of dollars in federal aid going unclaimed because they simply give up on it, or don’t complete it correctly. An overhaul last year meant to simplify the process only made things worse, with delays and technical problems that led to even lower completion rates and contributed to a decline of 7 percentage points in the proportion of high school seniors going directly to college, according to the National College Attainment Network. Although the new and revised FAFSA has officially been released, many states are proposing to work around the FAFSA altogether and find ways to automatically award financial aid to families that need it.

The 2025-26 FAFSA Is Open. Here’s What You Need to Know
The 74 – December 9, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education officially released the 2025–26 FAFSA on Nov. 21, 10 days before its Dec. 1 goal. The online FAFSA form is available to all students and families at fafsa.gov, and the paper form is also now available for students to submit. Here’s what you need to know about the FAFSA and how to apply.

Are we sacrificing our youth for college admissions?
The Stanford Daily – December 9, 2024
On a recent scroll through my LinkedIn, I stumbled upon a profile of a sixth grader. Shocked, I clicked on it and went through it. I saw how they had more accolades than I had in my senior year of high school. This made me wonder: Should we be on LinkedIn or even thinking about the college admissions process at such an early age? While understanding higher education is important, starting this process in middle school feels excessive and can be attributed to a mix of cultural norms and societal pressures around success.

Breaking the Stigma Surrounding Kids Who Don’t Go to College
The Forest Scout (Lake Forest High School, IL) – December 10, 2024
The stigma surrounding kids who finish high school and don’t immediately go to, or graduate, from college is a significant issue. This stigma stems from societal expectations and misjudgements. Growing up, many children are told that the primary path to success and a stable life is by receiving a college education. This can lead to the misconception that those who don’t attend or graduate from college are less ambitious or capable. However, there are various career paths that lead to achieving success in life that don’t require a college education such as entrepreneurship, skilled trades, sales jobs, healthcare services, and technology-based jobs.