High School Counselor Week

Report: Schools Won’t Recover from COVID Absenteeism Crisis Until at Least 2030
The 74 – February 1, 1931
Dire news from two separate studies require a ‘hard pivot,’ researchers say — and some lawmakers are starting to listen. The rate of students chronically missing school got so bad during the pandemic that it will likely be 2030 before classrooms return to pre-COVID norms, a new report says. But even that prediction rests on optimistic assumptions about continued improvement in the coming years. For some states, it could take longer.

There is evidence that social media hurt teens’ mental health, but the evidence is not definitive; what restrictions are reasonable?
The Lexington Times (KY) – February 1, 2024
Strong bipartisan statements came out of a congressional hearing yesterday about the harms of social media use among children and teens. Parents of kids harmed by social media showed up in immense force. ‘You have blood on your hands,’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham to five social media CEOs. ‘I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,’ said Mark Zuckerberg to parents in the audience. Is social media dangerous for children and teens? And, if so, what are our options? Here is the nuanced public health data that (hopefully) congressmen/women are using to (hopefully) make meaningful and needed change. But, as we know by now, policy isn’t always based on science.

What Educators Need to Know about Generation Alpha
EdSurge – February 4, 2024
The challenges facing our youth go beyond the pandemic. Learning about what makes Generation Alpha so unique has helped me understand how we might shift our practices accordingly to lean into the strengths of this generation.

Making the Most of Spring Break: A Guide to Campus Visits for Families
Post – January 31, 2024
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

School counselors are vital to navigating the FAFSA maze
Brookings Institution – February 6, 2024
Why do many college-intending, low-income students not complete applications for financial aid? For decades, it’s been argued financial aid applications, especially the FAFSA, are too complex and pose a significant barrier. The FAFSA Simplification Act will bring many improvements to federal and state aid access. However, the rollout has been fraught with challenges. Regardless of why, the question now turns to student support. And school counselors are on the front lines of supporting students and families through this year’s FAFSA rollout, as The Chronicle of Higher Education recently highlighted. This year’s National School Counseling Week is a reminder of the vital role school counselors are playing and will continue to play in supporting students’ postsecondary dreams, including navigating complex financial aid forms. How can schools, colleges, and states work together to support students through FAFSA completion, this year and beyond?

South Florida School Demands Parent Consent for Black History Month Events
Daily Beast – February 7, 2024
According to Miami ABC affiliate WPLG, parents of students at IPrep Academy were asked to sign permission slips in order for their children to participate in Black History Month “class and school wide presentations showcasing the achievements and recognizing the rich and diverse traditions, histories, and innumerable contributions of the Black communities.” The month-long celebration has been federally recognized since 1976. Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon told the outlet that the new rule is an addition to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, which was initially signed into law in March 2022. The law, infamously known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, bars “classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” WPLG reports that an extension was added to the bill in November, which expanded parental rights in education whenever outside presenters come to instruct on school property. Florida Department of Education Press Secretary Nathalia Medina said the whole idea about parents having to sign permission slips is “absolutely false”. “Miami-Dade County Public Schools fully supports the teaching of African American history, which is required by the State of Florida, throughout the school year. Our schools do not need permission slips to teach African American history.” IPrep Academy did not immediately return a request for comment.

How the FAFSA delay is throwing off admission timelines
Inside Higher Ed – February 5, 2024
Colleges are pushing back admission deadlines after the latest FAFSA delay. But not all institutions will be affected equally, and many aren’t yet ready to make the call. The vast majority of colleges use May 1 as the deadline for accepted students to commit. But since financial aid offers aren’t likely to go out until April, thanks to the latest FAFSA delay, a growing number of institutions has pushed their commitment deadlines to June or suspended them indefinitely. Only a handful of colleges have announced extensions so far, but the list is growing.

I applied to 23 colleges and wrote 50 essays. Here’s what I learned.
Chalkbeat – February 2, 2024
Find your voice, beat procrastination, and other lessons from my college application journey. I am no expert in college admissions, but I have spent hundreds of hours applying to colleges. In the interest of benefitting future applicants and providing some insight into what it’s like to apply to college, here are some of my biggest takeaways from the whole process.

Amid rocky FAFSA rollout, Education Department to deploy staff to help colleges
Higher Ed Dive – February 5, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it plans to send federal financial aid personnel to lower-resourced colleges to help smooth the The effort aims to smooth the so-far bumpy debut of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which has been hampered by delays and glitches. Most recently, the Education Department said it wouldn’t transmit FAFSA applicant data to colleges until March — a move that has already prompted some institutions to push back their traditional student commitment deadline of May 1.

What You Can Use Scholarship Money For
U.S. News & World Report – February 1, 2024
Just as colleges and scholarship organizations have application requirements, many also have rules covering how to spend an award. Tuition, fees, textbooks and supplies often qualify, but some independent scholarships may be less strict and allow recipients to use the money for things like housing, meal plans and technology. It’s important to know that the way you spend a scholarship could affect your financial aid package, tax filings and how much you borrow in student loans. Here’s what you need to know about using scholarship money to make the most of it.

31% of hiring managers say they steer clear of Gen Z
HR Dive – January 29, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the generation’s ability to acquire foundational workplace skills, and the resulting ‘departure from the traditional in-person learning environment impacted their ability to hone crucial skills, such as effective communication, handling constructive criticism and observing others to build their professional acumen.’ 31% percent of the 782 people surveyed said they avoid hiring Gen Z in favor of older workers, and 30% said they’ve had to fire a Gen Z worker within a month of their start date. Nearly all respondents (94%) reported a Gen Z candidate acting inappropriately during an interview. To address these challenges, many companies offer mentoring programs for entry-level workers and more are starting to provide etiquette training

To Diversify Medicine Post–Affirmative Action, Look to Community Colleges
Scientific American – February 2, 2024
The Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action also applies to medical education, where the lack of a diverse physician workforce is a known factor that leads to health care inequalities. Community colleges could be part of the solution, with some promising efforts already happening at the state level,

What To Know About The New Digital SAT
Forbes – February 2, 2024
This significant online shift in the standardized testing landscape requires students and families to strategize and prepare differently than they would have for the paper exam. Applying the right strategy is particularly critical, as some colleges are shedding test-optional policies and reconsidering the importance of the test in the application process. Here’s everything you need to know about the Digital SAT.

Dartmouth will again require SAT, ACT scores. Other colleges won’t necessarily follow
NPR – February 5, 2024
A new study conducted by the college found test scores could have helped less advantaged students, including first-generation students and students from low-income families, gain access to the school. A co-author of the study said students from disadvantaged backgrounds submitted their test scores at far lower rates, but their scores were high enough that they might have helped the students get in. The study also found that test scores helped bring in students from high schools that didn’t already have a track record of sending students to Dartmouth.But what works for Dartmouth won’t necessarily work for everyone