High School Counselor Week

This violence prevention strategy could redefine safety for Philadelphia’s high schools
Chalkbeat – January 11, 2024
The Youth Violence Reduction Initiative is the Philadelphia school district’s latest attempt to secure safer futures for the teens most at risk of engaging in violence. The one-school pilot is Philadelphia’s version of the national Comprehensive Gang Model, a set of strategies used in other cities that include one-on-one mentoring, group counseling sessions, tutoring, and — when needed — law enforcement supervision. The initiative doesn’t provide direct services such as counseling or tutoring, but instead students are referred to community-based organizations. Student-involved shootings and incidents of students carrying guns are some of the situations project staff are looking at. But they’re also focusing on fights that occur between groups of students who are in conflict with one another. The district says the initiative aims to reduce violence in general, not just gun violence.

Republican bill would cap student borrowing, make colleges liable for unpaid loans
Higher Ed Dive – January 12, 2024
Known as the College Cost Reduction Act, the proposal would put colleges on the hook for loans their former students don’t pay off, place caps on how much students could borrow for their education, and pare down federal student loan repayment options. The act would also limit the U.S. Department of Education’s power to implement new student loan forgiveness programs and roll back several of the agency’s recent regulatory changes, including the gainful employment and 90/10 rules.

Colleges charge tons of junk fees for food and books. The Biden administration may force them to scale back.
USA Today – January 10, 2024
The changes are part of a bundle of reforms the Education Department is debating this week during a fresh round of policy discussions. The talks are largely centered on heightening federal scrutiny of the higher education industry − a priority President Biden has indicated is a piece of his efforts to bring down the soaring cost of college and ease the student loan debt it causes. Under some of the proposed changes to federal law, for example, universities would be barred from pocketing some of the leftover money they get for low-income students whose school meal plans are paid for using federal financial aid.

FAQs on the New Digital SAT
Post – January 17, 2024
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Bullying is linked to school shootings. What do schools need to know?
K-12 Dive – January 10, 2024
It’s a common refrain in the wake of school violence: Why would anyone do something like this? But a substantial and growing body of research continues to find strong correlations between school shooters and bullying. According to a 2019 report by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center that analyzed 41 incidents of school violence at K-12 schools, the behavioral histories for 35 of the 41 attackers showed that 80% were bullied by classmates, and 57% faced bullying that lasted for weeks, months or years. Most students who are bullied do not respond by committing mass violence, but certainly schools should have a strong dedication to bullying prevention. K-12 Dive spoke with bullying prevention and child psychology experts who shared three approaches for schools to to consider.

When adults learn about trauma-informed practices, students can recover
KQED (CA) – January 16, 2024
When students returned to in-person learning during the 2021-2022 school year, school counselor Amy Riley noticed heightened anxiety among students, and attributed this change to isolation, economic disadvantage, and increased social media use during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, they had about one suicide threat assessment per month. When kids were back in school buildings, there were 52 instances of a child threatening suicide. Riley noted in one particular study how childhood trauma – including neglect, food insecurity, and homelessness – might manifest in the children around her. Based on several sources and initiatives, she set out to educate school staff and faculty on Adverse Childhool Experiences (ACE’s), and the importance of a program to mitigate the effects. Their now schoolwide practices are based on a government initiative, the ‘Handle with Care’ program. HWC provides a systematic approach to informing the responsible adults around children who have experienced a traumatic event or trigger.

Being a teen has always been hard; now it’s especially so
Science News Explores – January 11, 2024
Feeling sad and alone has become common. Here’s how to find help — and why to do it now

Smartphones Have Changed Student Attention, Even When Students Aren’t Using Them
EdSurge – January 16, 2024
When teachers think their students aren’t paying attention in class, they’re probably right. And that’s true even when instructors force students to put away their smartphones. That’s what Georgetown University professor Jeanine Turner found in her research about how tech has shaped social relationships. Her argument is that our internet-connected devices have changed the way people relate to others, even when devices are temporarily removed.

Expert College Admission Advice
Forbes – January 16, 2024
The internet is awash in advertisements from individuals or groups purporting to be experts in college admission. As students and their supporters begin to search for colleges and universities that might be good matches for their educational and future goals, it is worthwhile to cut through the information overload and fear-mongering, and think more carefully about expertise, what it is, and who has access to it. I have asked thought leaders in education who I consider to be experts to share their wisdom.

Get Accepted: What Does ‘Waitlisted’ Mean In College Admissions?
Forbes Advisor – January 12, 2024
Waiting is part of the college application process. But when you’re expecting an admission decision and you’re instead told to wait longer—that shock can be mind-numbing. Getting waitlisted by the college of your choice can be stressful and frustrating. The result may be everything you hoped for, or a rejection that ends up having a silver lining. What does being waitlisted mean for your chances, and what should you do next?

New FAFSA Getting on Your Nerves? Here’s Some Advice From an Expert
U.S. News & World Report – January 1, 2024
The new FAFSA has been a pain point for some families struggling to fill it out as they experience technical glitches and other obstacles. Difficulty completing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can heighten stress for students deciding to pursue higher education, particularly when one of their primary concerns is affordability. Here’s advice from an expert if you’re having trouble completing the redesigned FAFSA for 2024-2025.

Outdated FAFSA Figures Could Reduce College Financial Aid For Millions
Forbes – January 11, 2024
Families and students already frustrated with the bumpy launch of the just-overhauled Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, now have another worry: They might not qualify for enough financial aid to cover the costs of their college education. The reason? The Department of Education failed to include the sharp rise in inflation in its aid calculations on the new form. Instead, the 2024-25 FAFSA uses tables that are three years old to assess college affordability. It has not updated the amount of family income that’s shielded from consideration when determining a student’s financial aid. Meanwhile, consumer prices have risen 19% since January 2020.