High School Counselor Week
Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country
November 3, 2022
Affirmative action appears in jeopardy after US supreme court hearing
The Guardian – US Edition – October 31, 2022
The survival of affirmative action in higher education appeared to be in serious trouble on Monday at a conservative-dominated US supreme court after hours of debate over difficult questions of race. The court’s six conservative justices all expressed doubts about the practice, while the three liberals defended the programs, which are similar to those used by many other private and public universities.
In a single week in America, 4 communities confronted the aftermath of different school shootings. Then, shots rang out in another school
CNN – October 30, 2022
Shootings in US schools, while still rare when compared with other incidents of gun violence, have become far more regular than any other country in the world and show no sign of slowing. There have been at least 53 school shootings at K-12 schools so far this year, more than in all of 2021 and nearly double as many as in 2018. In many cases, legal proceedings seeking justice can last decades, offering a national reminder every few months of the victims and the violence.
Gen Zers don’t see the point in getting a degree. Here’s how to fix the ROI of college
Fortune – October 31, 2022
Should students forgo college? Not if they want to make more money. College is still generally the best pathway to higher-paying careers. The ‘return’ of going to college is clear; it’s the ‘investment’ that’s the problem. To fix the ROI equation for college-goers, we must make higher education more affordable. The reality is that free college is already within reach for millions of Americans—but only if we count two-year college degrees.
Need a Breather? Try College FarmingPost – November 2, 2022
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.
Find colleges that want you more than you want them
Post – October 26, 2022
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer
Watch out for ‘leakage’: These are some clues students can look out for to help prevent school violence
CNN – October 27, 2022
To help thwart potential school violence, students and staff need to beware of certain warning signs – and feel comfortable reporting them. Former FBI special agent and profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole, who has studied school shootings for more than 20 years, notes the clues can range from subtle to overt. And students are often in the best position to notice concerning behavior from classmates. Here is what experts say students and schools should recognize as disturbing behavior – and what they should do:
What Teenagers Want Adults to Understand About Their Lives Online
The New York Times – October 27, 2022
Young people told us they see the internet as a ‘world of endless possibilities.’ But, they admitted, it’s not without its downsides. Students also told us of feeling powerless to put down their phones at times, and of generational divides that keep the adults in their lives from understanding how, as just one example, social media functions more like a necessity than an option.
Seeking solace at school
Liberty Hill Independent (TX) – October 17, 2022
Missy Whitsett is Liberty Hill High School’s mental health counselor – a brand-new position created for this school year as she is tasked with providing services for only the high school, compared to the past two when she roamed the district in covering all the schools with the help of only one other counselor. ‘It’s a referral program’ said Whitsett. The average tuition discount was nearly 50% for undergraduates at private colleges, one recent study found. ‘But, I try as much as I can to have an open door.’
America’s Falling Test Scores and the Power of Parental Anxiety
The New Yorker – October 28, 2022
The ‘Nation’s Report Card’ showed a historic drop in test scores. This matters more—and less—than many parents seem to think.
162 colleges adopt ‘direct admissions’ to compete for students
The Washington Times – October 28, 2022
The process allows officials to review the electronic profiles of high school students and reach out to ideal matches with scholarship offers rather than wait for applications. Advocates say it could help smaller schools recover from COVID-19 closures and connect low-income students with affordable options.
What to Do While Waiting for College Admission Decisions
U.S. News & World Report – October 28, 2022
Some students allow the uncertainty to get the better of them, constantly checking their admissions portal and contacting admissions offices for updates. Other students catch the proverbial ‘senioritis’ and disconnect as soon as they hit send on their applications. Both approaches can potentially impact admissions decisions, so navigating the waiting period is about finding balance between those two extremes and finding ways to be productive, experts say.
The College-Admissions Merit Myth
The Atlantic – October 30, 2022
The system is not about lining people up from best to worst and taking the top ones. It’s more like a lottery, says the sociologist Natasha Warikoo.
5 Ways to Get a Tuition Discount
U.S. News & World Report – October 28, 2022
The average tuition discount was nearly 50% for undergraduates at private colleges, one recent study found.
Student Aid Eligibility Changes Under FAFSA Simplification
Inside Higher Ed – October 25, 2022
In most cases, a student’s financial aid eligibility is not expected to change that much, but the case studies show some of the instances in which eligibility would change.
Paying for College in a Recession | Statistics and Predictions 2023
Bankrate – October 28, 2022
To better understand what to expect from college prices during a recession, it’s important to examine the patterns of what has happened before.
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Fighting fentanyl: Schools tackle opioid crisis head-on
K-12 Dive – October 26, 2022
The opioid crisis has plagued the nation for the last three decades and will likely impact the education system for years to come. It knows no boundaries as it affects the rich and poor, the young and old, and communities and households in rural, suburban and urban locations. But even as localities have repeatedly responded to the tragic and heartbreaking loss of lives from overdoses, promising developments have emerged.
How To Make Schools Safer Without Additional Physical Security Measures
Center for American Progress – October 26, 2022
The newly enacted Bipartisan Safer Communities Act can help schools and districts create safer learning environments without resorting to implementing measures that harden schools.
Elevating Apprenticeships—and Other Ways for the US to Think Bigger on Talent
Industry Week – October 28, 2022
The skilled trades have been in a state of crisis for close to a decade, and this has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Only 70 out of 100 positions are being filled, translating into 2.4 million unfilled positions in manufacturing and an estimated $2.5 trillion of lost economic value over the past ten years due to the labor shortage. And the problem is expected to get worse because more people are currently leaving the trades than joining them. We need to consider reforms to aspects of our education system.
The driver of the big rig one lane over might soon be one of these teenagers
NPR – October 28, 2022
This fall, for the first time, an introduction to trucking course is being offered at Williamsport High School as part of a nationwide push to steer young drivers toward an industry in dire need of workers. Traditionally, trucking has not been among the vocational programs offered at high schools, in part because of age restrictions on interstate trucking. But now, the federal government is piloting a three-year apprentice program that will allow 18-to-20-year-olds to drive commercial vehicles on interstate routes, opening up career opportunities for high school graduates that didn’t exist before.
To Save U.S. Industry, We Must Let Go Of An Outdated Education Model
Chief Executive – October 28, 2022
The U.S. education system must jettison its one-size-fits-all approach to secondary school and offer more trade skills-based pathways for students. Making matters more urgent, the United States is being left far behind in schooling for industrial work by other competitor nations.