High School Counselor Week

RFK Jr. wants to end mental health screenings in schools. Experts say it’s a bad idea
NPR – September 16, 2025
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Education Secretary Linda McMahon posit that such screens “medicalize the unique and sometimes unpredictable behavior of young children,” creating “new stigmas that students might carry with them for life. They say chools “must return to the natural sources of mental well-being: strong families, nutrition and fitness, and hope for the future.” Mental health experts say the op-ed is misleading about school-based mental health screenings and therapy, and respond with multiple points families need to know — for example, that research shows ental health screenings reduce stigma, rather than create it, and also often result in physical diseases being identified rather than mental ones.

‘We can’t not pay attention.’ Student scores hit new lows on nation’s report card.
Christian Science Monitor – September 9, 2025
A new batch of student test scores indicate a slump in college and career readiness, as well as a decline in science knowledge. Both of those could have profound implications for the country’s economic future.

Navigating the digital divide: a new challenge for counselors
Times Higher Eduation – September 11, 2025
In today’s fast-paced world, one challenge keeps surfacing in school counseling circles: the digital divide. It’s no longer just about who has a device and who doesn’t. It’s about who can use those tools effectively and who’s quietly slipping behind. Students from lower-income families often struggle to keep up with online opportunities, from university applications to career exploration tools. And, unfortunately, it’s not just their grades that suffer – it’s their confidence, motivation and sense of possibility, too. School counselors can’t ignore this gap. We’re not just academic guides, we’re equity advocates. Here’s what I’ve learned matters most:

Parents of teens who died by suicide after AI interactions to testify to Congress
ABC News – September 16, 2025
Parents whose teenagers killed themselves after interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots testified to Congress on Tuesday about the dangers of the technology. Hours before the Senate hearing, OpenAI pledged to roll out new safeguards for teens, including efforts to detect whether ChatGPT users are under 18… “This is a fairly common tactic — it’s one that Meta uses all the time — which is to make a big, splashy announcement right on the eve of a hearing which promises to be damaging to the company,” said Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a group advocating for children’s online safety. The Federal Trade Commission said last week it had launched an inquiry into several companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions.

Parenting Confession of the Week: I Have No Idea How We’ll Pay for College
Today – September 15, 2025
Parents have gotten pretty comfortable talking about the hard parts of raising children, from gory details about childbirth to the raging hormones of the teen years, but our finances are the last taboo. We don’t talk about how we afford it all; how we save (or don’t) for college. And silence breeds shame. The first thing to know is that this is a very common issue. Per one survey, only 44% of parents with a child in college felt ready to pay their child’s first tuition bill. The good news is, no matter how old your child is, it’s never too late to take steps…

Behind the data: How rising school exemptions are threatening public health
NBC News – September 15, 2025
A generation ago, infectious childhood diseases were nearly wiped out in the U.S., thanks to immunization programs. In the most comprehensive data investigation of its kind, we show how that remarkable success is being eroded.

Is College Worth It In 2025? Costs, Culture, And Career Gaps
Forbes – September 16, 2025
College may still matter, but the once direct pipeline from classroom to career is now conditional, varying by major, region, and the strength of a graduate’s network. In 2025, the most innovative approach is to treat college as one option, not the default. Families should evaluate programs the same way they would any investment:

Who Actually Gets Into the Ivy League and Other Elite Colleges?
Arlington Magazine (VA) – September 16, 2025
Legions of outstanding students who have seemingly “done everything right” are sifting through in-boxes filled with rejections. If those candidates aren’t receiving offers of admission, who is? From admissions priorities to a surge in application volume, numerous factors have made coveted universities seem even more exclusive. But as one college advisor put it, “It’s not actually harder to get into college. It just sort of seems that way.”

AI can’t write your college admissions essay. Here’s why.
Mashable – September 15, 2025
College admissions experts warn against falling for the imagined payoff of a crisp, well-researched, confident-sounding essay. Instead, using AI to write an admissions essay could land a student at the bottom of the pile. Here’s why.

The Federal Freeze of $660 Million in TRIO Funding Dashes Millions of Students’ College Dreams
EdTrust – September 15, 2025
TRIO creates a pipeline for students from middle and high school to college & career. So, the sudden $600M freeze is devastating

Tax Deductions For Tuition And Student Loans
The College Investor – September 14, 2025
You’ve probably heard of the student loan interest deduction. But what you may not know is that this is just one of several tax breaks for tuition and student loans that are baked into the U.S. tax code. Here are the credits and deductions that you should be aware of.

What Happens To Student Loans When You Die?
The College Investor – September 13, 2025
It’s not a question many people want to think about, but it’s important to understand — because if you don’t follow these steps, your family could be liable for your student loans. There are two simple ways to protect yourself and make sure that your student loans don’t cause problems for your family. First, never cosign a loan for school. Student loan debt is the worst debt to have, and it can be a huge burden to parents, especially in the time of grieving. If you need student needs loans, stick to Federal student loans…