High School Counselor Week

Half of U.S. states now have laws banning or regulating cellphones in schools, with more to follow
NBC News – May 21, 2025
Bills have sprinted through legislatures this year in states as varied as New York and Oklahoma, reflecting a broad consensus that phones are bad for kids. So far, 25 states have passed laws, with eight other states and the District of Columbia implementing rules or making recommendations to local districts. Of the states, 16 have acted this year. And there is an increasing focus on banning phones not just during class but throughout the school day.

Over 50 higher education groups call on Trump administration to stop ‘political attacks’
EdSource – May 15, 2025
A statement signed by more than 50 higher education associations has called on the Trump administration to cease his “political attacks” on higher education that it says threaten “shared national interests.” The one-page statement says that the partnership between the federal government and higher education has resulted in national progress and prosperity, as well as technology that makes cellphones, cars and quality medical care possible. But this compact is at risk, the letter says. Signatories include the American Council on Education, the Association for Institutional Research, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and dozens more groups representing the vast majority of colleges and universities in the country.

Supreme Court Case on Birthright Citizenship Sparks Fears for School Funding
Education Week – May 15, 2025
The unusual May argument was largely focused on the legal question the administration brought to the court in an emergency application: whether federal district judges have the power to issue nationwide injunctions blocking federal policies they believe are unlawful. The implications of the birthright citizenship order for education are a bit murky. For example, some federal education aid under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is based on students’ eligibility for Medicaid, which is only available to those with U.S. citizenship. In addition, policies hostile to immigrants deter parents from sending their children to school due to fear of deportation or other concern for their families, which can result in schools losing attendance-based funding.

First Client, Last Client
Post – May 21, 2025
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.

The Risks and Rewards of Taking a Gap Year
Post – May 21, 2025
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

High School Grads Lack Clarity on Next Steps, Survey Shows
Education Week – May 20, 2025
The majority of recent high school graduates lack clear confidence in their post-graduation plans and say they would have been more engaged in high school—and their future plans—if they had better understood their aptitudes and career options prior to graduation. That’s the overarching takeaway from the new 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report from YouScience, an educational technology company that surveyed more than 500 recent high school graduates nationwide from the classes of 2021 through 2024 and analyzed trends across six graduating classes from 2019 to 2024. Respondents shared specifics on how their high school experience could have better prepared them for what’s next, plus that regardless of the students’ response, they all need guidance.

Teletherapy Can Be Even Better Than In-Person Counseling for Kids’ Mental Health
The 74 – May 16, 2025
When the pandemic stopped me from seeing patients in person, I expected a professional crisis. How was I going to connect with kids and families across this digital divide? With no choice but to try, I shifted my practice and went fully remote. It soon became clear that teletherapy could be a powerful solution to the growing mental health needs of America’s kids. It’s not just me. Research shows high-quality virtual treatment has made a meaningful difference for countless children and families — for anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD, and across age groups, it bridges critical access gaps and offers benefits that often match and even surpass traditional face-to-face treatment. Teletherapy is also a critical lifeline for those working in school districts. Counselors and teachers are often the first to notice when a child is struggling, but they’re stretched impossibly thin. Virtual care helps bridge this gap without overburdening school staff. And when schools, providers and families work together, the result is a stronger, more coordinated safety net for students.

Should My Teen Take Time Off After Graduation?
ADDitude Magazine – May 20, 2025
Gap year programs can help ADHD students gain independence, develop skills, and explore their interests.

Parents and Teens Agree Social Media Can Be Harmful — But How Much?
EdSurge – May 15, 2025
New data from the Pew Research Center shows that nearly half of Gen Z teens say social media harms people their age, and roughly the same share say they spend too much time scrolling. Researchers didn’t only take Zoomers at their word about how they think social media affects their mental health. They asked their parents, too. The study surveyed nearly 1,400 teen-parent pairs during the fall of 2024. Here’s how the generations overlapped and diverged on teens’ digital lives and their mental well-being.

Most states don’t require school emergency plans for disabled students. They feel left behind and at risk.
CBS News – May 20, 2025
More than 7.5 million U.S. public school students live with a disability, but nearly 6.3 million of them live in states that do not require schools to make specific emergency plans for students with disabilities. A new law is changing that in Virginia.

 

 

7 Steps to Take if You’re Wait-Listed at a College
U.S. News & World Report – May 19, 2025
Colleges have a limited number of seats each year, given physical space requirements or to maintain faculty-to-student ratios, so some promising applicants are put on a waitlist in case enrollment spots open up. Experts suggest wait-listed applicants carefully follow a college’s specific procedures — as requirements vary — and take these seven steps.

Losing faith: Rural religious colleges are among the most endangered
NPR – May 18, 2025
More than half the 79 nonprofit colleges and universities that have closed or merged since 2020, or announced that they will close or merge, were religiously affiliated. Because religiously affiliated colleges disproportionately serve rural America, their troubles threaten to further diminish access to higher education for rural students, who say they appreciate their colleges’ personal touch and religious values.

Colleges report widespread problems with financial aid since Education Department layoffs
USA Today – May 21, 2025
When the U.S. Department of Education abruptly dismissed half its workforce earlier this year, college officials worried the layoffs and buyouts would create a bottleneck that would hamper their ability to help students. A few months later, that scenario is no longer hypothetical. A survey published May 21 of roughly 900 colleges offers some of the first official indications that the federal financial aid system has started to buckle. Hundreds of schools reported widespread communication breakdowns, processing delays and an erosion of federal support services. The Education Department pushed back on the survey’s conclusions, claiming improvements and “on time results.”

Pell Grant Chart: What Income Limits Qualify?
The College Investor – May 19, 2025
The Pell Grant eligibility formula uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) and expands access based on adjusted gross income, family size, and dependency status. For students and families going to college, the Pell Grant often represents the most significant source of federal financial aid that does not need to be repaid. With tuition climbing and more families concerned about student loans, here’s what families need to know about whether they will receive a Pell Grant or not.