High School Counselor Week

Amid Chaos, There’s Still Plenty of Good News on the Path to Higher Education
The 74 – May 7, 2025
Despite the virulent and largely inaccurate charges levied against higher education, the American public may hear it but clearly doesn’t buy into the raft of misinformation. In a recent Lumina/Gallup poll, seven out of 10 adults without a college degree believe both a bachelor’s degree and an associate’s degree are either extremely or very valuable. And despite the costs, a majority in the poll believe college will pay off within five years. A poll of college students about the quality of their college classes found that 72% consider their classes to be either “excellent” or “very good,” and half were very confident their college education and degree would result in positive career opportunities.

$1B to support student mental health is gone. Schools fear what’s next.
K-12 Dive – May 1, 2025
The Education Department confirmed to K-12 Dive on Friday that it will not renew $1 billion in grants that were initially awarded to districts nationwide to improve students’ well-being by placing more mental health professionals in schools. The Education Department’s notice informed recipients that the federal government would no longer continue funding their programs, because they “conflict” with the Trump administration’s priorities and policy preferences. The notice also alleged the programs violate federal civil rights law, “undermine the well-being of students,” and “constitute an inappropriate use of federal funds.” Various district administrators expressed shock, especially in regard to the grants potentially violating federal civil rights laws, with one noting, “It wasn’t just a policy from the previous administration, it was a bipartisan bill passed by Republicans and Democrats that supported kids.”

Trump’s Executive Order on School Discipline Clashes With What Research Says Works
EdSurge – April 30, 2025
It’s not the disparate rates of punishment levied against racial minority children that concerns this White House. Rather, it’s the years-long attempts to make school discipline more fair that earned ire. An executive order signed by President Trump last week frames as discrimination an Obama-era policy to correct disparities in school discipline that end in Black students being disproportionately removed from the classroom. The new order purports that Obama’s policies made schools less safe by incentivising them to sweep student misconduct under the rug. Experts in education policy and school discipline told EdSurge that the executive order, vague on details, goes against evidence that discipline is unequally applied to Black students, and that alternatives to removing students from school are actually best for learning.

To Improve Student Mental Health, Stop Overlooking School Nurses
NEA Today – May 5, 2025
My office is Switzerland—just like many school nurse offices across the country. It’s neutral ground. Students see the nurse’s office as a safe zone, where they won’t get in trouble and don’t have to explain themselves too much. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and even suicidal ideation show up not just in the counselor’s office, but in ours. Student support systems are often overwhelmed. School counselors, social workers, and psychologists are stretched thin, assigned to multiple buildings or managing overwhelming caseloads. In those moments, school nurses bridge the gap. And we advocate—hard—for what students need, especially when they can’t articulate it themselves. Which is why it was so shocking to find out, after well over a year of being at my school, that there was a Student Support and Attendance Team meeting regularly to address student concerns—and I hadn’t even been told it existed. When I asked why I wasn’t included, the answer stunned me: “The team decided it’s best for you to be in your office.” I was angry. School nurses must be included in decision-making spaces. We’re not just healthcare providers—we are frontline observers of student wellness. NEA and the National Association of School Nurses have long championed a whole-school, trauma-informed approach to student wellness. This moment is an opportunity to build on that work by formally recognizing the critical mental health role that nurses play.

Reminder: You are not your college acceptance letter
Grosse Point News (MI) – May 7, 2025
Right now, countless students across the country are refreshing inboxes, bracing for college decisions and holding their breath for the “yes” that feels like everything — or the “no” that feels like failure. The idea that most 18-year-olds have their life plan figured out — or that their entire future hinges on one application cycle — is unrealistic. Our young people need to know this season is not the final verdict on their performance or worth.

Opinion: College Is More Affordable Than Many Parents Think
New York Times – May 5, 2025
Confusion about what a college education will cost any given family is creating a disheartening landscape, especially for working- and middle-class families who may not have been made aware of how much financial aid they could be eligible for. For many families, the actual price of a college education remains unclear, buried beneath complex formulas and inconsistent messaging. Yet at some of the nation’s most selective and high-cost institutions, students from families earning $75,000 or less annually often pay nothing at all. Financial aid packages comprised entirely of grants cover not only tuition but also room, board, books, fees, essential supplies such as a computer and travel expenses. Also, In 35 states, tuition at two-year institutions is now free for many low-income students, and overall tuition costs at community colleges have declined.

College application 101: Mistakes to avoid
WFMZ-TV (PA) – May 7, 2025
Experts say the time to start thinking about the college application process is now so students can have the right things in place in order to impress admissions officers. the process itself is time consuming: essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, and of course the application itself! But each of these aspects is important and deserves attention.

48 Great Colleges Here And Abroad That Are Still Accepting Applications
Forbes – May 7, 2025
The traditional May 1 decision deadline has come and gone, but it’s not too late to find a college match—here are dozens of excellent schools still seeking students for the upcoming fall semester.

To fill ‘education deserts,’ more states want community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees
The Hechinger Report – May 7, 2025
13 million adults across the country are estimated to live beyond a reasonable commute from the nearest four-year university — a problem getting worse as private colleges in rural places close, public university campuses merge or shut down and rural universities cut majors and programs. Yet only about half of states allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. Many of those states are exploring whether this should change, however, in many places what’s stopping them from giving out more is opposition from four-year universities and colleges, many of which are increasingly hard up for students. One proposal in Illinois, for example, is stalled after several public and private university presidents issued a statement opposing it.

10 Critical Steps to Take After Choosing a College
U.S. News & World Report – May 6, 2025
National College Decision Day on May 1 marks the last day, in most cases, that first-year applicants can claim their spot at a college. But that’s just the beginning. There are other deadlines to meet and documents to fill out – related to housing, dining, course registration and medical records – before a student steps onto campus in the fall. Here are 10 steps to follow after committing to a school.

Can You Appeal A Financial Aid Award After Admissions?
The College Investor – May 5, 2025
Many families assume that once a student accepts admission to a college, the financial aid offer is final. In most cases, that’s true. But there are exceptions, depending on the institution’s policies, remaining funds, and the circumstances behind the request, as well as whether the aid is merit-based or need-based. If a student’s financial situation changes significantly prior to the start of the academic year, the following information may be of help.

On Decision Day, more high school seniors choose a college based on cost
NBC 10 Philadelphia – May 3, 2025
As college costs rise, the decisions many high school seniors make about college now largely come down to the math. Increasingly, students are opting to enroll at their in-state public college. Worries about ballooning student loan balances and changing policies around loan forgiveness also play a role, experts say.

Troubled FAFSA rollout complicates college acceptance for some seniors
CBS News – May 1, 2025
After a botched rollout of last year’s FAFSA application under the Biden administration, it was delayed again this year, with students encountering error messages and glitches on the site. Making things more challenging were the unprecedented cuts to the Department of Education last month, impacting nearly half of the office of Federal Student Aid, which is responsible for managing FAFSA.

Skills over degrees
Fast Company – May 6, 2025
There’s a seismic shift reshaping the labor market, with tremors across government and business. A growing number of companies and other state governments are already reaping the benefits of skills-based hiring by focusing on talent and potential rather than formal education. These leaders understand the potential of skills-based hiring to diversify the talent pool, foster innovation, and prepare organizations for the complexities of the future. It’s a future that requires a new strategic imperative for workers and organizational leaders—the need for continuous upskilling.