Helping Parents and Students Make Successful College and Career Choices Across All Grade Levels

Presented by: Donna Kirkpatrick Pinson, ED.D, LCPC, NCC,NCSC

Tor Evans, MS, LCPC, NCC Kathleen Selden, BA

Learning Targets

● Learn about the positive impact of students making informed decisions about college and career choices and the potential to increase student follow through with postsecondary education choices and decrease college dropout.

● Learn how to use a systematic approach to better engage and increase parent participation in the decision making process at all grade levels for their child’s college and career choices.

● Learn about age and grade level appropriate interventions for students to participate in and activities that will enhance their exposure to the areas of career information, career exploration, and course selection.

Story of Isaac: A Senior With No Plan!?

Illinois High School Dropout: School Report Card: 2% of 2,028,162 is 40,563!

2 year College Completion rate Vs 4 year College Completion rate:

Source: College Board, 2010

What’s Debt got to do with it?

Source: College Board, 2010

“Students perceive a lack of career guidance in their schools, and often cannot name anyone outside of their parents who have been helpful in career counseling. Furthermore, most

admit that parental guidance has been limited to a few hours in the past few months.” ( Source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED465895.pdf )

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What are the Benefits of College and Career Readiness “A well educated, well-trained and balanced workforce is central to the standing of the U.S. economy in the future global marketplace. The integration of career development systems can serve to streamline efforts, create awareness of career alternatives, and provide young adults with the information needed to make choices and plan for the rest of their lives.” ( Source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED465895.pdf)

“Of the students who met the SAT College Readiness Benchmark of 1550, 58% graduated within four years compared to 31% of students who were not considered college ready” ( Source:

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED562613.pdf)

The importance of Engaging Parents to support students to be College and Career Ready

Strategies to Engage with Parents

“Parental encouragement is often the strongest factor in helping students develop educational plans (Cabrera & La Nasa, 2000; Hrabowski et al., 1998; Hrabowski et al., 2002). Nearly all parents expect their children to earn college degrees and enter rewarding” careers. (source: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED483849.pdf)

“However, there is often a discrepancy between parents’ educational expectations for their children and their postsecondary planning activities (Ogbu, 2003; Wimberly, 2002). Parent involvement tends to decline as students reach middle and high school. Particularly, parents who have not attended college may lack the necessary tools to assist their children with effective planning.” (source: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED483849.pdf)

The College Board National Office for School Counselor Advocacy:The Eight Components of College and Career Readiness Counseling

● College Aspirations ● Academic Planning for College and

Career Readiness● Enrichment and Extracurricular

Engagement ● College and Career Exploration and

Selection Processes ● College and Career Assessments● College Affordability Planning ● College and Career Admission

Processes ● Transition from High School to

College Enrollment

Using a system-wide approach

Students

Schools

Districts

Parents and Families

Communities

Imagine a school system in which every student graduates ready for college and career. In this system, all students want to succeed, and they have the tools they need to achieve now and in the future. Every person in every school community can help students — in elementary, middle and high school — develop the skills and aspirations that are critical to preparing for college and career. As a school

counselor, your leadership is central to this work.( Source: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/advocacy/nosca/11b-4383_ES_Counselor_Guide_WEB_120213.pdf )

Brianstorm: What are the Barriers? What are some creative solutions?

Creating a K-12 pipeline

❏ K-12 school system vs. High School system vs Middle school system vs Elementary school systems

❏ Administrative support/ board support❏ Supporting students before they attend ❏ Advocate for counselors in Elementary and Middle Schools❏ Elementary and Middle Schools have less resources

“Fund and empower K-12 career counselors.” “Effective career guidance is integral to the secondary education experience. The K-12 system needs educational counselors with career counseling as their primary focus.

These counselors should have the resources and professional background needed to assist students in making informed career and

educational decisions” ( Source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED465895.pdf )

College Aspirations

Goal: Build a college-going culture based on early college awareness by nurturing in students the confidence to aspire to college and the resilience to overcome challenges along the way. Maintain high expectations by providing adequate supports, building social capital and conveying the conviction that all students can succeed in college. (Source: College Board, 2010)

Improving College and Career Readiness by Incorporating Social and Emotional Learning

Academic Planning for College and Career Readiness

Goal: Advance students’ planning, preparation, participation and performance in a rigorous academic program that connects to their college and career aspirations and goals. (Source: College Board, 2010)

Postsecondary and Career Expectations

Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement

Goal: Ensure equitable exposure to a wide range of extracurricular and enrichment opportunities that build leadership, nurture talents and interests, and increase engagement with school. (Source: College Board, 2010)

K-12 Service Learning Project Planning Toolkit

College and Career Exploration and Selection Processes

Goal: Provide early and ongoing exposure to experiences and information necessary to make informed decisions when selecting a college or career that connects to academic preparation and future aspirations. (Source: College Board, 2010)

PARENTS GUIDE TO CAREER EXPLORATION

College and Career Assessments

Goal: Promote preparation, participation and performance in college and career assessments by all students. (Source: College Board, 2010)

O*NET Interest Profiler

College Affordability Planning

Goal: Provide students and families with comprehensive information about college costs, options for paying for college, and the financial aid and scholarship processes and eligibility requirements, so they are able to plan for and afford a college education. (Source: College Board, 2010)

Action Plan for Parents/Paying for College

RaiseMe

College and Career Admission Processes

Goal: Ensure that students and families have an early and ongoing understanding of the college and career application and admission processes so they can find the postsecondary options that are the best fit with their aspirations and interests.(Source: College Board, 2010)

Parent Toolkit

Transition from High School to College Enrollment

Goal: Connect students to school and community resources to help the students overcome barriers and ensure the successful transition from high school to college. (Source: College Board, 2010)

Making the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities

High School 1. College Aspirations

- Naviance - SuperMatch- Poster activity

2. Academic Planning for College and Career Readiness

- 4 year plan, updated each year- 8th grade night

3. Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement

- Naviance - resume

4. College and Career Exploration and Selection Processes

- Naviance - Strengths explorer (freshman year)- Career interest assessment (Holland) and

descriptions on Naviance (sophomore year)- Naviance - SuperMatch (junior/senior year)

College Board, 2018

High School

Helping students discover their interests and begin planning for college Student Workbook Grades 9/10

Educators Guide Grades 9/10

Guiding students through the college search and application processes Student Workbook Grades 11/12

Educators Guide Grades 11/12

5. College and Career Assessments

- Modified, online SDS using Holland codes

6. College Affordability Planning

- Financial aid presentations (juniors and seniors)- Presentation at parent’s night- College & Career center

7. College and Career Admission Processes

- Main focus of Senior Seminar- Lessons include essay writing, requesting

transcripts, asking for letters of recommendation, importance of knowing deadlines, etc.

- College rep visits/College & Career Center

8. Transition from High School to College Enrollment

- College rep visits - 3 college visit days senior year (2 junior year)

College Board, 2018

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Middle School

1. College Aspirations

-Help students become successful learners and contributing members of a diverse community. Focus on respecting alternative perspectives, compromise, consensus building, collective decision making, goal setting, problem solving and conflict resolution

- Create school- and community-based events for parents and families to gain information about helping their children deepen their school engagement Hold the events at a variety of times and locations to accommodate a range of schedules. Use materials written in parents’ and families’ native languages.

-Teach parents and families the process and components of college and career readiness critical to middle school and how it can open opportunity for high school and beyond.

2. Academic Planning for College and Career Readiness

-Help students identify the knowledge and skills they have and those they must acquire for success in middle and high school and beyond.

-Help parents and families effectively communicate with school personnel to gather critical information about their children’s learning needs, maintain regular communication to closely follow their children’s progress and intervene rapidly if needed

College Board, 2018

Middle School

Getting Middle School Students to Think about Paths to College Student Workbook

Educators Guide Middle School

3. Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement

-Support students’ participation in school, local, regional and national competitions that provide opportunities for positive competitive interactions in endeavors such as debate, athletics, music, dance, drama and STEM.

-Teach students how to identify and research colleges/ career/technical schools that offer academic majors, minors, special programs, and enrichment and extracurricular activities that appeal and connect to their current interests, abilities and talents.

-Teach parents and families how to identify their children’s unique ideas, interests, talents and abilities. Provide resources and materials that encourage and support learning, curiosity and development, such as home lesson plans for academic and activity portfolio and calendar development.

4. College and Career Exploration and Selection Processes

- Provide students with information about different types of institutions (e.g., two- and four-year, public and private, in-state and out-of-state). Show students how their schoolwork now can connect to various degrees, majors, school supports and amenities, and institutional costs.

-Teach parents how to help their children compareand contrast postsecondary institutions’ attributes,offerings and admission requirements.

College Board, 2018

Middle School

Middle School Career Fair Handbook

5. College and Career Assessments

- Help students use career interest inventory results in positive ways that promote self-knowledge and connect to their future ambitions. Provide real-life experiences, such as classroom visitors, field trips and technology-based activities, to show students a broad range of future possibilities.

--Provide parents and families with information about potential college and career assessments/inventories available in high school. Include the appropriate use, timing and interpretation of assessment results to inform academic planning in productive ways.

6. College Affordability Planning

-Teach students how to make personal financial decisions and how to identify the characteristics of being financially responsible. Provide concrete examples of everyday living costs and expenses (e.g., food, gas, utilities, transportation and rent/mortgage).

-Ensure that parents and families engage in the financial aid application preparation process knowing that their special, unique and/or financial circumstances may not prevent their students from applying for and/or receiving most financial aid. Assist parents and families in documenting special circumstances that may qualify them for special financial aid programs and support.

College Board, 2018

Elementary School

1. College Aspirations

-increase students connectedness to school through meaningful relationships. (Mentors: adult, peer, high school)

-Help students learn how to successfully begin their kindergarten experience by building knowledge and skills to master their new learning and social environment.(learn ground rules in classroom and school)

-Provide third- to fifth-grade students with opportunities to actively build a classroom community of learners to ensure they grow into productive members of the school community. Focus on how to share, collaborate and make appropriate behavior choices.

-Create school and community events for parents and families in which they learn how to help their children develop positive engagement in school and build high aspirations-

-Conduct parent and family assessments to learn about families’ views of the challenges and barriers confronting their children both in and out of school.

College Board, 2018

Elementary School Elementary School College Appreciation Week Packet

2. Academic Planning for College and Career Readiness

-Use college and career content to develop activities and assignments that promote good learning habits

-Help students explore their areas of interest and link their strengths to academic subjects.

-Help parents and families learn how to create a positive and productive learning environment at home, including translating school expectations to fit their family structure and cultural expectations

3. Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement

-Teach students how to explore and identify their likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests, and how their interests connect to their future course work and careers

-Invite parents to participate in and support school sponsored enrichment and extracurricular activities, such as field trips to museums, colleges/career/ technical schools, competitions, plays and concerts

College Board, 2018

Elementary School

Social Media Apps

4. College and Career Exploration and Selection Processes

- Introduce students to the value of work by using career mapping to identify, understand and appreciate the various jobs and careers within their own families.

-Help students identify their current attributes, talents and interests and compare them to those they will need for future postsecondary acceptance and success. For example, have them brainstorm and list college and career ready attributes about themselves and their classmates.

-Create outreach efforts to ensure that parents and families are aware of their roles in early awareness in college and career exploration.

5. College and Career Assessments

-Provide opportunities for students to link their results from questionnaires, surveys and inventories to real-world careers.

-Help older students (fifth-graders) use results from their questionnaires, surveys and inventories to begin planning middle school courses and magnet programs, academies and/or special district wide initiatives in middle school.

College Board, 2018

Elementary School

Help Your Child Make College a Reality: A Family Guide to College Planning (English)

Help Your Child Make College a Reality: A Family Guide to College Planning (Spanish)

6. College Affordability Planning

-Teach students financial literacy through letter and pictorial depictions of terms such as bank, budget, career, credit card, debt, financial aid, grants, income, loans, scholarships and work-study.

-Work with parents so they understand their role in helping their children develop early awareness of financial literacy and financial aid processes for future college and career readiness options

-Ensure that parents and families understand that their financial circumstances may not prevent their students from applying for and/or receiving most financial aid.

College Board, 2018