Addressing Educational Equity: A

Service-Learning Project

for Pre-Service School Counselors

Gerra Perkins, Ph.D., Nelda Wellman, Ph.D., Wendell Wellman, Ph.D., Erik Braun, Ph.DNorthwestern State University

Equity within education has long been a goal within the United States.

Statistics show that our nation still has many underserved and vulnerable student populations, including racial minorities and low-income students (U.S. Department of Education, 2014).

Introduction

Racial minorities and low SES students attend and complete college at far lower rates than their peers (U.S. Department of Education, 2014).

This lack of opportunity perpetuates the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.

First Generation and Underrepresented College Students

Doueck, J. (2013). The Six Steps to Overcoming Adversity.

Research has consistently shown that college graduates ◦Earn significantly more than high school

graduates◦Have greater opportunities for full time,

year round work (National Center for Education Statistics, 2014),

◦Greater opportunities for advancement (Pew Research, 2014).

College Grad

High School Grad

The Role of School Counselors in Educational Equity School counselors are critical to de-mystifying the college readiness and application process.

Recent attention has been focused on this role and calls for a comprehensive, systemic approach have been answered by multiple entities. ◦ National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (N

OSCA) ◦ Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) develo

ped College and Career Counseling Initiative (CCCI)

The Role of School Counselors in Educational Equity

National initiative sponsored by the American Council on Education (ACE, 2015) to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students who pursue a postsecondary education.

The goal is for each high school senior to submit at least one admissions application.

College Application Week

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) has designed a Toolkit (2011) for state leaders wishing to join the College Application Week initiative.

"Top 10 Ways To Make Your College Application Stand Out" (presented by Kwasi Enin, who was accepted into all 8 Ivy League schools) – click the picture below.

What is service learning? Performance objectives of the project:

◦Align with the college’s conceptual framework

◦Enhance candidates’ technology skills◦Improve interpersonal skills with diverse

populations◦Focus on recruitment – provide positive

interaction◦Celebrate candidate learning and

participation

The Service Learning Project

NSU students completed reflection journals and portfolios of their work. ◦Excitement to have the opportunity to

work with the seniors one-on-one and to put their learning into action.

◦Humbled by the high school students' hunger for help.

◦Greater understanding of the barriers first-generation and low income students and families face

Candidate Learning

As a result of the partnership between the university and the high school, each senior (approximately 80), the majority of which came from low income and/or minority backgrounds, received individual assistance in applying for a Federal Student Aid PIN and in submitting an application to at least one postsecondary university. Those who had additional time also obtained scholarship information, assistance in working on a personal narrative and career information.

Conclusion