Counseling Underserved Students

Essentials of Professional Development

March 2016
Mindy Willard
Franklin Public Schools

What Do I Know?

11 years experience
Sunset Ridge
Elementary
K-8 Title I School
700 Students
70% Hispanic

RAMP 2011
ASCA SCOY 2013
AzSCA PastPresident

Currently 9-12 Franklin

High

 Demographics
School Counselors
Ethical Role
Cultural Competence
Idea Sharing

Change on the horizon

July 2012 census estimated

minorities make up about half
of the under 5 age group
Immigration
High rates of birth for
Hispanics & other racial and
ethnic minorities

Projections indicate that

minorities will make up more
than half of children under 18

Achievement gaps begin long

before college

Gap between rich and poor in

US stretched widest since
1970.

How does this affect college

admissions?

Are colleges ready for the

change in student
population?

How will changes to funding,

FAFSA and the admissions
process effect populations
that are already
underserved?

How does this affect your SC

Programming?

College Enrollment Rates

Income Comparison
82% of high-income high
school graduates enroll in
college
52% of low-income high
school graduates enroll in
college
Race Comparison
70% of white high school
graduates enroll in college
65% of black high school
graduates enroll in college

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/race-gap-narrows-in-college-enrollment-but-not-in-graduation/

Source: Department of Education

6 Year College Completion Rates

Wisconsin
College
Completion
Rates by Race

http://collegecompletion.chronicle.com/state/#state=zz&sector=public_four

Undergraduate Students
In 2013, there were 18 million
undergraduates and 29% of
them are traditional students.

Source: Education Department

What is an underserved population?

(Definition: provided with inadequate service)

Who are the Underserved Students in your

school?
How do you Identify them?

Page 50 & Page

66

Achievement Data

Behavioral Data

Promotion and retention rates

Graduation rates
Drop out rates
Standardized Test Data
Grade Point Averages
At or above grade/achievement
level in subject areas
Passing all classes
Completion of specific
academic programs (academic
honors, college prep etc)

Discipline referrals
Suspension rates
Alcohol, tobacco and other
drug violations
Attendance rates
Course enrollment patterns
Post-secondary education
attendance rates
Parent or guardian involvement
Participation in extracurricular
activities
Homework completion rates

School Counselors Role in Cultural Diversity

and Equity for All Students

ASCA Ethical Standards

School counselors are advocates, leaders,
collaborators and consultants who create
opportunities for equity in access and
success in education opportunities.

NACAC Statement on Counselor Competencies

Counselors should have the ability to recognize,

appreciate, and serve cultural differences and
the special needs of students and families
demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the unique
social, cultural and economic circumstances of students and
their backgrounds
work to provide services and opportunities for underserved
students

Cultural Competence
Defined as a method for applying counseling
strategies in ways that are culturally sensitive,
with knowledge of how programs, policies and
practices impact the perspectives and
experiences of diverse student groups

Cultural Competence &

College Counseling
Adapt service models to fit the needs of the population
served
Parent Nights / College Planning programs in Spanish
College Planning Literature in Spanish
College Coffees / Morning Sessions & Evening
Sessions
Day Care for evening programs
College Visit field trips

Symbolism
Student college bound tee shirts.
University apparel days.
Display of college diplomas
Classroom display of adopted university
colors, mascot, etc.
Banners, pennants, flags.
A unified message that reminds students
about college.

College Bound T-Shirts

School-Wide Events

Instilling Hope: Power of Self-Talk

Reach Higher

FAFSA Challenge

Reach Higher Initiative

College Signing Day

College Signing Day: Two years ago, First Lady Michelle Obama
announced her Reach Higher Initiative to encourage students to complete
their education beyond high school. On April 26, 2016, she will celebrate
Reach Highers anniversary and wants you to wear your college gear all
day to support National College Signing Day. Share pictures of you, your
office, your schools and your friends representing your alma maters with
the hashtags #ReachHigher and #BetterMakeRoom.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/reach-higher

Sparkle Smith We host a "SIGNING" day for any student who received a scholarship- athletic or academic. They complete a commitment form that has all
of the pertinent information (Data for us) & on this form there's a place to indicate whether they're participating in "Signing" day. We use the gym.. Each
student gets their own table to decorate with para from their school.. We invite parents, school board, media, community partners, etc. Our band,
cheerleaders & drill team perform... We create a form that looks almost like a certificate... Our Principal says a few words & then prompts the kids to sign
and accept their scholarships..

Seniors walk the halls of

elementary schools in
caps and gowns.
Q and A with seniors and
elementary studnets.

American Dream Academy

These classes taught us the importance of our childrens education, how we can plan for their future, and to
become our childrens best friends. Personally, this course was vital to my life. I found out more about financial
aid, scholarships, loans, the steps to go to university, and how to motivate my children to achieve their goals.
Ismelda Canales, Parent, Tolleson High School (Tolleson Unified High School District)

https://eoss.asu.edu/ada/program/success

American Dream Academy

Update Counseling Websites

Non discrimination statement

Info about Historically Black Colleges
Presentations for Latino families
College access resources for African American, Latino, Native American students
Information about how adult, non-traditional students can earn a diploma
Info about fee waivers
Info for gifted students
Info about ACT/SAT Accommodations & how to receive them in college
Academic resources for students with disabilities
Course guides in other languages
Links to College and Career Planning sites in other languages
Info for undocumented students
Enrichment programs for female students (leadership, STEM etc)
Info for children of military families
Support for LGBT students

Award Winning Ideas

Transportation provided to College/Career Fairs

Invite entire community
College Application Day
FAFSA Completion Workshops
Teachers incorporate Resume Writing and FAFSA Completion
Worksheets
Find agencies to help students prepare financially

ASCA Webinar
College and Career Readiness in High School: Rural and Urban Challenges
and Opportunities
With increased focus on college and career readiness from First Lady Michelle Obama, high school
counselors within rural and inner city schools are reaching higher to deliver college- and careerreadiness skills to all students through comprehensive school counseling programs. However, each
school setting has its own set of challenges and barriers that high school counselors face on a daily
basis. Explore and identify some of these specific challenges that exist within both the rural and
urban school settings. Discover how to turn those challenges into opportunities. Focus on best
practices of current high school counselors making connections with students, staff and parents at
both urban and rural school settings. Discover new and creative ways to collaborate with your school
counseling, teaching and administrative staff to keep your high school focused on the culture of
college and career readiness.
Speakers
Cory Notestine is the 2015 School Counselor of the Year and a school counselor at Alamosa High
School, Alamosa, Colo. Tawnya Pringle is a 2015 School Counselor of the Year finalist and a school
counselor at Hoover High School, San Diego, Calif.
http://tinyurl.com/ASCAWebinar

Mindy Willard
Franklin High School
www.mwillardcounselor.weebly.com
mindy.willard@franklin.k12.wi.us

Social Media Connections

Elementary School Counselor

Exchange

#scchat
#escchat
@ASCATweets

Wisconsin School Counselor

Association

* Social media posts are out there, for everyone to see, FOREVER. If one person should not read what you
are posted DO NOT POST IT!

Blogs to Follow
Elementary

Carli Counsels
Elementary School Counseling
The Helpful Counselor
School Counselor Blog
Savvy School Counselor
Creative Elementary School Counselor

Middle

Caught In The Middle School Counselor Facebook Group

Fire Prairie Upper Elementary School Counseling
jyjoyner counselor blog
Lisa's Counselor Connection (Lisa actually has all grade levels)
Musings of a Middle School Counselor

You are not alone!