Category: High School Grad Rates

School Counselors: An Overlooked Link in Ed Reform

7/15/2014

Credit: Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Discussions about boosting high school and college graduation rates usually focus on standards, assessments, and teacher and leader development. In all this conversation, however, there’s rarely any talk about school counselors.

First Lady Michelle Obama thinks that’s a mistake. If we're to reach the president's Northstar goal (to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020), Mrs. Obama says schools and states must empower school counselors to help us get there. That’s why school counselors are a part of her Reach Higher Initiative, she told attendees at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) conference earlier this month.

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Bridging Relationships Between Educators and Students

6/10/2014

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“Teacher didn’t care, principal didn’t care… I told my counselor and a couple teachers, but I didn’t want to because they didn’t care…you know from the way they come at me on a regular basis… they don’t try to talk to me.” – Antonio, a student interviewed in Don’t Call Them Dropouts by GradNation

Teachers, think about your most challenging student, your most disengaged student, or the student you just don’t know much about. Now, invite that student to your classroom for lunch and a game of Uno, listen without judgment, and let a relationship grow — because that relationship can mean the difference between graduate and a non-graduate.

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Every Child a Graduate Means Every Child in School

5/13/2014

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We have reason to celebrate. The national high school graduation rate has reached 80 percent, the highest in American history.

But don’t put on your party hats just yet. There’s still work to do.

Credit: GradNation.org

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about

YEP-DC is a nonpartisan group of education professionals who work in research, policy, and practice – and even outside of education. The views expressed here are only those of the attributed author, not YEP-DC. This blog aims to provide a forum for our group’s varied opinions. It also serves as an opportunity for many more professionals in DC and beyond to participate in the ongoing education conversation. We hope you chime in, but we ask that you do so in a considerate, respectful manner. We reserve the right to modify or delete any content or comments. For any more information or for an opportunity to blog, contact us via one of the methods below.

Bloggers

MONICA GRAY is co-founder & president of DreamWakers, an edtech nonprofit. She writes on education innovation and poverty.

LYDIA HALL is a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she works on education, civil rights, and other issues. Lydia is interested in helping to bridge the gap between Capitol Hill and the classroom.

MOSES PALACIOS is an advocate for student rights and works as a Research Manager for the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) - a coalition of urban school districts across the nation. He writes on issues regarding the children of immigrants and students learning English as a second language. His views are his own and not representative of CGCS.

PATRICIA RUANE is a
research associate at an education nonprofit. She is an editor of Recess.

LESLIE WELSH is a high school social studies teacher in DC. She is an editor of Recess.

School Counselors: An Overlooked Link in Ed Reform

Bridging Relationships Between Educators and Students

Every Child a Graduate Means Every Child in School

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