by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA

For several years I have put forth a theory, based on little more than gut feeling. Simply put, it was as more students seek the advice of educational consultants, it will become easier for cash-strapped school districts to cut way back on full-time college counseling within the schools by contracting with educational consultants. Such a move would allow school counselors to concentrate on crisis intervention, academic and behavioral concerns, and “farm out” college counseling to professionals who have the time and expertise to serve students better.

A few days ago, one of the nation’s largest school districts approved a plan to move in that direction. The Dallas Independent School District voted to fund over $2 million for outside college counseling. The school district felt its ratio of one counselor per 385 students left those young people with inadequate counseling. What is remarkable is that so many district have ratios TWICE that number. The counselors who are district employees would continue to have responsibilities including academic advising, class scheduling, emotional and behavioral counseling and the like, but would hand over college advising to outside professionals. The budget allotment provides each high school in the district with $95,000 to contract with outside organizations.

It has long been my view that college advising and personal counseling are very different, requiring different skills and  core knowledge. In many ways this change recognizes that college advisors possess a different set of competencies that will benefits students tremendously. What we at IECA think is essential is that the schools, as they look for outside guidance, only begin working with those who have the knowledge, experience, expertise and ethical guideposts represented by IECA and/or NACAC membership. We’ll be watching closely.

If this works, as measured by both the delivery of services and the economic realities of the school district, and if families are pleased with the results, we can expect to see other school systems explore the same plan, leading us closer to the theory I’ve espoused for the last few years, elevating the profession, enhancing IECA and NACAC’s role and serving students better.

We’ll be watching closely!

Related posts:

1. Transitioning from a School or College to Independent Educational Consulting
2. Looking Back and Ahead: NACAC and Educational Consultants
3. National Survey Suggests Students Gain Little Help from High School Counselors in College Search
4. THE Fundamental Difference Among School and College Consultants: A Brief Primer for Parents
5. Colleges Turn Out by the Hundreds to Connect with IECA Member Educational Consultants

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am and is filed under college consulting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.