LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
RCOE School Counselor On-the-Go Webinar Series
This week, our webinars will focus on bridging successful transitions from elementary school to post secondary in a virtual and distance learning environment. We are thrilled to announce our presenters, ASCA 2020 National School Counselor of the Year, Laura Ross and Bill DeBaun from the National College Access Network (NCAN). Both are national leaders who are eager to share tools, tips, and resources as we all continue to find creative and effective outreach strategies in our current environment.
All webinars are all scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon.
To ensure the security of each webinar and in order to track needs for future topics, RCOE asks participants to register for each session through the related OMS link by 5 p.m. the day before the scheduled webinar. You will then receive an e-mail with the Zoom link to use for the webinar or you can dial in.
To access previous webinars and resources, follow these
directions to create a free account on the RCOE website.
Financial Aid and College Planning Workshops
Understanding how financial aid works and how to navigate families through the process can be complicated. SDCOE is hosting two webinars in partnership with Sallie Mae, a company that offers free college planning tools, private education loans, and online banking to students and families. The new learning opportunities are designed to support school counselors' understanding of financial aid offers and find ways to help students and families plan and pay for college.
Participants will need to download Skype for these webinars.
Navigating Financial Aid Offers/Award Letters
Wednesday, May 27
2 to 3 p.m.
- How to understand financial aid offers
- Key items to compare between offers
- Explore grants, scholarships, work study, and student loans
- Calculate the remaining balance
- Learn about helpful tips and resources such as the such as Sallie Mae's Paying for College Resource
College Planning Tools and Resources
Thursday, May 28
2 to 3 p.m.
- Saving for college
- Calculating financial need with the FAFSA
- Finding and applying for scholarships and grants
- How you can access Sallie Mae’s free tools and resources such as Sallie Mae's Paying for College Resource
Strive Virtual College Exploration
Over the next two weeks, join the Strive Virtual College Exploration Program to learn more about college opportunities in STEM and the liberal arts. Counselors are invited to participate and can share this opportunity with their students:
May 19-21
Presentations on careers; women in STEM; research, internships, and co-op; plus information sessions with 31 STEM-focused colleges and universities.
May 26-28
Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the ideal of the student-centered college search. Learn more about this distinctive group of liberal arts institutions. Join CTCL's executive director and board chair for presentations on CTCL's history and its members' approach to the college admission search. They will offer perspectives on the value of a liberal arts education as well as data beyond the typical rankings. Plus, join 39 CTCL member colleges and universities for their information sessions.
Wednesday, May 27
7 to 7:45 a.m.
Join Colleges That Change Lives' executive director, Maria Furtado, and four members of CTCL's board of directors - all high school-based counselors - to learn more about this distinctive group of liberal arts institutions. The session will discuss CTCL's history and approach to the college admission search. The session will offer perspectives on the value of a liberal arts education and give tips on how to "sell" liberal arts education to skeptical students and families.
Beyond Standardized Tests: Using Performance Assessment in College Admissions
Wednesday, May 27
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
A growing number of colleges and universities are expanding the ways they evaluate student admissions applications in order to gain insight into students’ deeper learning skills, such as collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. These skills are best demonstrated through performance assessments, such as student portfolios and capstone projects, that have not traditionally been used in most college admissions processes.
This webinar will look at the outcomes of a pilot program at City University of New York (CUNY) that uses performance assessments to admit qualified applicants with scores below the threshold on college entry exams.The discussion will be based on findings from a Learning Policy Institute report on the use of these assessments for equity and access in the CUNY system.
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network - Live on Instagram
Thursday, May 28
2 to 3 p.m.
GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) is the nation's largest homosexual advocacy group focused entirely on reaching public school students as young as kindergarten age. GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together we can transform our nation's schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, join GLSEN for a free, live webinar where the organization will report on the research findings from
Supporting Safe and Healthy Schools
,
which overviews the work of school-based mental health professionals’ – counselors, psychologists, and social workers – to support LGBTQ youth, and calls attention to the need for more LGBTQ-specific preparation. We are only beginning to understand the mental-health effects related to the rapid switch to online learning during COVID-19. GLSEN’s Education Manager, Becca Mui, will moderate a panel discussion with school-based mental health providers and LGBTQ students. The panelists will discuss their experiences with distance schooling and potential challenges to mental health, describe their school-based advocacy efforts, and share best practices.
Youth Voices Community Forum: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth with Disabilities
Thursday, May 28
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The
Institute for Educational Leadership
(IEL) will host a youth-led panel discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on youth with disabilities.
Youth with disabilities from across the country will talk about the impact the current pandemic has had on their lives, communities, and access to supports to ensure that they can continue to thrive.
IEL has been developing leaders and partnering with communities since 1964. For the past thirty years, they have focused on supporting youth and young adults with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, to advocate for their rights, and to live independently. IEL continues to put youth voice first and we look forward to discussing with speakers the impact of the pandemic, and the changes needed to ensure that young people with disabilities do not have to face this challenge alone.