Decline in College Rolls

The decline in college-going rates (April 30) can be attributed to the fact that many students do not receive the counseling they need to make that important transition.

Many school districts have eliminated college counselors, replacing them with clerks, computers or “ed techs.” Any parent who has seen a child negotiate the confusing maze of college admissions knows the value of a counselor who can guide and inform the family through the complicated process.

For the past two years, I have co-chaired a task force that examined the status of college counseling in public high schools. The report revealed that counselors have incredibly huge caseloads, with the most dramatic increase occurring in low-income schools.

Students need credentialed, qualified professionals to help with college selection. If California would make the investment in a credentialed college counselor in every high school, you would probably see a headline that would read, “State College Enrollment Skyrockets.”

ESTHER B. HUGO

College Counselor