Category Archives: College Readiness

College Admission, College Readiness

#NACACreads Author Offers College Prep Tips for Parents, Students

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Students across the country are now back in school, and for many families, conversations about life after high school are just beginning.

#NACACreads author Ned Johnson has some advice for parents as they help guide their children through the college search and selection process. Johnson and William Stixrud, who together penned The Self-Driven Child, shared tips in a recent article published by U.S. News & World Report.

One takeaway for moms and dads: Resist the urge to micromanage.

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College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads Author: ‘Learning Comes Through Trial and Error’

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All parents are eager to help set up their children for success, but in too many cases, they’re going about it in the wrong way.

That’s one message included in the new book, The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. And increasingly, the trend is impacting the way students embark on the college search and selection process, author Ned Johnson noted during a Wednesday #NACACreads Twitter chat.

“One of the best things to say to kids is that we have confidence in their decisions,” he tweeted. “Learning comes through trial and error.”

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College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads: Transcript from Chat with Author Ned Johnson

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On Sept. 12, #NACACreads chatted with Ned Johnson, a NACAC member and one of two authors behind The Self-Driven Child — a new book that takes a look at strategies to help your students develop the inner drive they’ll need to succeed in life after high school.

Couldn’t make the discussion? Use this chat transcript to catch up on what you missed.

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College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads: Join Us Wednesday for a Discussion of ‘The Self-Driven Child’

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Our next #NACACreads discussion is almost here.

On Wednesday, we’ll chat with author Ned Johnson about the sense and science of giving kids more control over their lives.

Johnson, a NACAC member, is one of two authors behind The Self-Driven Child — a new book that takes a look at strategies to help your students develop the inner drive they’ll need to succeed in life after high school.

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Academic Performance, College Readiness

Advocates Spread the Word About Afterschool Meal Program

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Have you heard about the federal government’s Afterschool Meal Program?

Advocates in Texas are trying to get more schools and community organizations in their state to participate in the initiative, which is available to qualifying schools across the nation. Experts say the program is under-used, despite its power to provide low-income students with a free meal at the end of every school day.

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College Admission, College Readiness

Girl Scouts Introduce College Knowledge Badge

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The Girl Scouts have introduced their first badge dedicated to college exploration.

The College Knowledge Badge — launched in July —is for scouts in grades 11 and 12.

“By showing girls how to research the admission process, financial aid, and other key factors, our College Knowledge Badge meets a specific need and addresses the life skills girls have told us they’re interested in—and that many don’t find support for outside of Girl Scouts,” according to a recent post on the organization’s blog.

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College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads: Join Us for a Discussion of ‘The Self-Driven Child’

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For years, we’ve hammered home the importance of good grades, solid writing skills, and extracurricular activities to college-bound students.

But a new book, The Self-Driven Child, makes a compelling case that something less tangible — a sense of control over their lives — may ultimately determine the long-term success and happiness of today’s teens.

And that key component is missing for far too many young people, leaving them feeling “powerless and overwhelmed,” write co-authors William Stixrud and Ned Johnson. As a result, students on both ends of the achievement spectrum often leave high school unprepared to chart their own path in life.

Discuss the implications and share your own insights during a #NACACreads chat on Sept. 12. The hour-long discussion will kick off on Twitter at 9 p.m. ET.

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Access, College Admission, College Readiness

Report: Bar Set Too Low for Students with Disabilities

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Many students with disabilities can graduate from high school and go on to college, yet an investigation by The Hechinger Report reveals that a disproportionate number of young people on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) suffer from low expectations when it comes to postsecondary planning.

“Interviews with more than 100 parents, students, advocates, and experts across the country painted a picture of a special education landscape where transition planning and services are largely neglected,” reporters Sarah Butrymowicz and Jackie Mader wrote in an article published late last year. “Students with disabilities who could pursue higher education or meaningful employment are instead living at home and working low-wage jobs.”

Others are unemployed or pushed into professions that don’t match their interests.

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