Res. No. 18
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to provide one college advisor for every 50 high school seniors in New York City public schools.
Body
By Council Members Cabrera and Brannan
Whereas, College degrees are increasingly a prerequisite for economic self-sufficiency; and
Whereas, "Repeated studies have found that improving counseling would have a significant impact on college access for low-income, rural and urban students as well as students of color" according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC); and
Whereas, Unfortunately, counselors, especially those serving at-risk students, are often stretched too thin, greatly limiting their abilities to help students realize their full educational potential; and
Whereas, Nationally, the student-to-school counselor ratio was 482 to 1 in 2014-2015, according to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics; and
Whereas, This ratio is nearly twice the 250 to 1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association; and
Whereas, Further, according to NACAC, counselors in public schools reported spending only 23.4 percent of their time on postsecondary admission counseling, compared to 52.1 percent for private school counselors; and
Whereas, Not surprisingly, a 2010 Public Agenda report declared guidance counselors "overstretched" between heavy caseloads and time-consuming administrative responsibilities; and
Whereas, In New York, regulations of the State Education Commissioner require each school district to have a guidance program for all students; and
Whereas, In grades 7-12, the guidance program must include advisory assistance "to help students develop and implement postsecondary education and career plans ... provided by teachers or counselors, or by certified teaching assistants under the supervision of counselors or teachers"; and
Whereas, Ne...
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