District counseling team outlines switch to SchoolLinks, ASCA partnership and expanded college-career supports

Sophia and Sylvia, members of Regional School District 12's counseling team, presented a package of changes to the board on June 1 aimed at modernizing college-and-career services and increasing family outreach.

"We're moving away from Naviance and we're moving to a new platform called SchoolLinks," Sophia said, describing a planned transition intended to provide a more interactive, modern experience for students. Counselors said they will link a resource hub and send weekly post-meeting summaries to students and parents to keep families informed of next steps.

The department highlighted a larger slate of programming: a career fair that hosted more than 50 representatives in March with three 40-minute sessions for high school students; partnerships with the College Money Method for financial-planning lessons across grades 9'12; a planned Princeton Review visit; and initial planning for a Berkshire League regional college fair.

Sylvia described a data-driven push with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA): "This partnership will establish a comprehensive school counseling support model," she said, explaining the district has agreed to a two-year series of intensive workshops supported by grant funding. Counselors also reported "nearly 2,000 visits to the counseling office" this year for mental-health support, 504 check-ins, academic planning and college planning.

Board members asked about early outreach, supports for students with 504s and IEPs, and survey response rates. Counselors said they revised Naviance survey items to capture where students applied, accepted and selected, and that parent survey response was low this year (about 15 responses) but will be refined and targeted next year.

The counseling team said changes will be phased in over the summer and into next school year, with staff training for SchoolLinks scheduled before fall rollout.