Go Alliance Academy Launches Platform for Counselors
New and updated courses for college, career advising
The complex job of preparing students to navigate their options
for college and career is more important than ever, and the
demands on school counselors continue to grow.
To help schools address this need, SREB’s Go Alliance has
expanded and relaunched its online training aimed at
strengthening college and career counseling. The comprehensive
program is designed for school counselors, principals,
teacher-advisors, graduation coaches and staff of college access
programs.
Launched in 2008 as the College and Career Counseling Initiative,
the program began 2016 with a new name, Go Alliance Academy, with
redesigned modules, additional courses and a new,
state-of-the-art online learning platform.
The courses cover practical ways to help students understand
today’s career options, find a career of interest and develop an
academic plan to prepare for it. School counselors learn to help
parents and students understand the full range of postsecondary
education options, including workforce certification, technical
diplomas, and associate and bachelor’s degrees, and guide them
through the complexities of financial aid and college
applications. Go Alliance Academy includes a special focus on
students from low-income backgrounds who would be the first in
their families to pursue education after high school.
93 percent implemented action plans they developed in the program.
95 percent would recommend the training to colleagues.— 2014 survey of 500+ trainees in seven states
Sixteen states have already joined the Go Alliance Academy
to make the training available to their educators.
To find out how your state, district or university can
participate, contact SREB Go Alliance Director Alice Anne
Bailey, (404) 879-5601.
The training program can be used to meet the Every Student Succeeds Act recommendations for well-rounded educational opportunities in Title IV, Section 4107, including: 1) college and career guidance and counseling programs, 2) postsecondary education and career awareness and exploration activities, 3) training counselors to effectively use labor market information in assisting students with postsecondary education and career planning, and 4) federal financial aid awareness activities.