WACAC—Western Association for College Admission Counseling

“When schools focus on college and how to provide the tools to get there, students make the connection between today’s work and tomorrow’s opportunity,” Durbin said. “This bill will help schools create a college-going culture and give students the necessary guidance to navigate the college entrance process. Bright, hardworking students deserve the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them.”

Experts say that a lack of guidance and information about college has had a real effect on students in poor urban and rural schools. A recent report by the Consortium on Chicago School Research found that only 41 percent of students in Chicago Public Schools, who wanted to attend college, took the necessary steps to apply. The report also found that, of the students who attended college, only one-third enrolled in a school that matched their qualifications. Of the students who had the grades and test scores to attend a selective college, 29 percent went to a community college or skipped college entirely.

Recently, Chicago Public Schools have begun to voluntarily implement many of the programs that Durbin’s bill would require, and their efforts have proven successful. Half of the students who graduated from Chicago Public Schools in 2007 enrolled in college - an increase of 6.5 percent in four years. That increase in college enrollment was more than six times the rate of increase compared to the rest of the country.  In addition, the number of African-American graduates going to college has decreased nationally by six percent over the last four years while the Chicago rate has increased by almost eight percent.

Durbin’s bill attempts to take these promising trends in Chicago and replicate them nationally by:

* Creating a competitive grant program for high-need school districts to increase the number of low-income students who are entering and succeeding in a college that matches their qualifications.

* Providing professional development to high school teachers and counselors in college advising; arranging meetings for each student with an advisor to discuss college planning; providing college and financial aid information to all students and parents; and ensuring that each school develops a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen its college-going culture.

The bill would also allow for other activities including:

* Establishment of college planning classes; hiring staff; training student leaders; hosting college fairs or college tours; assisting with test preparation and applications; establishing partnerships with community and nonprofit organizations; and providing long-term follow up with graduates.

Durbin’s bill is supported by the following national organizations: College Summit, the Council for Opportunity in Education, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, College Board and ACT, Inc.