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In the next decade, more than half of all new American jobs will require some postsecondary education, yet the current college attainment rate for the nation is 39 percent. The challenges appear well before students begin college: one in four public high school students fails to graduate on time, and of those who graduate, one-third need remedial courses in college. Meanwhile, school districts, which are aiming to prepare all their students for college and careers, are facing higher standards with ever-constrained budgets. In times like these, school administrators must be strategic with all of their educational resources, so that students are prepared for the productive futures they deserve. School counselors are among these critical resources: these professionals are uniquely positioned in schools--and in students' lives--to ensure that students get the support they need to stay on track to graduate from high school ready for college and careers. This report, "True North: Charting the Course to College and Career Readiness," demonstrates that school counselors and their administrators share a vision for their schools and agree on a path to realize it. The 2012 National Survey of School Counselors, supported by a supplemental survey of school administrators, provided powerful evidence that school counselors and their administrators know true north--and they are poised to chart the course of their students' college and career success. This report on school counseling in America, the 2012 National Survey of School Counselors, reveals that America's school counselors are ready and willing to be leaders in the education system--and their school administrators agree. Appended are: (1) Full Wording of the Eight Components; (2) Full Wording of High School Example Activities for the Eight Components; (3) Full Wording of Middle School Example Activities for the Eight Components; (4) Chart on Topline Survey Findings; (5) Chart on Topline Survey Findings, by Free or Reduced-Price Lunches; (6) Data from Eight States; (7) Profile of America's School Counselors; and (8) Survey Methodology. (Contains 11 figures, 17 tables, and 93 footnotes.) [This report was produced for the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center by Hart Research Associates and Civic Enterprises. For "2011 National Survey of School Counselors: Counseling at a Crossroads," see ED527749.]

The CollegeKeys Compact[TM] is a national call to action to school districts, colleges and universities, state education agencies, and nonprofit organizations to identify, share and expand programs and practices that address the needs and challenges of low-income students and help them get ready for, get into and get through college. The College Board is committed to disseminating information about these effective practices and recognizing exemplary programs through the Innovation Awards program. To date, more than 625 institutions and organizations have signed on to the Compact, reaffirming their commitment to expanding opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. This catalog showcases programs that were submitted for consideration in the 2012 Innovation Awards. It is hoped that this catalog will be a useful resource for educators and policymakers alike, and that others are inspired by the excellent work being done around the nation to help students from low-income backgrounds.