Middle and high school Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) counselors are eligible to earn a specialization in college counseling through a new collaboration paid for by the Educator Effectiveness Grant.

The College Advising Program with LAUSD offers four courses from UCLA Extension’s College Counseling Certificate Program at no cost to the counselors. Additionally, priority course topics will be incorporated into the courses to meet new state standards for the Pupil Personnel Services performance expectations.

“We are proud that LAUSD has entrusted us with the opportunity to educate its middle and high school counselors,” said Eric A. Bullard, dean of continuing education and UCLA Extension. “UCLA Extension has long championed educators in Los Angeles, and we are excited to see the impact of this collaboration on our community.”

Counselors will complete a yearlong academic program featuring three academic courses to provide the fundamentals and one practicum consisting of 65 hours of supervised fieldwork. Courses are asynchronous and online, making it easier for counselors to fit the courses into their schedules.

“Our counselors serve as the critical link to ensuring our students graduate ready for the world with all the necessary tools to succeed in their post-secondary education,” Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “We are grateful to UCLA for empowering our counselors with industry-leading practices to help guide our students through the college admission process with even greater clarity to help elevate their true potential."

Middle and high school counselors often provide career and college counseling to their students, but many times do not receive much training in college counseling and financial planning in their university training, according to LAUSD Director A-G Intervention and Support Carol Alexander. This program aims to close that gap by providing district counselors with the opportunity to learn skills that will help them to better prepare students for postsecondary education.

The initial cohort of 25 will start spring quarter 2023, and the program is set to finish in winter of 2025. Up to 20 cohorts are anticipated to participate during that time.

For more information on the College Advising Program with LAUSD, visit https://www.uclaextension.edu/college-advising-program-lausd.