New Culturally-Sustaining School Counseling Model Policy Aims to Reduce Gaps in College Access
Key takeaways
- IDRA releases a culturally sustaining school counseling model policy to strengthen college and career guidance.
- Policy provides adaptable language for states and districts to expand equitable college counseling.
- Model responds to restrictive laws and gaps in race-conscious admissions support.
- Counselors need systemic training, resources, and support to close college access gaps.
- Package is available free on IDRA SEEN Model Policy Shop.
Resource from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), a nonprofit advancing education equity.
(November 20, 2025) IDRA released today our newest model policy package to help schools and state leaders equip school counselors to enhance college and career guidance schoolwide.
School counselors play a pivotal role in helping students navigate the structural and cultural barriers that shape college and career access. This role is especially critical for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, who often lack access to the support and networks that make higher education attainable.
IDRA’s Culturally-Sustaining School Counseling Model Policy provides policy language for states, school districts, and schools to adopt research-based strategies for improving school counseling programs and reducing gaps in college access and enrollment.
The package is available on the IDRA SEEN Model Policy Shop. In the face of laws and school board actions that harm students, IDRA developed this free model policy shop for students, families, educators and communities passionate about ensuring educational equity to prepare students for a strong future.
Designed to Face Challenges that Hinder College Counseling for High School Students
Counselors across the country are stretched thin by limited resources, insufficient training and systemic inequities that make it harder to provide equitable, high-quality college and career guidance.
For example, a recent IDRA study reveals that students, parents and educators are already seeing the effects of restrictive laws and the end of race-conscious admissions. These include barriers in finding helpful college information, funding opportunities, key student services, and staff personnel to help them access and succeed in college.
Counselors across the country are stretched thin by limited resources, insufficient training and systemic inequities that make it harder to provide equitable, high-quality college and career guidance.
For example, a recent IDRA study reveals that students, parents and educators are already seeing the effects of restrictive laws and the end of race-conscious admissions. These include barriers in finding helpful college information, funding opportunities, key student services, and staff personnel to help them access and succeed in college.
Effective, culturally-sustaining school counseling cannot depend solely on individual educators. State leaders must take proactive steps to ensure every counselor is equipped, trained and empowered to advocate for equity and expand access to postsecondary opportunities.
IDRA’s model policy package provides guiding principles, adaptable policy language, and a robust set of resources for implementation and advocacy to support culturally-sustaining school counseling practices so that every student, regardless of race, income or background, has a fair chance to achieve their college and career goals.
For more information, contact Terrence Wilson, J.D., at terrence.wilson@idra.org. More resources and tools are on IDRA’s SEEN website at https://idraseen.org.
Media Contact: Thomas Marshall III, M.Ed., IDRA: thomas.marshall@idra.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IDRA’s culturally sustaining school counseling model policy?
It is a model policy package that helps states, districts, and schools strengthen college and career counseling with equity at the center.
Who is this model policy for?
It is designed for state leaders, school district officials, and campus teams who want research-based language to improve counseling programs.
What problem does the policy address?
It responds to gaps in college access, restrictive laws, and insufficient support for counselors serving historically underrepresented students.
How can schools use the model policy?
Schools and districts can adapt the guiding principles and sample policy language, then use the included resources to support implementation.
Where can I find the policy package?
The package is available free on IDRA’s SEEN Model Policy Shop, with tools for students, families, educators, and advocates.
