Abstract
This article analyzes the roles of counselors in Puente, a reform to address weak high school counseling. Compared to most schools with one-on-one advising, Puente counselors arrange group meetings about college, cooperate with English teachers, set up meetings with parents to enhance participation in their children’s academic lives, arrange field trips to colleges, and carry out many other activities beyond conventional roles. Their perspectives about students and parents reveal the complexity of Puente and of moving students toward college. Several problems continue to plague Puente—many common to other school reformefforts—including inadequate staff development, insufficient funding, and varying support from schools. However, Puente still provides a compelling model of how counseling roles could be revised, especially in small learning communities, to enhance the progress of all students.
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