Preparing kids for life after high school does not start in senior year. As most parents can attest, it’s an 18-year project that often keeps going long after graduation.
Preparing for the future is also not something new. Alaskans have always had to prepare, from mending nets in winter to be ready for the summer harvest to carefully preserving food in abundant autumn to be ready for more barren seasons.
These days, the future looks a little different. In addition to traditional skills, most people need some cash income and more education after high school to be ready for the roles they want to play as adults.
The good news is that students have many options and that funding is available to help pay for education after high school! It can be hard for families to know when and how to help kids prepare. Here in Alaska, millions of dollars for post-secondary education go unused every year simply because families don’t know how to access the grants and scholarships.
The Alaska Family Engagement Center has put together family-centered resources:
- A 30-minute podcast about how to talk with kids about preparing and steps we can take, including financial planning
- A handout with age-appropriate family conversation prompts and steps
- A handout with monthly conversation prompts for high school families
- An overview of Alaska-specific resources
- An app where families can ask questions about the college application process
- Family Night Toolkits & Workshops to help you host events with elementary, middle, and/or high school families
If you are school staff, how might you share some of these resources with families? And if you are interested in learning more about how your school can receive training and support for partnering with families to prepare students for life after high school, please contact Molissa Udevitz.