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Parent Resources
Parent Toolkit is produced by NBC News Education Nation and includes information about almost every aspect of your child’s development, from early education to college and careers.
Big Future is a free, comprehensive resource that helps both students and parents to make college planning easier. They provide parent action plans from middle school through each year of high school and information on financial aid.
Parent Action Plan 9th Grade
Summer Before High School
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Visit a college campus together
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Get facts about what college costs
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Learn how to explore career ideas
Fall
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Encourage your child to meet with the school counselor
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Help set goals for the school year
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Plan to check in regularly about schoolwork
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Talk about extracurricular activities
Winter
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Start thinking about financial aid
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Discuss next year's classes
Spring
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Help your child start a college list
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See how much you need to save for college
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Help make summer plans
Parent Action Plan 11th Grade
Summer
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Get facts about what college costs
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Explore financial aid options
Fall
- Make sure your child meets with the school counselor
- Help your child stay organized
- Help your junior prepare for the ACT
- Encourage your child to set goals for the school year
Winter
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Review ACT results together
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Discuss taking advanced classes next year
Spring
- Search together for colleges that meet your child's needs
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Help your child research scholarships
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Attend college fairs and financial aid events
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Help your child make summer plans
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Visit colleges together
Parent Action Plan 10th Grade
Summer
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Visit a college campus together
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Get facts about what college costs
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Help your sophomore explore career ideas
Fall
- Make sure your child meets with the school counselor
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Encourage your child to set goals for the school year
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Check in regularly about school work
Winter
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Start thinking of ways to pay for college
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Discuss next year's classes
Spring
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Make a college list
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See how much you need to save for college
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Help make summer plans
Parent Action Plan 12th Grade
Summer
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Visit colleges together
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Help your senior finalize a college list
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Find out a college's actual cost
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Encourage your child to start applying
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Gather financial aid documents
Fall
- Make sure your child meets with the school counselor
- Create a calendar with your child
- Help your child find and apply for scholarships
- Offer to look over your senior's college applications
- Fill out FAFSA beginning October 1st
- Encourage your child to set up college interviews
Winter
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Work together to apply for financial aid
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Learn about college loan options
Spring
- Help your child process college responses
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Review financial aid offers together
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Help your child complete the paperwork to accept a college's offer of admittance
Step 1
Create an account (FSA ID)
Step 2
Start the FAFSA® form at fafsa.gov
step 3
Fill out the student demographic section
step 4
List the schools to which you want your FAFSA® information sent
step 5
Answer the dependency status questions
step 6
Fill out the parent demographic section
step 7
Supply your financial information
step 8
Sign your child's FAFSA form
These two guides provide an overview of what your child will learn during high school in English Language Arts and Math. These guides are based on the new Common Core Standards, which have been adopted by more than 45 states. If your child is meeting the expectations outlined in these standards, they will be well prepared for success after graduation.
Parents Guide to Student Success
Math and Reading Guides for High School
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