National School Counseling Week
February 4-8
National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is being celebrated this week to focus on the unique contributions made by professional school counselors within school systems across the United States. The school counseling profession is essential to the educational process by helping students achieve social/personal, academic and career success.
Various studies have shown that comprehensive school counseling programs aid in achieving higher graduation rates, higher standardized test scores, improved academic achievement, and crisis response, promoting healthy choices, providing social /emotional learning, and easier school and career transitions. Effective school counseling programs provide developmental interventions and preventative programming that monitor student progress and provide continuous improvement for all students.
In the Congress of the United States the Senate and the House of Representatives passed resolutions recognizing “National School Counseling Week”. They emphasized the “importance of school counseling through the inclusion of elementary and secondary school counseling programs when they reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”. They also noted that school counselors are trained professionals in both educational and mental health areas. Both Houses “encourage people to be aware of the crucial role school counselors’ play in preparing students for fulfilling lives as contributing members of society”.
School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents while working in a partnership with parents to face the challenges of raising children in today's world. Counselors focus on positive ways to enhance students' development, and work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set goals for themselves. Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in guidance and counseling. The combination of training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.
