Did Your Congressperson Vote to Eliminate the Federal School Counseling Program? (Yeas, H.R.  1) First, ID Your U.S. Rep. Here by Zip Code

• ACA and the National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) Collaboration
• Advocacy Letter Template for School Counselor Jobs (Jan 2011)
• Who Are School Counselors? -- This online brochure provides a quick overview of the role and value of school counselors.

ACA Policy Recommendations for School Counseling

• Senate "Meeting the Needs of the Whole Student" Hearing: ACA Written Testimony
• House Appropriations Hearing: ACA Written Testimony, Funding for School Counseling
• ESEA (No Child Left Behind) Reauthorization Letter to Senate HELP Committee
• ESEA Recommendations to House Education-Labor Committee

Bullying

• Bridging the Gap in Federal Law: Promoting Safe Schools and Improved Student Achievement By Preventing Bullying and Harassment in Our Schools
• Department of Education Guidance on Bullying
• DOJ Civil Rights Division Releases Anti-Bullying Video as Part of National “It Gets Better” Project
• FindYouthInfo.gov
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health (CDC)
• NBC 10 and RI Education Dept. Host Anti-Bullying Summit (November 2010)
• School-Based Programs to Reduce Bullying & Victimization (2010) by David P. Farrington & Maria M. Ttofi (DOJ sponsored)
• Stop Bullying Now! Campaign (HRSA)
• StopBullying.Gov
• 15+ Make Time To Listen, Take Time To Talk...About Bullying (SAMHSA)

Disaster Preparedness & Response

• Disaster Preparedness & Response for Schools (NCEF)
• Disaster Preparedness for Children and Schools (coloring book) (Red Cross)
• Tips for Helping Students Recovering from Traumatic Events (U.S. Department of Education)

Education Department News

• Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools News
• Ed Funding News

Expanding School Counseling Services & Funding Opportunities

• Elementary & Secondary School Counseling Programs (ESSCP) Grant Information
• Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) Grant Awardees 2008-2010
• Federal Stimulus Bill: An Opportunity for School Counselors (2010)
• Forecast of Funding Opportunities Under The Department Of Education Discretionary Grant Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011
• Support Counseling Services for our Students Dear Colleague Letter (2010)

Financial Aid for Students

• Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid 2010-2011 (U.S. Department of Education)
• Federal Student Aid Info and Resources for Counselors (U.S. Department of Education).
• Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid 2010-2011 (U.S. Department of Education)

LGBTQ Youth

• DOJ Civil Rights Division Releases Anti-Bullying Video as Part of National “It Gets Better” Project
• Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel | (Spanish Version)
• LGBTQ Youth Resources for Youth, Educators, Administrators, Parents, Friends, and Family Members (CDC)

Privacy of Student Information

In response to the "Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy", the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services issued "Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to Student Health Records." This guidance addresses the interplay between FERPA and the HIPAA Privacy Rule at elementary and secondary levels, as well as at the postsecondary level.

• Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety: A Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Elementary and Secondary Schools (U.S. Department of Education)
• Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety: A Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education)
• Forum Guide to Protecting the Privacy of Student Information: A Resource for Schools (NCES) (U.S. Department of Education)
• Forum Guide to Protecting the Privacy of Student Information: State and Local Education Agencies (NCES) (U.S. Department of Education)
• Parents' Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Rights Regarding Children's Education Records (U.S. Department of Education)

Research on and Need for School Mental Health Services

• An Overview of School Based Mental Health Services
• Effectiveness of School Counseling (2008)
• Facts about School Mental Health Services
• IOM Report: Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities
• New Research Shows Lower Student-to-Counselor Ratios Result in Fewer Disciplinary Problems
• Review and Analysis of Current Outcome Research in School Counseling. From the Center for School Counseling Outcome Research, this paper reviews some of the issues in school counseling outcome research and how these issues relate to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Legislation.
• Research Support for School Counseling (ACA & CSCORE, 2011)
• School Mental Health Services in the United States, 2002-2003 (SAMHSA)
• The Importance of School-Based Mental Health Services

Students with Disabilities

• School Counselors: Facilitating Transitions for Students with Disabilities from High School to Post-School Settings (The IRIS Center)
• School Counselor: Making a Difference in the Lives of Students with Special Needs. This online brochure, from the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education, provides an overview of the role of school counselors in special education.

Student-to-Counselor Ratios

• Student-to-Counselor Ratios by State (U.S. Schools Overall) (By Rank) (2011)
• National Survey of Counseling Center Directors 2010 (IACS) -- (includes college student-to-counselor ratio)
• National Survey of Counseling Center Directors 2009 (IACS) -- (includes college student-to-counselor ratio)
• To calculate your school district’s student-to-counselor ratio for the 2008-2009 school year, visit the NCES website at http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/ and enter in the name of your school district. Information on total students and total school counselors reported, among other information, will be available. To calculate the student-to-counselor ratio for your school district, divide the number of students by the number of counselors.

Other Resources

• CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)
• Center for Mental Health in Schools (UCLA & U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
• Guiding the School Counselor: An Overview of Roles and Responsibilities (The IRIS Center)
• Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2010 (NCES)
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Counselors