Florida School Counselor Association NEWS

How to Provide Guidance to First Generation College-Bound Students | Edutopia

2012-02-17T12:25:00.000-05:00

How to Provide Guidance to First Generation College-Bound Students | Edutopia. Dr. Danielle Moss Lee shares tips to help students fully understand the life-changing opportunities that higher education can provide.

ASCA Aspects

2012-02-15T12:16:00.001-05:00

February 2012

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www.schoolcounselor.org

Dear Russell,

Welcome to ASCA Aspects, published monthly by the American School Counselor Association, the school counseling division of the American Counseling Association. We hope you enjoy these monthly newsletters; however, if you'd like to be removed from the mailing list, simply click on the "safe unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this e-mail.

Only Two Weeks Left!

Why pay more than you have to? Register by March 1 for the least expensive rates to the ASCA Annual Confere nce, "Be Brilliant: Celebrating ASCA's Diamond Anniversary," June 23-26, 2012, in Minneapolis. With nearly 100 breakout sessions, three outstanding keynote speakers, an exhibit hall chock-full of companies that can help you do your job easier and networking opportunities galore, you can't afford to miss this professional development opportunity.

Download the mobile app for the latest information and to build your personal conference schedule. Search on "ASCA 2012" in the app store or market for iPhone and Android users. Blackberry users can point their mobile browser to http://m.core-apps.com/asca2012 to download the app.

Help an Arizona School Counseling Program Win $15,000

Manzo Elementary School in Tucson is a semifinalist in the 2012 Bookmans School Challenge and has the chance to win a $15,000 grant for its school counseling program. Watch this video, and see the amazing work the school counseling department has done to promote native vegetation, wildlife habitat and sustainable food production on its campus. Vote for Manzo Elementary (sixth one down) and help the school counseling department continue its fantastic work. Hurry, voting ends on Feb. 17. After you vote, click on the "ask friends to vote" button at the bottom.

Check Out the New Web Site

Take a look at ASCA's new and improved Web site. With a new design, cleaner navigation and updated content, the Web site helps you get the information you need to do your job better. Looking for sample forms/documents/lesson plans? Check out the online Resource Center. Looking for free professional development? Visit the 2012 webinars section. Want articles to share with parents? Tools for working better with your administrator? Information about where to get an advanced school counseling degree? It's all there, along with much more.

New and Noteworthy

Cool School: Where Peace Rules: This free, nonprofit video game designed by the federal government and the University of Maryland teaches young children how to resolve conflict. Filled with engaging and interactive scenarios, Cool School promotes peace by giving kids the tools they need to avoid conflict, bullying and resolve differences.

Connect With Colleges Virtually: www.CollegeWeekLive.com, the leading Web site for free online college fairs and admissions events, enables students to connect live online with admissions reps at hundreds of colleges via interactive video and text chat.
www.CollegeWeekLive.com also features live interactive video presentations on topics such as test prep, college fit, how to write an application essay, how to ace the admissions interview or how to pay for college, and, best of all, it's free.

Apply for a Typical or Troubled Grant: If you are a school counselor or other school staff working with two or more high or middle schools, you are eligible to apply for the 2012 Typical or Troubled grant. Grant awards include: a grant of $1,000 or $2,000, innovative educational materials, brochures, evaluation tools, technical assistance and connections with many of your colleagues across the nation. ASCA is proud to be a national partner in the American Psychiatric Foundation's 2012 Typical or Troubled grant program. Application deadline is March 30, 2012. Learn more.

FAFSA Completion Project: Want to know how many of your students are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? Consider joining the FAFSA Completion Project. Deadline is March 2, 2012. Learn more.

Learn About IDEA Case Law: The National Association of State Directors of Special Education recently published "A National Update of Case Law 1998 to the Present under the IDEA and Section 504/ADA" by noted legal expert Perry Zirkel. This compendium of litigation will be helpful for anyone looking for the legal history of the case law under these three important civil rights laws with respect to educating children and youth with disabilities. Download here.

Help Students Connect Their Education to the Job Market: Many students find it hard to know where to go to school and what to study. That's why ASCA, in conjunction with Young Invincibles, created the Skills that Work toolkit. It provides job market information for each state in a format to help them understand their options. Learn more.

Upcoming ASCA Deadlines & Training

* Feb. 29: Webinar: Supporting LGBTQ Youth. Learn more.
* March 1: Nominations due for Governing Board election. Learn more.
* March 6: Webinar: Girls in Real-Life Situations: Empowering, Motivating and Inspiring Girls Through Group Work. Learn more.
* March 22: Webinar: Organizational Skills Bootcamp. Learn more.

American School Counselor Association | 1101 King St., Suite 625 | Alexandria | VA | 22314

FLORIDA GETS FLEXIBILITY WAIVER FROM US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

2012-02-10T12:10:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DOE PRESS OFFICE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 (850) 245-0413

FLORIDA GETS FLEXIBILITY WAIVER FROM US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

TALLAHASSEE – The U.S. Department of Education today approved Florida’s request for a flexibility waiver from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Florida was one of 11 states asking for flexibility with regard to accountability standards mandated by the No Child Left Behind legislation implemented in 2001. The state requested the waiver to be able to move to a single statewide accountability system that would eliminate duplicative regulation and make Florida’s system easier to understand.

“Florida was one of the first states to implement strong accountability measures for its schools,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Overlaying a federal accountability system atop what was already in place and working in our state has proven to be confusing for parents and stakeholders.”

Commissioner Robinson added that flexibility would strengthen the state’s ability to tailor its program to meet Florida’s unique educational needs and better align state and federal accountability systems into one cohesive, easy-to-understand structure.

“Aligning our resources with our needs will lead to continued performance improvement for all students throughout Florida as we work to increase standards and boost national and international competitiveness,” said Commissioner Robinson. “Approval of our request, however, is but one step in a process required to move forward with the flexibility waiver.”

Florida applied for an ESEA waiver in mid-November 2011 and the U.S. Department of Education requested additional information in December. The State Board of Education will take action related to components of the waiver at its February meeting.

More information on the ESEA waiver request is available at http://www.fldoe.org/esea/.

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Happy National School Counseling Week

2012-02-09T11:59:00.001-05:00

Celebrate School Counseling

It's the fourth day of National School Counseling Week, and we hope you're making the most of this special week. In honor of National School Counseling Week, we've launched a new, mobile-friendly ASCA Web site. (OK, fine, we were going to launch it anyway; it was just nice to be able to launch it this week.) We hope you'll find it easy to navigate and full of useful information. And pretty, too; we also hope you think it's pretty.

In other news this week, ASCA executive director Richard Wong is once again featured on the Transforming Learning blog on EdWeek.

And don't forget about the drawing for three free conference registrations Friday at 5 p.m. PST. If you're on the ASCA SCENE, follow us on Twitter or "like" us on Facebook, you're automatically entered. And, if you've done all three, then you've just tripled your chances of winning. Learn more.

ASCA Staff

email: ascaaspects@schoolcounselor.org

web: http://www.schoolcounselor.org

Education Week: 'Parent Trigger' Laws Gain Traction, But Slowly

2012-02-09T09:56:00.000-05:00

State lawmakers and community activists are making a new push for "parent trigger" laws, measures that let parents vote to convert academically struggling schools to charters or to radically restructure them in other ways. Read more:

Education Week: 'Parent Trigger' Laws Gain Traction, But Slowly

ASCAway: 2012 School Counselor of the Year

2012-02-08T21:20:00.000-05:00

ASCAway: 2012 School Counselor of the Year: Nicole Pfleger, 2012 School Counselor of the Year, chats with ASCA executive director Kwok-Sze Richard Wong, Ed.D.

Jonathan Ricks: A great encouragement in my life - South Hill Enterprise: Home

2012-02-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

Jonathan Ricks: A great encouragement in my life - South Hill Enterprise: Home: In recognition of National School Counselor's week, I want to reminisce on the great work my high school counselor Jonathan Ricks has done for me. Since day one of my high school career Mr. Ricks has always had my best interest at heart. I really got to know and work with Mr. Ricks my junior year when he motivated me to take AP U.S. History in class, as well as honors psychology through the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Although these classes were very challenging and demanding I succeeded in both and made phenomenal grades. While I was in both classes Mr. Ricks always made the effort to see me once a week to catch up on my progress and be certain that I could handle the course loads. Although the task seems small and not very difficult to do, Mr. Ricks did this with all his students.�

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies: What Works Clearinghouse

2012-02-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies is a supplementary reading program designed to improve students’ reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension by incorporating peer-tutoring instruction. This WWC report focuses on Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies programs for grades 2–6 and high school. The WWC reviewed 97 studies that investigated the effects of this program on improving adolescent literacy. One study, a randomized controlled trial, meets WWC evidence standards with reservations. The study included 120 students who were, on average, 9.8 years old and attended elementary and middle schools in a southern state. Based on this study, the WWC found the Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies program to have potentially positive effects on comprehension for adolescent learners. Read the full report now at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=367.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan | U.S. Department of Education

2012-02-08T13:31:00.001-05:00

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan | U.S. Department of Education

School Counseling Week...What do you do? | General Discussions - Discussion Topics | ASCA Scene | schoolcounselor.groupsite.com

2012-02-08T13:31:00.000-05:00

School Counseling Week...What do you do? | General Discussions - Discussion Topics | ASCA Scene | schoolcounselor.groupsite.com

Bold Move!

2012-02-08T12:41:00.000-05:00

February 6, 2012

Dear Colleagues,

Great News from Tallahassee!!

Our school counselor bill (SB 1654) was heard and passed unanimously in the Senate Education Pre-K – 12 Committee on Monday, February 6th . Earlier in the day, Nan Worsowicz and Joni Shook, both from Jacksonville and representing FSCA met with our Senate sponsor Nancy Detert and with the committee Chairman Steve Wise, who is also from the Jacksonville area. Nan and Joni were also present to answer any questions from the committee. Senator Detert has championed our issue this year in the Senate, and did a great job of presenting the bill to the committee. The committee members did not raise any concerns, in fact, Senator Monteford, a former high school principal, applauded the bill and said he wished it went even further in support of this effort for all schools.

What you can do:

1. If you haven't already written a note to Senator Detert and Rep. Adkins, please do so thanking them for their sponsorship of the bills. (See samples on the FSCA website - Advocacy pages).

2. If you haven't already connected with your own delegation, introduce yourself.

3. Pass along the latest FSCA letters and call for action to your colleagues, your local association, and any other potential supporters. Build connections and build membership.

4. WRITE THANK YOU NOTES TO SENATOR WISE FOR MOVING THIS THROUGH HIS COMMITTEE and to all of the other committee members for their support; especially Senator Monteford.

Remember that FSCA already recognized Senator Bogdanoff for her participation in getting the anti-bullying legislation passed two years ago. Short sweet and personal is sufficient - focus on student success; career preparation and student safety from bullying if you wish.

Senate K-12 Education Committee: Met 2/6 SB 1654 Senator Wise, Chair; Senators Alexander, Altman, Benacquisto, Bogdanoff, and Monteford - passed unanimously.

Our bills have an incredibly strong start but we have more committees to move through and then a full legislative vote.

Sincerely,

Christopher B. Smith
President
Florida School Counselor Association

The Incredible Years™: What Works Clearinghouse

2012-02-08T12:30:00.000-05:00

The Incredible Years™: What Works Clearinghouse

The Incredible Years is a program that focuses on building the social and emotional skills of children ages 0–12 who have exhibited difficult behavior. Lessons cover recognizing and understanding feelings, getting along with friends, anger management, problem solving, and behavior at school. Parents are given training on how to provide positive discipline, promote learning and development, and stay involved in their children’s life at school. The WWC identified 166 studies of The Incredible Years for preschool children with disabilities in early education settings that were published or released between 1989 and 2011. Three studies are within the scope of the WWC Early Childhood Education Interventions for Children with Disabilities review protocol but do not meet WWC evidence standards. Seventy-two studies are out of the scope of the protocol due to ineligible study design. Ninety-one studies are out of the scope of the protocol for reasons other than study design. The lack of studies meeting WWC evidence standards means that the WWC is unable to draw any conclusions based on research about the effectiveness of The Incredible Years on preschool children with disabilities. Read the full report now.

Share Why You Study (you could win an iPad)

2012-02-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

STUDYBLUE

View online.

Share why
you study.

You could earn an iPad.

Watch & win.

The "Why I Study" challenge.

We know that school can be tough, so we thought we'd send some inspiration your way. Watch "Why We Study" and think about the real reasons you put so much work into learning. You could even earn an iPad for sharing your thoughts.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
— SBHQ

Got an Idea?
Question?
Kind words?
Tell us.

Get the free app.

Start your
study circle.
SB is now
on Google+.

Florida School Rankings

2012-01-30T22:54:00.000-05:00

Florida School Rankings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DOE PRESS OFFICE

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012 (850) 245-0413

FLORIDA SCHOOLS MEASURED FOR SUCCESS

– School rankings allow Floridians to compare performance at all grade levels –

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Education today released a numerical ranking of the state’s 3,078 public and charter schools, grouped by elementary, middle, high and combination schools. This ranking coupled with the district rankings, makes it easier for parents and taxpayers to view information about Florida’s education system.

“Floridians care about education and it is critical that our students have access to world-class schools that will give them a pathway to a successful career,” said Governor Rick Scott. “Measuring each school’s performance helps gauge our progress toward that goal.”

The numerical ranking is based on each school’s total school grade points, which are calculated based on the following criteria:

Elementary, Middle and High Schools:

• Points are derived from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores.

• The total score includes the sum of the percent of students:

- Enrolled for the full school year who score at certain achievement levels on reading, mathematics, science and writing.

- With learning gains in reading and math.

- That previously scored in the lowest 25 percent on reading and math who make learning gains.

Additional Components for High Schools:

• Graduation rates.

• Student participation and performance in accelerated coursework.

• Postsecondary readiness.

“Measuring a school’s ability to boost academic achievement helps ensure that we are providing a high-quality education for our students,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Having the data available in an easy-to-use format allows parents, educators, and business and community leaders to view the information and make decisions about how they can be involved in education decisions in their local communities.”

For the complete listing of school rankings, visit http://www.fldoe.org/Ranking/Schools.

Last week the Florida Department of Education published a ranking of all 67 school districts in the state, which can be viewed at http://www.fldoe.org/SchoolDistrictRanking/.

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PEERx - a prescription drug abuse prevention campaign for teens

2012-01-30T22:41:00.001-05:00

PEERx - a prescription drug abuse prevention campaign for teens

Federal data from a national survey of 8th, 10th and 12th graders show that prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the commonly abused illicit drugs by high school seniors, after marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a component of the National Institutes of Health that supports the annual study, has launched a national public awareness initiative called PEERx, a prescription drug abuse prevention campaign for teens. School counselors have the opportunity to not only educate teens about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, but to do so in a truly interactive way. Teens from across the country assisted us in developing the PEERx materials by providing their input and feedback at every step of the way. Resources include:

· Choose Your Path, a unique video activity that allows teens to assume the role of the main character and confront real-life decisions, select which path to take, and then watch the consequences unfold onscreen.

· An Activity Guide with creative ideas and step-by-step instructions that allow teens to engage their peers in their school or community

· Peer Into Your Path, a creative writing project based on Choose Your Path

· Free, colorful downloads that can be made into iron-on decals for t-shirts, posters, computer wallpaper, or stickers

· Fact sheets on over-the-counter cough medicines and the three classes of prescription drugs abused most often (opioid painkillers, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants).

Check out PEERx today on the NIDA for Teens Web site, teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx, and contact PEERx with any questions.

Legislative Affairs - American School Counselor Association

2012-01-30T22:30:00.000-05:00

Legislative Affairs - American School Counselor Association

Check out this page on the ASCA Web site for information about loan forgiveness for school counselors.

Florida School Counselor Winter 2012: Make the most of National School Counseling Week

2012-01-28T12:40:00.000-05:00

Florida School Counselor Winter 2012 is now available:

http://www.pageturnpro.com/American-School-Counselors-Assocation/34781-Florida-School-Counselor-WINTER-2012/index.html

In this issue:

School Counselor Blogs
Engaging Families in Schools

Take it to the Board: 10 Tips for Visibility and Communication

Student-to-School-Counselor Ratios Released
Relationships Are Everything
Celebrating Your Profession! How Your Colleagues Recognize National School Counseling Week
Tools to Celebrate National School Counseling Week
Tech-Savvy School Counselors

Preventing or Reducing Socio-emotional Problems in Adolescents

2012-01-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

Preventing or Reducing Socio-emotional Problems in Adolescents, a practical guide from The National School Boards Association (NSBA), Child Trends' latest brief, synthesized findings from 37 random-assignment social intervention programs designed to prevent or treat internalizing problems for adolescents. Adolescence is often characterized as a tumultuous time in youth development, marked by occasional mood swings and intense emotions. For some young people, however, more serious, internalizing problems such as depressive or anxious moods, negative self-perceptions and emotional distress, compromise healthy development. Left untreated, internalizing problems can undermine one's ability to succeed in school and work, form and maintain close relationships with others, and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Source: http://www.healthinschools.org/en/News-Room/Weekly-Insider/January-25-2012.aspx#NR1

State Implementation Grants for Systems of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)

2012-01-28T09:56:00.002-05:00

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

State Implementation Grants for Systems of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Submitted: 1/20/2012 12:33:00 PM

The purpose of this funding is to improve access to quality, comprehensive, coordinated community-based systems of services for CYSHCN and their families that are family-centered and culturally competent.

The entire fund of $1,800,000 will be distributed between six selected recipients. Applicants must demonstrate previous experience working with state and family partners to develop services for CYSHCN and their families.

Deadline: March 1, 2012

Please note: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) does not administer this funding opportunity.   

Please contact the Health Resources and Services Administration for more information and to apply for this funding.

Source: http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts/State-Implementation-Grants.aspx

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

2012-01-28T09:56:00.001-05:00

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

Academic Enrichment Grants
Sponsor: McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
Submitted: 1/20/2012 12:33:00 PM

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation partners with individuals to expand educational opportunities for America's youth that inspire students by nurturing their curiosity about the world and their place in it. The Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning.

Multiple grants of up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of three years are available to select applicants. Educators who are employed by schools or non-profit organizations and work with students from low-income households are eligible to apply.

Deadline: April 15, 2012

Please note: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) does not administer this funding opportunity.   

Please contact the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation for more information and to apply for this funding: http://www.mccartheydressman.org/academic.html

Source: http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts/Academic-Enrichment-Grants.aspx

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

2012-01-28T09:55:00.000-05:00

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

Teen Driving Safety Educator's Challenge
Sponsor: Toyota and Discovery Education
Submitted: 1/25/2012 10:58:00 AM

This funding opportunity seeks to challenge educators to develop an action plan that improves safe teen driving at their school or community.

Award amounts vary. Eligibility is open to all high school teachers for Grades 9 through 12 at an accredited public, private or parochial school in the United States.

Deadline: February 16, 2012

Please note: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) does not administer this funding opportunity.   

Please contact Discovery Education for more information and to apply for this funding: http://toyotateendriver.discoveryeducation.com/challenge.cfm#mdr_step1

Source: http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts/Teen-Driving-Safety-Educators-Challenge.aspx

Florida Named National Leader in Educator Quality

2012-01-26T13:06:00.001-05:00

Press Release

Thursday, January 26, 2012

DOE Press Office
(850) 245-0413

Florida Named National Leader in Educator Quality

- Sunshine State earns nation's highest overall grade in 2011 -

TALLAHASSEE - The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook released yesterday awarded Florida an overall grade of "B," highest in the nation, in its biennial report. This was up from a grade of "C" in 2009. The state also received high marks for making progress in policies and practices that govern the teaching profession.

"Ranking first in the nation is a tribute to our teachers and clear evidence of their commitment to continuous improvement when it comes to providing opportunities for high-quality education for our students," said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. "School districts from Miami-Dade to Hillsborough to the panhandle are truly leading the nation. I congratulate Florida's teachers and commend the successful leadership practices that are a catalyst for local change. I am confident we will continue to improve because of the courage and dedication of our educators to their students and their profession."

Commissioner Robinson added that this significant recognition demonstrates statewide collaboration with teachers, superintendents, and education stakeholders as they work together to assure the best education for students.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook includes NCTQ's biennial, full review of Florida's laws, rules and regulations that govern the teaching profession. This year's report measures Florida's progress against a set of 36 policy goals focused on helping states put in place a comprehensive framework in support of preparing, retaining and rewarding effective teachers. For the first time, the Yearbook includes a progress rating on goals that have been measured over time.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook awards state grades in five individual categories. Florida boosted its grade in four out of five categories since 2009.

Delivering Well Prepared Teachers - "B-" (up from "C" in 2009)
Expanding the Teaching Pool - "B-"
Identifying Effective Teachers - "B" (up from "C-" in 2009)
Retaining Effective Teachers - "B-" (up from "C" in 2009)
Exiting Ineffective Teachers - "B+" (up from "C" in 2009)

To view Florida's 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook, visit http://www.nctq.org/stpy11/reports/stpy11_florida_report.pdf (PDF)

Advocacy Update: Your Help is Needed

2012-01-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

FSCA’S BIG MOVE:
STEP 2

What an exciting time and week for the Florida School Counselors and the Florida School Counselor Association!

Our companion bills in the Florida Senate and House have been filed (SB1654 and HB1317 respectively). Our legislative champions are Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) and Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach). Our advocacy consultant has been meeting with other legislative members as well and many are very interested in the issues surrounding school counselors.

Sen. Detert has named this bill the “Student Failure Prevention Act” and is very excited about the positive changes it will have on the profession, and more importantly, on the students that the certified school counselors work with every day. Our excellent bill sponsor in the House is Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach) who is very involved in K-12 education and has demonstrates that she “gets” us.

As of today, HB 1317 has been referred to three committees for legislative hearings and we are working on having it placed on the agenda for its first committee stop in the K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Eric Fresen (R-Miami). For clarification, it is a good sign that HB 1317 has only three committees of reference.

FSCA is still waiting for committee references in the Senate and expect that will happen any time now.

To recap, the drafts reflect maximum ratios of certified school counselors per number of students overall and at each level and states that no school should have less than one full-time certified school counselor. It also outlines specific job responsibilities and more importantly, the responsibilities that should not be assigned to school counselors (like testing management/monitoring, bus duty, lunchroom monitoring, and administrative substitution.) Finally, the bill reflects the name change “certified school counselors” as the correct title of your profession.

Now is the time to get involved in making our bill a reality. In this case, you can stand up for students by standing up for the profession and making sure that All students get the benefits of professional school counseling. You can:

Write a note, email or call our bill sponsors and thank them for their willingness to take on these issues and work with us to improve the lives of our children.

Senator Nancy Detert
detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
District Office:
417 Commercial Court
Suite D
Venice, FL 34292
(941) 480-3547
Senate VOIP: 42300
FAX (941) 480-3549
Toll Free:
1-866-247-4076
Tallahassee Office:
318 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5081
Senate VOIP: 5081

Legislative Assistants:
Charlie Anderson, Rita Faulkner and GeeDee Kerr

Representative Janet Adkins janet@janetadkins.com or Janet.Adkins@myfloridahouse.gov

Capitol Office
313 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-6920

District Office
905 South 8th Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034-3706
Phone: (904) 491-3664
OR
945 N. Temple Avenue
Starke, FL 32091-2110
Phone: (904) 966-6215

Legislative Assistant:
Larry Williams

District Secretary:
Marianne Marshall Alexis Zink

Reach out to your own legislators and those in surrounding areas who represent your school district and inform them and their staff of your efforts, and ask for their support of these bills. It would be great if they would also consider signing on as a co-sponsor of these bills. To find your legislators go to the House ore Senate websites.

To track the bills you can log onto http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/MyHouse/login.aspx and http://www.flsenate.gov/login/ to get updates about the bill’s progress.

Want to do and know more…

Watch this space for other things you can do, developing talking points, actions in districts, gathering data and evidence, participating in our statewide video support, and more.

Remember, membership in FSCA helps, action to connect with policy makers and legislators also helps. We will continue to keep you updated as we progress through the next several weeks.

Sample to Sponsor

As a member of the Florida School Counselor Association and someone who cares about student success, I want to thank you for joining us and sponsoring HB 1317. We stand ready to support and assist your efforts in all ways that we can.

Thanks for standing up for student success by helping each and every student benefit from school counseling programs.

To Legislators

Dear,

I am a member of the Florida School Counselor Association and a Professional School Counselor. I stand for student success and school counselors are critical to that success. I am seeking your support for HB 1317 and SB 1654 which will modernize how school counselors are employed in schools and require that schools and districts make good use of the talents and training of school counselors.

The American School Counselor Association, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Education Trust and many other states and education groups have told us that reduced school counselor ratios are critical to student success and to their career and post-secondary attainment. Ratios, coupled with targeted tasks and accountability, will help Florida’s students and economic future reach the success that our state and citizens deserve.

In face, I believe this bill is so important that I am asking that you step forward as a co-sponsor to show your support of student success. Please contact me with any questions or ways I can help to support the successful passage of these bills.

Sincerely,

Search the FSCA and ASCA Websites

Student Support Services Project

Florida School Counselor Association, © 2006-2011
Proud Division of the American School Counselor Association
Contact FSCA

FAU School of Public Administration: Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA)

2012-01-22T11:49:00.000-05:00

The Bachelor of Public Safety Administration is an undergraduate degree program for South Florida professionals and pre-professionals interested in police, fire, and disaster response practice and administration. The program has 18 credit hours in the core, with 60 total credit hours for the major. The overall purpose is to provide: (1) a professional/ pre-professional degree program for students entering the fields of law enforcement, fire safety, homeland security, and disaster response; (2) interested students a foundation for continuing in a professionally focused graduate program; and (3) an “umbrella degree” that allows students to combine key areas from several disciplines to graduate with a pre-professional degree. Graduating students from the program will have improved opportunities in the police, fire, homeland security (airports, seaports, etc.), and disaster management fields throughout South Florida and the United States.

FAU School of Public Administration :: Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA)

http://www.fau.edu/spa/bpsa/

Be Brilliant: Register Early and Save!

2012-01-19T22:51:00.001-05:00

Online registration is now open for the ASCA Annual Confere nce, "Be Brilliant: Celebrating ASCA's Diamond Anniversary," June 23-26, 2012, in Minneapolis. With nearly 100 breakout sessions, three outstanding keynote speakers, an exhibit hall chock-full of companies that can help you do your job easier and networking opportunities galore, you can't afford to miss the professional development opportunity.

Register by March 1 for best dates. Download the mobile app for the latest information and to build your personal conference schedule. Search on "ASCA 2012" in the app store or market for iPhone and Android users. Blackberry users can point their mobile browser to http://m.core-apps.com/asca2012 to download the app.

Upcoming ASCA Deadlines & Training

2012-01-19T22:49:00.002-05:00

* Jan. 27: Nominations due for Advocate of the Year, Counselor Educator of the Year and School Counseling Director/Coordinator of the Year. Learn more.
* Feb. 6-10: National School Counseling Week. Learn more.
* Feb. 8: Webinar: Leadership Insights for School Counselors. Learn more.
* Feb. 29: Webinar: Supporting LGBTQ Youth. Learn more.
* March 1: Nominations due for Governing Board election. Learn more.

Buick Achievers Scholarship

2012-01-19T22:49:00.001-05:00

Buick Achievers Scholarship: Open to high school seniors and college undergraduates, this scholarship program will awards up to $25,000 per year for 100 students and $2,000 one-time awards for 1,000 students. Open to those planning to major in engineering/technology, design or business-related programs or with an interest in the automotive industries. Deadline is Feb. 29, 2012. Learn more.

Webinar To Examine Bullying and Suicide Prevention

2012-01-19T22:34:00.001-05:00

Webinar To Examine Bullying and Suicide Prevention

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, at 3 p.m. E.T., the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) will host the webinar, “Bullying and Suicide Prevention.”

Many schools and communities struggle to find effective ways to prevent both bullying and suicidal behavior among youth. This webinar will provide the latest research and science on the relationship between bullying and suicide and will outline some of the shared risk and protective factors. The webinar will also discuss the main principles of a comprehensive whole school approach to bullying prevention. This presentation will be interactive, with opportunities to ask questions.

Registration is available online.

Resources:

Download the flyer for additional information about the webinar at http://www.ojjdp.gov/enews/flyer/webinar_invitation_bullying_suicide_prevention.pdf.

To register, go to www1.gotomeeting.com/register/512217688.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the
Office of Justice Programs in the U.S. Department of Justice.

Subscribe or unsubscribe to JUVJUST and OJJDP News @ a Glance.

Browse past issues of JUVJUST and OJJDP News @ a Glance.

180 Medical College Scholarship Program - 180 Medical

2012-01-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

180 Medical College Scholarship Program - 180 Medical

180 Medical is honored to have started a scholarship program to help those with spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, and transverse myelitis.

Realizing the financial burdens that exist for many of these families, we've developed the 180 Medical Scholarship Program to honor these young adults who pursue goals of higher education.

Eligibility

High School Seniors: To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) and have been accepted to a two-year or four-year college in the U.S. Must plan on attending school full time (at least 12 hours) in the upcoming fall semester. Must have spina bifida, a spinal cord injury, or transverse myelitis.

Nursing Home Abuse Scholarship

2012-01-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

Nursing Home Abuse

$5,000 scholarship, exclusively for US  students pursuing a degree that will help combat nursing home abuse (full  scholarship details at: http://www.nursinghomeabuse.net/). The scholarship will  cover non-tuition related expenses such as rent, childcare, textbooks,  utilities and groceries for the 2012-2013 academic year. The application window  is January 15th through February 15th.

Call Your Senators, Help Stop LGBT Bullying

2012-01-11T15:36:00.000-05:00

Call Your Senators, Help Stop LGBT Bullying

Al's Student Non-Discrimination Act would ban discrimination and harassment in public schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and require schools to protect LGBT students when they are threatened.

Join us and help make our schools a safer place for LGBT students. Take two minutes of your day to call your Senators and urge them to cosponsor the Student Non-Discrimination Act:

Call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121

Ask for your Senators and make your voice heard

Ask your friends to call too

Keep calling every week until this important bill passes

Report your call below

TEACH Moves to New Partners! | Teach.gov

2012-01-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

TEACH Moves to New Partners! | Teach.gov: In the coming months, TEACH.gov will switch to TEACH.org, and will expand the marketing, job, and in-person recruiting efforts to increase teacher recruitment and to ensure that the diversity of our classrooms is reflected in the educators that lead them.

Understanding the School Counselor-Parent Connection - American School Counselor Association

2012-01-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

Understanding the School Counselor-Parent Connection - American School Counselor Association

Source: ASCA

Understanding the School Counselor-Parent Connection

All students can learn. A student who is troubled, however, cannot learn as easily. School counselors can help. Divorce, substance abuse, child abuse, poverty, violence and suicidal thoughts are among the social stressors placing numerous students at-risk of educational failure and dropping out of school. Early intervention is essential, and parents and guardians play a vital role. A guidance program that provides direct services and is directed by a professionally trained school counselor is a critical component of a school’s prevention efforts in the 21st century.

As a parent, your past experiences with a school counselor may be vastly different than what your child will have. Today school counselors are certified, specially trained mental health professionals who focus on prevention and wellness though a counseling program that meets the needs of all students, not just a few. The counseling program addresses three areas: academic, career and personal/social. School counselors advocate, mediate, coordinate, consult, lead and collaborate with teachers, administrators and parents to help students be successful. Professional school counselors also help children to understand themselves.

But just what do school counselors do? Today’s school counselors:

Develop a guidance plan based on a campus needs assessment

• Counsel students individually and/or in groups

• Provide systematic and developmental classroom guidance to all students

• Respond to student needs in crisis situations

• Orient students to new school settings

• Work with absentees, potential dropouts and other at-risk students

• Refer students to special programs and/or services when necessary

• Analyze test results to provide information about abilities, achievement, interests and needs

• Help with individual school, college, and career plans; coordinate school-to-work initiatives and with post-secondary institutions

• Coordinate efforts with other school specialists

• Conduct conferences with parents and facilitate parent discussion groups

• Coordinate staff support activities

• Adhere to ethical and legal standards

• Pursue continuous professional growth and development

• Conduct an annual evaluation of the guidance program

All of these activities and duties can make a real difference in students lives, improving their self-understanding and self-confidence, motivation, decision-making, goal-setting, planning and problem solving, interpersonal relationships, communication skills, respect for others and more.

Contacting the School Counselor

Parents contact a school counselor to help their children with a variety of issues, such as academic achievement; new school registration, orientation and transition; test interpretation; special needs; student crisis situations; family transitions; and higher education issues.

When contacting a school counselor, parents often have many obstacles to overcome, such as culture, language, their own bad experiences in school, a lack of understanding or feeling intimidated. Some parents may feel if they speak up and disagree with educators, their child will have a harder time at school. Work schedules can also be barriers to meeting with your child’s school counselor. However, school encourage parental involvement, and the school counselor is the primary contact for many parents in connecting with the school.

By focusing on parents’ concerns and respecting why these concerns matter to you, school counselors offer options, including better ways to communicate with your child. Both parents and counselors share information, an important part of establishing a helping relationship. School counselors are excellent resources; however, they do not provide therapy or long-term counseling. Referrals to outside agencies may be initiated at school. School counselors are also advocates for children and provide information on parents’ rights, such as the right to request information.

Following are some questions you might want to ask your child’s school counselor:

• How is my child doing in school?

• What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses?

• Are there any areas of concerns or delayed development?

• What are my child’s goals for this year?

• What are some suggestions for action at home?

• What programs are available to help my child to do better?

• Does my child get along well with adults?

• Does my child get along well with his/her peers?

• What can I do to improve discipline at home?

• Are there ways I can improve communication with my child?

• What can I expect after a change in the family (death, divorce, illness, financial status, moving)?

• If my child is (running away from home, being disrespectful, having other problems), what should I do?

• What resources are available at school?

• What resources are available outside of school?

• What do I need to do to prepare my child for college admission?

• What are the best resources for information on financial assistance and scholarships?

• What do I do? My child is (sad, not sleeping, not eating, overeating, has temper tantrums, etc.)

• What do I do if I don’t like my child’s friends?

Studies have shown that children have greater academic achievement when their parents are involved in their education. Motivation, positive attitudes about self and sense of control over their environment improve with parental involvement in the schools. Children from minority and low-income families benefit the most from parental involvement.

You, the parent, are the most important resource for the school counselor and others. Your involvement is critical in helping your child to be successful. Ask the school counselor how you can be more involved in what is happening with your child’s education.

Brenda Melton, M.Ed., LPC, is a school counselor at Navarro Academy, an alternative school in San Antonio, Texas, and a former board president of the American School Counselor Association. She can be reached at bmelton@saisd.net

Afterschool Alliance :: Afterschool & STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

2012-01-06T11:44:00.000-05:00

Afterschool & STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Literacy and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are increasingly the currency for successful participation in modern society and the workplace. But students in the United States are lagging behind their international peers in math and science, which is of great concern to parents, teachers, policy makers and employers alike. Our students are living and competing in a globalized marketplace where jobs are no longer bound to a geographic region but go wherever talent and skills reside.

Read more: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/STEM.cfm

Asking for help isn't easy for some students - Chicago Tribune

2012-01-05T18:20:00.000-05:00

Asking for help isn't easy for some students - Chicago Tribune: Asking for help isn't easy for some students
Kids from working-class families less likely to ask questions in class than middle-class counterparts, study finds

Fourth-graders C.J. Kompare, from left, Mariah Mendoza, Breeze Martin,… (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune)
January 04, 2012|By Tara Malone, Chicago Tribune reporter
Fourth-grader Kennedy Thielmann shot her hand in the air seconds after the teacher asked a question, while across the Evergreen Park classroom, Rodrigo Lopez called out an answer and Kevin O'Toole sat quietly in his desk, jotting the answer on his work sheet.

Such varied responses unfold in classrooms every day.

FSCA News You Can Use Update

2012-01-05T18:02:00.002-05:00

Have you Seen the FSCA News You Can Use
Blog Lately? If not, here are some
of the most recent postings:

Click on any title to read more ...

Poised To Lead

The School Principal as Leader

USF students propose businesses | HeraldTribune.co...

More South Florida high schools get top marks - Sc...

Florida High School Grades Released

National School Counseling Week - American School ...

Education Week: Study Links Academic Setbacks to M...

Updates from US Dept of ED, Office of Safe & Healt...

Florida School Counselor Association on Facebook

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

ASCAway: Helping Students Develop Creativity

National STEM Video Game Challenge

National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest

Florida's Graduation Rate Reaches New Heights

NCI launches smoking cessation support for teens, ...

Digital Domain Institute Announces Licensing by Fl...

Three ways to stay in touch with News You Can Use:

Visit http://www.myfsca.blogspot.com/ directly.
Subscribe with an RSS feed reader such as Google Reader. Visit the main site at http://www.myfsca.blogspot.com/ and click on the RSS feed in right column.
Also in the right column of the news blog, you can enter your email address and automatically receive new posts via email.

Other Networking, News, and Resource Options

Important Dates

ASCA 2012 Convention: June 23–26, 2012, Minneapolis
FSCA 2012 Convention: November 1-3, 2012, St. Petersburg Hilton
FSCA Governing Board Elections will be held later this year and terms of office begin on July 1 and end on June 30. The deadline for turning in a nomination packet is January 19th, 2012 at midnight. Visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/election-nominations2011.htm for more information and a nomination form.

The Florida School Counselor Association has taken a BOLD step!

Read a letter from President Christopher Smith about our latest advocacy efforts.

SAVE THE DATE

FSCA 2012 CONVENTION
AT THE HILTON ST. PETERSBURG
BAYFRONT HOTEL

NOVEMBER 1 - 3, 2012

Pre-Convention Workshops & Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 1, 2012

Breakout Session & Awards Banquet:
Friday, November 2, 2012

Breakout Sessions & Delegate Assembly:
Saturday, November 3, 2012

FSCA's reputation for outstanding and relevant professional development is what makes our conventions so successful.

Received this email and not yet a FSCA member? Visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/member-benefits.htm to check out FSCA Member Benefits and join or renew online now.

Florida School Counselor Association
P.O. Box 752
Safety Harbor, Fl 34695-0752

Phone or Fax: (888) 785-8611

Email: fsca@fla-schoolcounselor.org

Poised To Lead

2012-01-05T16:53:00.000-05:00

Poised To Lead

The quality of the coursework students take in high school powerfully affects their life options after graduation. School counselors can guide students through the course selection process. They also can help schools identify policies and practices that propel all students toward success, as well as those that hold some students back. The problem? Too many of today's school counselors do not serve this function. "Poised to Lead" outlines what states, districts, and schools can do to help school counselors become leaders and advocates in the effort to prepare all students for college and career.

Download:

Poised_To_Lead.pdf

Publication date:

December 19 2011

Source: http://www.edtrust.org/dc/publication/poised-to-lead

The School Principal as Leader

2012-01-05T11:16:00.000-05:00

"Education research shows that most school variables, considered separately, have at most small effects on learning. The real payoff comes when individual variables combine to reach critical mass."

In The School Principal as Leader, The Wallace Foundation mines its decade of research and projects in school leadership to describe five key practices of principals who focus on improving teaching and learning.

Download the full report.

USF students propose businesses | HeraldTribune.com

2012-01-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

USF students propose businesses | HeraldTribune.com: University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee student Debbie Tisdale tells an audience at a recent forum about Skills Training and Entrepreneur Program, an idea she and fellow students suggest for helping high school students become entrepreneurs after their graudations.

More South Florida high schools get top marks - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

More South Florida high schools get top marks - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

More South Florida high schools get top marks

Following a statewide pattern, the number of S. Florida high schools earning high marks from the state is up. Scores are based partly on FCATs.

BY LAURA ISENSEE AND LAURA FIGUEROA

LISENSEE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

More Miami-Dade and Broward high schools have earned A and B grades from the state, and several struggling South Florida schools jumped a letter grade or more.

And for the first time, no Miami-Dade school received an F.

The South Florida report cards for 2010-11 follow a statewide trend of more high-performing schools and fewer failing schools, according to grades released Wednesday.

Florida High School Grades Released

2012-01-04T21:12:00.001-05:00

FASA Update

January 4, 2012

Florida High School Grades Announced

The Florida Department of Education (DOE) has released the high school grades for the 2010-2011 school year, and FASA congratulates school administrators, teachers and students for the great improvements.

Results show that 78 percent of the state's high schools earned either an "A" or "B" grade, up from 71 percent last year. This is the second year that the expanded grading system has been used and incorporates 50 percent from FCAT scores and 50 percent from factors such as:

school's graduation rate;
performance and participation of students in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment, Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), and industry certification;
postsecondary readiness of high-achieving students as measured by the SAT, ACT, or College Placement Test (CPT);
high school graduation rate of at-risk students.

The graph below depicts high school grades since 2002 as released by DOE. It is important to note the increase in schools earning "A" and "B" grades while "C," "D" and "F" numbers are falling.

View the Full Report

National School Counseling Week - American School Counselor Association

2012-01-03T12:51:00.000-05:00

National School Counseling Week - American School Counselor Association: National School Counseling Week 2012, "School Counselors: Helping Students Be Brilliant," will be celebrated from Feb. 6-10, 2012, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

Education Week: Study Links Academic Setbacks to Middle School Transition

2012-01-03T11:37:00.000-05:00

While policymakers and researchers alike have focused on improving students’ transition into high school, a new study of Florida schools suggests the critical transition problem may happen years before, when students enter middle school.

The study, part of the Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series at Harvard University, found that students moving from grade 5 into middle school show a “sharp drop” in math and language arts achievement in the transition year that plagues them as far out as 10th grade, even risking thwarting their ability to graduate from high school and go on to college. Students who make a school transition in 6th grade are absent more often than those who remain in one school through 8th grade, and they are more likely to drop out by 10th grade.

Education Week: Study Links Academic Setbacks to Middle School Transition

Updates from US Dept of ED, Office of Safe & Healthy Students

2011-12-27T11:30:00.001-05:00

Source: American School Counselor Association

U.S. ED/HHS Awards Nine States Race to The Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants to Help Build Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs

On December 16, 2011, the White House announced that nine states - California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington - will receive grant awards from the $500 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund, a competitive grant program jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement of state grantees at a White House event with over 100 early learning and development experts, educators, policymakers, and researchers.

"In a matter of months, early education and child development experts throughout the country, together with state and local leaders, worked to build comprehensive plans for expanding access to high-quality early learning," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "All applicants showed tremendous dedication and drive to build stronger foundations and create greater opportunities for more children. Their work will help lead the way in ensuring excellent early learning and support for every child." "A strong educational system is critical not just for our children but also for our nation's economic future," said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. "The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge takes a holistic approach to early education, promotes innovation, and focuses on what it takes to help put young children on the path of learning, opportunity, and success."

Through the competition, 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have created plans to increase access to high-quality programs for children from low-income families, providing more children from birth to age 5 with a strong foundation they need for success in school and beyond. The number and list of winners was determined both by the quality of the applications and the funds available.

The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will support the work of the nine state grantees to develop new approaches to raising the bar across early learning centers and to close the school readiness gap. Awards will invest in grantees' work to build statewide systems of high-quality early learning and development programs. These investments will impact all early learning programs, including Head Start, public pre-K, childcare, and private preschools. Key reforms will include: aligning and raising standards for existing early learning and development programs; improving training and support for the early learning workforce through evidence-based practices; and building robust evaluation systems that promote effective practices and programs to help parents make informed decisions.

The fiscal year 2011 budget provided an additional $700 million to invest in early learning and elementary and post secondary education reform. In addition to the $500 million awarded today to Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grantees, seven states - Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania - have applied for a share of the $200 million to invest in K-12 education reform. Awards will be announced later this month.

State data relevant to the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge along with peer reviewers' scores and comments were recently posted online. Grant awards will range from around $50 million up to $100 million, depending on State population and proposed plans. Budgets will be finalized after discussions between the grantees and the Departments, and states will draw down funds in accordance with their plans.

To learn more about the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge .

U.S. Justice's OJP's OJJDP Announces a new Bulletin-"Bullying in Schools: An Overview"

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs' Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released Bullying in Schools: An Overview.

This bulletin examines the connection between different types and frequencies of bullying, truancy, and student achievement, and whether students' engagement in school mediates these factors. It discusses the results of three studies conducted in 2007 at the National Center for School Engagement, and compares these results with those from a Swedish study.

The authors conclude that victimization in the form of bullying can distance students from learning. Schools can overcome this negative effect if they adopt strategies that engage students in their work, creating positive learning environments that produce academic achievement.

Resources:

Bullying in Schools: An Overview (NCJ 234205) is available online at:www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/234205.pdf.

The Center for School Mental Health and the IDEA Partnership (U.S. ED Funded) Announces Request for Proposals for the 18th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, October 25-27, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Proposals are now being accepted for the 18th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health to be held October 25-27, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel (75 S. West Temple) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Conference is sponsored by the Center for School Mental Health (CSMH) and the IDEA Partnership (funded by the Office of Special Education Programs [OSEP], sponsored by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education).

The theme of this year's conference is School Mental Health: Promoting Positive Outcomes for Students, Families, Schools, and Communities.

The conference features twelve specialty tracks and offers speakers and participants numerous opportunities to advance knowledge and skills and to network related to school mental health practice, research, training, and policy. The deadline for submissions is January 23, 2012.

To read the Request for Proposalshttp://csmh.umaryland.edu/docs/annual/FINALRFP%20for%2017th%20Annual.pdf.

All proposals must be submitted online athttp://cf.umaryland.edu/csmha/abstract_conference.cfm .

HHS' HRSA Offers Support for School-Based Health Centers will Increase access to Care for Many Children under the Affordable Care Act Through School-Based Health Center Construction Grants

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, more than $14 million was awarded on December 8, 2011 to 45 school-based health centers across the country allowing the number of children served to increase by nearly 50 percent, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced.

Clinics receiving the awards, made possible by the health reform law, are already providing much-needed health care services to 112,000 children. Today's infusion of new money will enable them to expand their capacity and modernize their facilities, which will allow them to treat an estimated additional 53,000 children in 29 States.

Funds awarded today will help create jobs for Americans across the country. Funds will support job opportunities as more Americans will be needed to meet the clinics' pressing capital needs - including construction, renovation and new equipment.

School-based health centers enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school, and improve the overall health and wellness of all children through health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities. Typically, a school-based clinic provides a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education, and health promotion activities.

"These grants will enable school-based health centers to establish new sites or upgrade their current facilities, which will increase their ability to provide preventive and primary health care services, and help children improve their health and remain healthy," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.

The Affordable Care Act provides $200 million in funding from 2010 - 2013 for the School-Based Health Center Capital Program to address significant and pressing capital needs and to improve delivery and support expansion of services at school-based health centers.

These grants are the second in the series of awards that will be made available to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the School-Based Health Center Capital Program.

A full list of new grantees is available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/12/20111208a_grantees.html .

To learn more about School-Based Health Centers, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/12/health-centers12082011a.html .

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit: www.healthcare.gov

Florida School Counselor Association on Facebook

2011-12-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

Florida Sca

Make sure to Friend FSCA on Facebook :)

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -

2011-12-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -: Do Something Young Social Change Activist Awards
Sponsor: Do Something
Submitted: 12/19/2011 2:18:00 PM

Do Something is accepting applications for the Do Something Awards honoring young social change activists, to support existing projects that were created and led by young people under the age of 25.

Five winners will receive a minimum of $10,000 in community grants and scholarships. One will be selected as the grand-prize winner and will receive a total of $100,000 in community grants paid directly to the nonprofit of his or her choice. Eligible applicants are youth under the age of 25 who lead a local social action project.

Deadline: March 1, 2012

Please note: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) does not administer this funding opportunity.   

Please contact Do Something for more information and to apply for this funding: http://www.dosomething.org/programs/awards

ASCAway: Helping Students Develop Creativity

2011-12-20T17:54:00.000-05:00

ASCAway: Helping Students Develop Creativity

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National STEM Video Game Challenge

2011-12-16T16:36:00.003-05:00

The 2012 National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Video Challenge is a new initiative in partnership with President Obama's Educate to Innovate Campaign, the U.S. Dept. of Education and Digital Promise, and is designed to unlock breakthrough technologies to transform teaching and learning. The Challenge is a multi-year competition with the goal to motivate interest in STEM learning among America's youth by tapping into students' natural passion for playing and making video games. The contest is open to students and game designers in four levels: middle school, high school, college and graduate students, and educators. Entrants have until March 12, 2012, to submit their games and ideas. For complete details, visit http://stemchallenge.org/Default.aspx.

National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest

2011-12-16T16:36:00.001-05:00

Fifth grade students throughout Florida are invited to submit an entry for the Missing Children's Day Poster Contest. Using the theme, "Bring Our Missing Children Home," students should design and draw a poster that reflects the theme and complete an application describing the importance of the theme. Each school can submit a poster for each 5th grade class that participates and the statewide winner will be chosen for entry into the national competition. The statewide winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Tallahassee for Florida Missing Children's Day in September 2012.

A complete packet of information can be found at: http://mecptraining.org/poster-contest/. If you have any questions or need additional information about this national contest, please send an email to mepic@fdle.state.fl.us or mc.day@fvtc.edu. Schools will need to submit their poster(s) to the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) by Jan. 31, 2012, for state-level judging to Jessica Davenport with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Florida's Graduation Rate Reaches New Heights

2011-12-16T16:33:00.001-05:00

Florida's Graduation Rate Reaches New Heights
The Sunshine State's graduation rate is at the highest level ever, continuing an upward trend despite a challenging budget year. Overall, Florida's graduation rate rose more than one full percentage point to 80.1 percent, up from 79.0 percent last year and up nearly 10 percentage points since 2006-07. Hispanic and African-American students also continue to graduate at higher levels, with the Hispanic graduation rate at 77.3 percent, up two percentage points from last year and up 13 percentage points since 2006-07. African-American students remained steady from 2009-10 with a graduation rate of 68.4 percent, and up 11.5 percentage points since 2006-07.

Florida's dropout rate continues to decline for the sixth straight year to 1.9 percent, a drop of 0.1 percentage points. For the first time the rate has fallen below two percent, which also represents a decline of 1.7 percent since 2006-07. For more information on Florida's graduation and dropout rates, visit http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/pubstudent.asp.

NCI launches smoking cessation support for teens, Monday, December 5, 2011 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

2011-12-15T11:40:00.000-05:00

NCI launches smoking cessation support for teens, Monday, December 5, 2011 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH): A new effort to help teens quit smoking will use one of today’s teen's most constant companions — the mobile phone. Developed by smoking cessation experts, SmokefreeTXT is a free text message cessation service that provides 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to teens trying to quit smoking. The initiative is led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Once they sign up, teens receive text messages timed according to their selected quit date. Following their quit date, they will continue receiving texts for up to six weeks — a critical piece of the SmokefreeTXT service, as research shows that cessation support continues to be important beyond the first few weeks of quitting. Teens can sign up online at teen.smokefree.gov or text QUIT to iQUIT (47848).

Digital Domain Institute Announces Licensing by Florida Department of Education | Reuters

2011-12-15T11:26:00.000-05:00

Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:29am EST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Digital Domain Institute Announces Licensing by Florida Department of Education

Students to receive education and professional certified training

through collaboration between Digital Domain Institute and The Florida State University

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (December 14, 2011) -- Florida is now home to a newly licensed, world-class animation and digital arts institute powered by Digital Domain Media Group (NYSE:DDMG), the parent company of Hollywood visual effects studio, Digital Domain. Through a public-private collaboration with The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, the new Digital Domain Institute (DDI) will stand in a class of its own, offering programs that combine creative and technical training with hands-on immersion in a studio environment. DDI received its licensing in September from the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education.

Students will have the opportunity to receive professional certified training at the Digital Domain Institute from "filmmakers in residence" who have directed, produced, or been involved in the creation of Cars 2, Gnomeo & Juliet and other major movies. After an intensive 10-week program in a specialized craft such as compositing, rotoscoping, matte painting and image acquisition, graduates will receive professional certification from Digital Domain -- an indication they are able to apply those skills in the growing digital media industry.

Additionally, as a result of the groundbreaking collaboration with The Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts, students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree will also have the opportunity to dual-enroll at both DDI and FSU. From FSU they will earn a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree from the renowned faculty at the College of Motion Picture Arts, along with professional certification from DDI. This combination of specialized training and lifelong learning will propel graduates to a unique status in the industry.

"Digital Domain Institute inspires those who aspire to blaze new trails in digital media," said Bruce Bullock, Director of Education at Digital Domain Institute. "Many of our instructors step into the classroom fresh from experience on major movies. Together with our DDI faculty, these creative pioneers prepare students with the technical skills that make them immediately marketable in this growing industry."

With curriculum guidance from Florida State University, Digital Domain Institute will be unlike any other professional training institution in the country. The quality of education students receive will be at the level required for best in class university accreditation.

Regarding the relationship with Digital Domain Institute, Frank Patterson, Dean of the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts said, "The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts has a mandate from the Florida Legislature to prepare students for successful careers in the motion picture industry. This collaboration with Digital Domain Institute helps us fulfill our mission at a whole new level."

For more information on professional training and dual-enrollment programs through the Digital Domain Institute, visit DigitalDomainInstitute.com.

About Digital Domain Institute

The Digital Domain Institute inspires the aspiring - those looking to blaze new trails in digital arts and animation. A subsidiary of Digital Domain Media Group, DDI sets a new standard in digital media education. Through an unprecedented public-private partnership with The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, DDI stands in a class of its own, offering programs that combine creative and technical training with hands-on immersion in a studio environment.

About Digital Domain Media Group

Digital Domain Media Group is an award-winning digital production company. Since its inception in 1993, it has been a leading provider of computer-generated ("CG") animation and digital visual effects ("VFX") for major motion picture studios and advertisers. The company, its work and its employees have been recognized with numerous entertainment industry awards and nominations, including seven awards issued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - three Academy Awards® for Best Visual Effects and four awards for Scientific and Technical Achievement. Our filmography of over 80 major motion pictures includes Thor, TRON: Legacy, the Transformers trilogy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Apollo 13 and Titanic. The company's digital production capabilities include the creation of CG animated content, performance capture, the conversion of two-dimensional ("2D") imagery into three- dimensional ("3D") imagery and CG visual effects such as fluid simulation, terrain generation and photorealistic animation.

Contact: Julie Miller

RazPR

310 450 1482

Julie@razpr.co

###

Bullying prevention, Promote an early college search

2011-12-15T10:27:00.001-05:00

• Bullying prevention takes teamwork

• Setting earlier deadlines is a must: Why counselors and admissions reps are promoting an earlier college search

• Congratulations to Super Counselor winner Christine McInnis, School Counselor, North High School, Torrance, California

• Free college night handouts – From SAT prep to taking college campus tours, we've got you covered

TG promotes educational access and success so that students can realize their college and career dreams. As a public, nonprofit corporation, TG offers resources to help students and families plan and prepare for college, learn the basics of money management, and repay their federal student loans.

For more information about TG, visit www.tgslc.org. To learn more about college and career planning, visit TG's Adventures in Education at www.AIE.org.

Can't order a copy of NextStepU Magazine for all of your students?
No worries! Let them know they can read their own free copy at NextStepU.com/eMag

Students have until Dec. 23rd to register for a chance to be one of the 2012 Super Teens. Lucky winners will be featured on the March 2012 cover, as well as be featured inside the magazine.

If you know a student you'd like to have considered for the Super Teens contest, nominate them using the application that can be found at NextStepU.com/SuperTeens.

• Social media sharing

• Ask the right questions to find the perfect career fit
• Community service/volunteerism
Schools add courses on Internet etiquette
According to an article in USA Today, more schools are adding coursework focused on Internet privacy, cyberbullying and electronic plagiarism. A high school in Philadelphia is training students to become better “digital citizens” by requiring freshman to learn about online ethical behavior. Administrators believe the class will empower students to speak out against cyberbullying and avoid traps on the web.

Obama meets with college presidents
President Obama invited the presidents of 10 colleges or state university systems to a meeting at the White House, according to InsideHigherEd.com. The meeting focused on college affordability, including how colleges can become more affordable while producing more graduates.

Sent by Next Step Publishing, Inc.
2 W. Main Street, Suite 200, Victor, NY 14564
585-742-1260 FAX 585-742-1263

--    ____________________________________________________  Russell A. Sabella, Ph.D.  www.SchoolCounselor.com www.Guardingkids.com www.twitter.com/rsabella http://about.me/sabella https://www.facebook.com/russ.sabella sabella@schoolcounselor.com  Phone: 239-471-4212 FAX: 239-542-1993  This e-mail transmission may contain information that is proprietary, privileged and/or confidential and is intended exclusively for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. Any use, copying, retention or disclosure by any person other than the intended recipient or the intended recipient's designees is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient or their designee, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete all copies.

FLHESpectator.com | A discerning eye for Florida higher ed news and information…

2011-12-11T09:20:00.001-05:00

http://flhespectator.com/

The daily aggregated headlines are arranged by Florida's major higher education sectors - state universities, state colleges, independent colleges and universities and occasionally for-profit and career colleges.

National STEM Video Game Challenge

2011-12-10T09:49:00.007-05:00

Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Scholarship

2011-12-10T09:49:00.005-05:00

The Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Scholarship provides 25 graduating high school seniors the opportunity to spend one year in Germany exploring their career interests. Each high school may nominate up to three students who possess the maturity and commitment necessary to be successful in an international exchange program. Applications are available at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/programs/cp_bundestag.asp and must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2012.

National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest

2011-12-10T09:49:00.003-05:00

What's on the Menu? Financial Education for Families

2011-12-10T09:49:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for an easy and exciting way for students and their families to learn about everyday finances and smart money decisions? The "What's on the Menu? Financial Education for Families" program may be just what you're looking for. Teachers can also request free resources, including a classroom poster with tips, tricks and lesson plans that strengthen the connection between the classroom and real world financial situations, and access online materials that include lesson plans, videos and more. Sign up now at http://volunteerusafoundation.org/programs/families/parent-workshops-tools/financial-workshop-for-families/ to schedule a free family-style workshop or to download materials. Contact Samantha Taylor at Samantha.taylor@volunteerusafund.org or call (352) 237-6685 for your free poster. Visit http://volunteerusafoundation.org/ for more information and to register.

GRE Concordance Table

2011-12-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

Verbal Reasoning Concordance Table

Live Chat Reminder – December 15th 12-1pm Eastern

2011-12-06T13:11:00.001-05:00


Live Chat Reminder December 15th 12-1pm Eastern
	Mark your calendars! The National Center on RTI encourages you to participate in our upcoming live chat on December 15th 12-1pm Eastern. The presenters of the Center's webinar entitled: "Idaho's Specific Learning Disability Criteria" which is located at the following link: http://rti4success.org/webinars/video/1029 will be available to answer your questions live. Please watch the webinar, then send in questions ahead of time to our email address at RTIwebinars@air.org with the subject line: "Live Chat". We look forward to seeing you online!
	*If you have recommendations of other colleagues or members of your team who might benefit from our emails:* Please click "reply" and type "ADD" in the subject line. Please provide the contact's name, email, and job title.
National Center on Response to Intervention - 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW - Washington D.C. 20007 www.rti4success.org

Board Nominations 2011

2011-11-28T12:17:00.000-05:00

At this time of year, the Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) Board solicits candidates for its Governing Board. Please helping us identify the next generation of Florida’s school counseling leadership by seeking an elected office or by encouraging those you believe to be talented leaders in your area to become candidates for one of the following FSCA offices:

President Elect (President-Elect, President, Past-President) 2012-2015

High School Level Vice President, 2012-2014

Post Secondary Level Vice President, 2012-2014

Region 1 Vice President, (Panhandle) 2012-2014 (Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, Washington)

Region 3 Vice President, (East Central) 2012-2014 (Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia, Flagler)

Region 5 Vice President, (South) 2012-2014 (Broward, Miami-Dade, Hendry, Monroe, Palm Beach)

Elections will be held later this year and terms of office begin on July 1 and end on June 30. The deadline for turning in a nomination packet is January 19th, 2012 at midnight.

While there are some face-to-face meetings and responsibilities, most of the duties of board members are accomplished using technology -- telephone, e-mail, or snail mail. All Governing Board members are expected to participate in all FSCA Board meetings, the annual convention (in St. Petersburg, FL. for 2012), and the Summer Academy in June (location to be determined). Board members may also be asked to represent FSCA at state or regional meetings, professional development, and other professional activities.

Members of the Governing Board do not receive any financial compensation for their service however; they are reimbursed for travel expenses and other costs. Those who have been involved have recognized the other benefits of this leadership experience that includes networking, learning about school counseling issues and strategies to advocate for the profession and for school counseling issues, collegiality, and professional and personal development. FSCA makes every attempt to schedule travel during weekends to minimize board members’ time away from school.

Those interested in becoming board members should complete the Nominations and Elections packet found below. You may email it directly to me at electionsfsca@gmail.com. Please contact me, or the FSCA office, if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Curtis T. Jenkins
FSCA Past President
Nominations and Elections Committee Chair
850-245-7844

Complete descriptions of these positions and their responsibilities can be found in FSCA's By-Laws available online at http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/downloads/FSCA-Bylaws.pdf. All elected officers become members of the FSCA Governing Board and Delegate Assembly.

To be eligible to run (and vote) one must be a FSCA Professional or Retired member currently in good standing. To nominate (self or other) and complete the process, download, complete, and submit an application.

PDF Version here.

KidCare Act Out for Health Contest Accepting Entries

2011-11-28T10:39:00.001-05:00

The annual KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest is still accepting student entries for television public service announcements, billboards and essays. Students in grades 4-12 are eligible to design a billboard, write an essay or create a 30-second commercial that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Lesson plans for teachers are also available. The deadline to submit an entry is Jan. 6, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.actoutforhealth.org.

2012 Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Scholarship

2011-11-23T10:57:00.001-05:00

The Department of Education has issued the following memorandum regarding the 2012 Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Scholarship. The memorandum may be viewed at:

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6251/12cbves.pdf (Memo)

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6252/12cbvesa.pdf (Attachment A)

New and Noteworthy

2011-11-20T14:54:00.001-05:00

New and Noteworthy

From ASCA

Social Networking Resource for the College-Bound: CollegeSolved.com has created a way to make the college search and admissions process more personal for students and their families. The site includes comparison tools, school recommendation engine and graduate pay data. Students can even see how their personality fits with other students on campuses across the United States.

Help Students with Unmet Mental Health Needs: The REACH Institute has developed a white paper and toolkit highlighting 11 symptom profiles that may indicate a child has a severe mental health disorder. Download the Action Signs Toolkit.

Sexual Harassment Prevalence: A new AAUW survey shares information on the prevalence of sexual harassment in grades 7-12 and recommendations for preventing sexual harassment.

November is National Runaway Prevention Month: Download a Community Action Toolkit for ways you can get involved, engage the media and raise awareness about the issues facing runaway youth. Learn more.

Job Demand Forecast: Check out a new report, Career Clusters: Forecasting Demand for High School Through College Jobs, 2008-2018, which identifies 16 career clusters, their occupational opportunities and educational requirements. Learn more.

Community Service Opportunity: ClassWish.org seeks your help in introducing students to a community service program that helps provide better-equipped classrooms. Students can start ClassWish community service clubs or participate in an online micro-volunteering program where daily missions let them improve their classrooms in 56 seconds a day. Learn more.

Student Bullying Report: The National Center for Education Statistics released findings on bullying and cyberbullying. The selected findings are for the 2008-2009 school year. Learn more.

NOSCA Annual Survey - College Board - Advocacy | NOSCA: National Office for School Counselor Advocacy

2011-11-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

NOSCA Annual Survey - College Board - Advocacy | NOSCA: National Office for School Counselor Advocacy:

Counseling at a Crossroads: The Perspectives and Promise of School Counselors in American Education

NOSCA’s first nationally representative survey uncovered the perspectives of middle and high school counselors on measures of accountability and education policies and practices. We learned what challenges they face and what solutions might be found to better leverage the extraordinary resource that school counselors represent.

'via Blog this'

Governor Scott Proclamation regarding ASVAB

2011-11-18T11:29:00.002-05:00

Moms 4 Family TV | Moms 4 Family TV

2011-11-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

Coming November 22: A Sweepstakes from Vocalpoint.com with a Chance to Win $5000 for your school. We’ll send you the link next week!

Please share the news about Family Movie Night with your colleagues and students through:

· Email, blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, and tune in on December 2!

· Visit www.moms4familyTV.com for more information on how you can support family television by becoming an Education Mom4FamilyTV!

· “Like” us on Facebook www.facebook.com/moms4familytv so we can keep you updated on future features.

Your support ensures that quality TV is here to stay! Enjoy your Family Movie Night and thank you for all that you do!

Doing What Works: Forward in Solution-Focused Change: Tiny task to unstuck yourself

2011-11-15T22:54:00.000-05:00

Doing What Works: Forward in Solution-Focused Change: Tiny task to unstuck yourself: Do you know the feeling of being stuck? Do you know that type situation in which you would like to do something interesting and useful but...

FSCA 2012 Convention

2011-11-12T09:58:00.000-05:00

FSCA 2012 Convention

On behalf of the Florida School Counselor Association I would like to extend our invitation for you to attend our Fifth Annual Convention:

FSCA 2012 CONVENTION

AT THE
HILTON ST. PETERSBURG BAYFRONT HOTEL
NOVEMBER 1 - 3, 2012

Pre-Convention Workshops & Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 1, 2012

Breakout Session & Awards Banquet:
Friday, November 2, 2012

Breakout Sessions & Delegate Assembly:
Saturday, November 3, 2012

FSCA's reputation for outstanding and relevant professional development is what makes our conventions so successful.

Thank you for your participation and commitment to our profession and to our Florida School Counselor Association. We appreciate your continued support as we move forward with exciting and important new activities and programs and as we raise the bar and become an advocacy organization.

Sincerely,

Christopher B. Smith President
Florida School Counselor Association

Florida School Counselor Association P.O. Box 752 Safety Harbor, FL 34695
www.fla-schoolcounselor.org

The Pros & Cons of Choosing an Online University

2011-11-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

Online Universities Guide:

Today’s economy is greatly influencing the post-secondary school industry. As the rate of unemployment rises above the clouds, competition for jobs is skyrocketing, too. That means adults who find their skills becoming antiquated when pitted against those of recent college grads are going back to school. But when furthering education is yet another cog in the endless wheel of full-time work, family, and other obligations, structured class time just doesn’t work for most. Undergrads on limited budgets find that the gas expense of commuting to class and the wear and tear on their vehicles is taking a toll on their bank accounts, and their stress levels. There is a pattern here. The popularity of attending college on-line is growing by leaps and bounds. When the student says it’s time for class, that can have some very convenient advantages. But there are some disadvantages, too. Visit these links for information that points to the reasons for the growth in on-line college enrollment, and to look at the pros and cons of taking an online course of study.

http://www.onlineuniversity.net/

FOSI's New Report Evaluates the Global State of Online Safety in 2011

2011-11-11T21:49:00.001-05:00

November 10, 2011

FOSI's New Report Evaluates the Global State of Online Safety in 2011

Washington D.C. - Today, FOSI publishes its State of Online Safety Report to coincide with its Fifth Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Containing more than 60 pages of expert commentary and analysis, this exciting new report includes comprehensive regional profiles, maps and best practice case studies. Complete with a global overview of risks and insights into topics like digital citizenship, it brings together in one document a comprehensive appraisal of the state of online safety in 2011.

This report is based upon the findings from FOSI's Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID), a unique online portal which provides users with extensive information on education, regulation, safety initiatives and usage from 194 countries, the 50 US states, and the Canadian and Australian provinces. GRID aggregates content and showcases best practice, much of which has never before been translated into English. This information will provide an invaluable resource for everyone involved in the quickly evolving online safety world, with examples of reasonable oversight measures, best practices, new markets, innovative ideas and baseline statistics.

To download the State of Online Safety Report go to www.fosi.org/resources/fosi-publications.html and register for free access to GRID at www.fosigrid.org

Funded by Nominet Trust, this report has also received generous support from FOSI members, who have contributed generously to GRID in terms of time, material, expertise and sponsorship to the ensure its high quality and success.

Giving students a voice

2011-11-11T21:48:00.001-05:00

Giving students a voice

They are our future, so shouldn’t they have a say in how their futures are built? Children’s Week, an annual celebration that is taking place this year from Jan 29 - Feb 3rd, supported by more than 100 organizations, is giving students a voice in everything from early childhood education to substance abuse treatment through its "Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting.

The meeting gives teens the opportunity to ask questions of the government officials, policy makers, children's developmental professionals and advocacy experts that are a part of the 20-member Florida Children and Youth Cabinet.

But there is more! The students voice doesn’t end there.

As of last year, students selected for the "Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting are official members of the 12-student Youth Commission for the State of Florida! This Commission represents youth across the state and act as an advisory body to the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet. A Commission representative attends all Cabinet meetings and provides updates to the Cabinet on current issues facing Florida's youth.

We are encouraging ALL students across the state of Florida from ages 13-18 to apply to be a part of this great opportunity. The nomination deadline is quickly approaching, so please be sure to get your application in by Nov. 18!

Application available at http://www.childrensweek.org/events/CWYNominationForm2012.pdf

Florida Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC) at the University of South Florida (USF) | Programs/Services

2011-11-03T21:25:00.000-04:00

Florida Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC) at the University of South Florida (USF) | Programs/Services:

The Florida PIRC at USF supports its partners in reaching the public with opportunities involving education and is committed to making available information that encourages parental involvement in education for student achievement

Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts

2011-10-31T16:22:00.003-04:00

The Florida State University (FSU) College of Motion Picture Arts is now accepting applications for admission to a new landmark animation and visual arts program. The new program will fill 100 freshman and 100 sophomore slots for the 2012-13 academic year for students interested in visual effects and digital arts. The University has partnered with the Digital Domain Media Group, parent company of the award-winning visual effects pioneer Digital Domain, which has created innovative visuals for more than 80 movies. Completers of the Animation and Digital Arts program will graduate with not only a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, but they will also receive professional training and certification in sub-specialties of their choice. To watch Dean of the FSU College of Motion Picture Arts Frank Patterson speak about the program, visit http://media.film.fsu.edu/DDI/; password: digital2011. For more information, visit http://film.fsu.edu.

KidCare Act Out for Health Contest Accepting Entries

2011-10-31T16:22:00.001-04:00

The annual KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest is now accepting student entries for television public service announcements, billboards and essays. Students in grades 4-12 are eligible to design a billboard, write an essay or create a 30-second commercial that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Lesson plans for teachers are also available. The deadline to submit an entry is Jan. 6, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.actoutforhealth.org.

FACTS.org: Academic Advising and Career Planning for Florida’s Middle School, High School, and College Students

2011-10-28T17:37:00.000-04:00

More than ever, Florida students depend on guidance counselors for accurate information and

careful academic planning. Students and parents count on current and accurate information from

counselors regarding Florida’s State University System admission requirements, 2+2 program and

guaranteed articulation agreement, acceleration mechanisms, new high school graduation

requirements and other postsecondary transition options.

One valuable resource for counselors is the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook. This

publication, updated annually, provides a comprehensive reference guide to postsecondary

education in Florida. Sections taken directly from the Handbook can be used as handouts at parent

meetings, advising sessions, or as supplements to a school’s own curriculum guide. The Handbook is

available at www.FACTS.org, under Counselors and Educators > Advising Manuals.

We hope you find the 2011-2012 Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook helpful, and

welcome your input for future improvements. The dedicated work of guidance counselors is greatly

appreciated.

New Tools & Resources for Principals & School Counselors

2011-10-28T14:51:00.001-04:00

New Tools & Resources for Principals & School Counselors

DOWNLOAD FREE TOOLS that help principals and school counselors work together to improve student success.

Greater student success can result when principals and counselors work as a team. However, to be effective, principals and counselors must understand each other’s role and learn to collaborate. The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive new resource, the Principal-Counselor Relationship Toolkit.

Developed by the College Board’s National Office of School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the Toolkit provides resources, worksheets, joint planning exercises and case studies that help principals and school counselors enhance their working relationship.

The Toolkit is divided into six sections:

Getting Started
Communication
Trust & Respect
Leadership
Collaborative Planning
Advanced Practice

Download this user-friendly toolkit today!

The Toolkit is based on a national survey of principals and school counselors conducted NOSCA, NASSP and ASCA. The survey, published in A Closer Look at the Principal-Counselor Relationship (.pdf/1.52MB. Requires Adobe Reader; latest version recommended), found significant gaps between the beliefs principals and counselors have about their working relationships in a number of areas. The Principal-Counselor Toolkit provides background and tools that principals and school counselors can use to build their relationships, leading to increased academic success and college-going by their students.

Download now and gain access to tools that will help principals and counselors understand each other’s role and collaborate effectively as a team.

Important Links

For more information about NOSCA, visit www.collegeboard.com/nosca.

College Board Advocacy & Policy Center
The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center was established to help transform education in America. Guided by the College Board’s principles of excellence and equity in education, we work to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. We make critical connections between policy, research and real-world practice to develop innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges in education today. advocacy.collegeboard.org

Mobile Learning | Apps | Florida Virtual School

2011-10-28T12:56:00.000-04:00

NEW! FLVS has gone mobile!
	goFLVS Peruse the course catalog, set customized monthly call and assignment reminders, check out the events calendar, get one-click access to our website, browse our mobile learning apps, and connect with us, all on the go.

2011 CONVENTION SCHEDULE ONLINE

2011-10-27T16:22:00.001-04:00

You deserve a break!

2011-10-24T12:29:00.000-04:00

Take some time for yourself ..

You deserve to get away, renew, and re-energize with high quality and relevant professional development, networking, and fun!

FSCA 2011 Convention Program
and Poster Presentations

The program has been updated to include dates, times, and rooms. See below for a preview.

Download a preview of the program now:

View Online:

Don't miss out, register now!

Convention Registration Is Now Open! Use FSCA's 123 signup system to register for the convention, preconvention workshops, and the awards banquet. The system makes it as easy as 123! Register now. Need extra tickets to the awards banquet? Click here.

YOU CAN DEDUCT CONVENTION EXPENSES FROM YOUR TAXES: If you are paying for the FSCA Convention out of your own pocket, you can deduct the expenses from your taxes. Registration fees for educational conferences are 100% deductible if the education maintains or improves the skills related to the attendee's trade or business. Additionally, your transportation expenses, including airfare, mileage, reasonable taxi and shuttle fares, for traveling from your place of business to the convention are 100% deductible, as are lodging expenses. Meals are 50% deductible. Remember to keep your receipts. Of course, if your employer reimburses you for your expenses, you may not deduct them from your taxes. For further details, check with your tax professional.

Florida School Counselor Association
P.O. Box 752
Safety Harbor, Fl 34695-0752 Phone or Fax: (888) 785-8611
Email: fsca@fla-schoolcounselor.org

Educational Games | Overview

2011-10-20T13:08:00.000-04:00

Educational Games | Overview:

For immediate release October 20, 2011

New game uses pirates to teach privacy protection skills to Canadian children

Ottawa – Media Awareness Network (MNet) has launched Privacy Pirates, a new interactive resource to teach children about online privacy and how to distinguish between public and private information when playing on the Internet. The game was unveiled today by MNet’s Director of Education Matthew Johnsonat the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

“For the most part, the Internet is an unregulated universe where users are constantly prodded for information regardless of their age; and children often lack the skills to understand how to protect their privacy on the sites they visit,” said Mr. Johnson. “Privacy Pirates explores the different scenarios kids encounter online and helps them understand what information is appropriate to give out and what information is better kept private.”

In the game, children attempt to assemble a map leading to pirate treasure -- introducing the concept that their information has value. Along the way, players encounter a variety of situations in which they are asked to give up information. Making the correct choice – based on the type of information they’re being asked to give, and the context in which they are being asked – is rewarded with an additional piece of the treasure map.

Privacy Pirates was developed with financial support from Google. It is part of MNet’s extensive suite of digital literacy games, which are freely available on its website at http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/index.cfm.

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Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. MNet's programs are funded by its public and private sector sponsors, donors and partners, who include: Bell Media • Shaw •Bell • TELUS • CIRA • Google • National Film Board of Canada • Government of Canada.

Cathy Wing, Co-Executive Director, Media Awareness Network

613-224-7721 , Ext. 227, cwing@media-awareness.ca

Florida School Counselor Association

2011-10-19T21:11:00.000-04:00

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2011 Convention Program and Poster UPDATE

2011-10-19T21:04:00.002-04:00

Updated 2011 Convention Program

2011 Convention Program
and Poster Presentations

The program has been updated to include dates, times, and rooms. See below for a preview.

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FSCA 2011 Convention Program
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