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December 1, 2011
Dear Colleagues,
The Florida School Counselor
Association (FSCA) has taken a
BOLD
step!
 The
work of counselors in every school needs to be recognized, model
school counseling programs need to be supported, assigned tasks
need to be relevant to the state frameworks, and the number of
students school counselors serve needs to align more with ASCA
recommendations. School counselors’ training, experience, and
focus on student achievement, preparation for the rigors of
lifelong learning and career success needs to be supported in
policy at the District and state levels of government. In
keeping with the ASCA model and Florida School Counseling
Frameworks, FSCA is ramping up its leadership and advocacy role.
School counselors’ jobs should be protected and recognized for
the success of their efforts in developing responsive programs
and increasing student performance and not be easily cut to
balance a budget.
In its annual accountability evaluation,
FSCA’s Governing Board recognized that it has achieved most of
its’ mission and key strategic goals: supporting relevant
professional development, creating a cost-efficient structure
for the organization’s management, and facilitating effective
communication mechanisms through the website and quarterly
newsletter; but the board has not adequately created a structure
for its advocacy efforts. While we have an excellent advocacy
platform, the FSCA leadership is eager to "get to the next
level." We actively researched advocacy models around the
country. We could continue relying on our great website and
relevant professional development opportunities, but we feel it
is time to enhance our advocacy efforts and move FSCA to be more
than a member service organization. We believe that our next
step is to make our advocacy role around the state and
especially in Tallahassee priority one.
The Exciting News...
To provide experience and expertise in the
area of political advocacy, we have entered into a contract with
Capitol Strategies Consulting, Inc. who will be working for
Florida school counselors to advocate more effectively and to
help write, pass and enact “model legislation” that draws from
the ASCA National Model, Florida Frameworks, and successful
legislation from around the country. We believe that student
success depends upon exposure to effective school counseling
programs that require:
•
Every school should have at least a full time certified,
professional school counselor;
•
Counselors must be expected and allowed to do the job for
which they are trained;
•
Schools and districts must attempt to follow the national
model’s ratio of 1:250 for ALL students to benefit from
well-planned and accountable school counseling programs;
•
School Counselor should be the term for what we do
in the 21st century, the title guidance counselor
detracts from our contemporary knowledge, skills and
accomplishments;
•
Counselors must be evaluated on the work they are trained
to do and the measurable differences they make with students.
This Will Take Work and Funding...
We know this is a long term commitment and
may take several years to accomplish. However, we have already
identified key legislative champions who are willing to help
craft legislation and move it through the process of voting and
ratification. We believe that this initiative will benefit
students in all educational settings by providing the leadership
needed for setting standards for school counseling programs and
school counselor roles.
 In
November during Convention, more than 50 of our members/leaders
met at the Delegate Assembly and unanimously voted to increase
dues by 50%, effective January 1, 2012 to support the advocacy
efforts and the mission of the organization. The largest
increase is to professional members which will cost $15 more per
year. All agreed this will be a critical investment in our own
professional future and the success of our students. This is
our first increase in over twenty years and all extra dues will
be earmarked towards our advocacy efforts.
Watch our website as we update and roll-out
our new Advocacy page. Please sign-up for legislative alerts,
and get to know your local delegation when they are home from
Tallahassee. Let them know school counselors support student
success every day.
Renew your membership, invite a colleague
to join, join an existing chapter or create a new chapter of
FSCA if none is available in your area. Remember that numbers
matter in Tallahassee. Don’t wait for others to lead; step
forward, lead and advocate for our students and your
professional future.
Sincerely,
Christopher B. Smith
President
Florida School Counselor Association
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