Linda Sánchez Honors School Counselors Across the Country (Jan. 26 2011)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Linda T. Sánchez introduced a resolution that would declare February 7 – 11, 2009 "National School Counseling Week" in honor of the important role school counselors play in the lives of students all across the country. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Madeline Bordallo (D-GU), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), David Loebsack (D-IA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Betty Sutton (D-OH), and Ed Towns (D-NY).

"School counselors in my district work to ensure every child receives the out-of-class support they need to enter their classrooms ready and able to learn," said Rep. Linda Sánchez. "They also help struggling students access the right resources and assistance to reach their full academic potential."

The average counselor-to-student ratio in America's public schools is a mere one to 457, a ratio that means school counselors must work extremely hard to meet individual educational needs of students. Despite their limited supply, school counselors can identify potential problems early in a student's career and make sure they are addressed before a student becomes overwhelmed and drops out. This is particularly important given the nation's need to increase student performance nationwide.

"School counselors are crucial in helping to improve the academic achievement of our students and to help prepare them for fulfilling lives after graduation," said Vanessa Gomez of Bayside Community Day School School, Moveno Valley, CA. "We applaud Rep. Linda Sánchez and the U.S. House of Representatives for their continued efforts to support the students of this country and to recognize school counselors for our contributions to student success."

This resolution is part of Rep. Sánchez' drive to make schools safer, to provide additional counseling and student support in low-income schools, and to increase academic achievement and graduation rates. The American School Counselor Association and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling support this legislation.