Sánchez introduces legislation to designate “National School Counseling Week”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) today introduced an annual resolution to designate the week of February 6 through 10 as "National School Counseling Week," something she has done since 2008.

"I am proud to recognize the tireless work of school counselors each year during National School Counseling Week," said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. "School counselors not only provide guidance when it comes to college and career choices, but also critical support for students as they navigate the challenges of growing up."

Congresswoman Sánchez has long been an advocate for school counselors across the country. In addition to the resolution, Congresswoman Sánchez also introduced the Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, which would put more counselors in high schools with graduation rates of 60 percent or lower.

The American School Counselor Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and other organizations recommend a ratio of one school counselor to 250 students, and a lower ratio for counselors working primarily with students at risk. However, the average counselor-to-student ratio in America's public schools is one to 408, a ratio that hardly allows for individual attention and intensive support. Even worse, in California's public schools, that average ratio is a staggering 509 students per counselor.

Both the resolution and the Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act are supported by the American School Counselor Association and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Susie Lee (D-NV), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), and Adam Smith (D-WA).

The Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act is cosponsored by Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Adam Smith (D-WA).

Full text of the Put School Counselors Where They Are Needed Act Here is here.

Full text of the resolution designating National School Counseling Week ishere.

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