KSCA Advocacy for Our Profession
By Judy Hughey | January 2019
Happy National School Counseling Week! On behalf of the KSCA Executive Board, I thank you for everything you do to enhance the academic, career and social/emotional growth of all students. Your work creating a safe learning environment, addressing the needs of ALL students and responding to mental health issues makes a significant positive impact on student development and learning.
Goal 2 of the KSCA Strategic Plan 2018-2023, reads: Advocacy: To advocate for all Kansas licensed school counselors by educating legislative, school policy makers, and other stakeholders about the role of the school counselor and comprehensive school counseling programs.
The KSCA board is energized to advocate for our profession during this challenging time for many students and families. A comprehensive school counseling program implemented by licensed professional school counselors is an integral component of a school’s academic mission. For maximum program effectiveness, ASCA recommends a counselor-student ratio of 1:250. The 2015-16 Kansas ratio, according to National Center for Educational Statistics data, was one counselor to 446 students. States are required to annually submit to the U.S. Department of Education areas of educator shortage. Unfortunately, school counselors are not included on the Kansas Teacher Shortage List. This omission creates significant barriers to Kansas school counselors, including disqualification on select loan repayment programs and grant programs. View the Kansas professions included on the 2018-2019 Teacher Shortage List on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Goal 2 of the KSCA Strategic Plan 2018-2023, reads: Advocacy: To advocate for all Kansas licensed school counselors by educating legislative, school policy makers, and other stakeholders about the role of the school counselor and comprehensive school counseling programs.
The KSCA board is energized to advocate for our profession during this challenging time for many students and families. A comprehensive school counseling program implemented by licensed professional school counselors is an integral component of a school’s academic mission. For maximum program effectiveness, ASCA recommends a counselor-student ratio of 1:250. The 2015-16 Kansas ratio, according to National Center for Educational Statistics data, was one counselor to 446 students. States are required to annually submit to the U.S. Department of Education areas of educator shortage. Unfortunately, school counselors are not included on the Kansas Teacher Shortage List. This omission creates significant barriers to Kansas school counselors, including disqualification on select loan repayment programs and grant programs. View the Kansas professions included on the 2018-2019 Teacher Shortage List on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Based on openings in Kansas, shortages in multiple other states documented onthe U.S. Department of Education Teacher Shortage List and requests to counselor educators for school counselors, the need for additional licensed school counselors is clear. KSCA are seeking clarification and the opportunity to review and discuss data and submission protocols.
Please know that the KSCA and KACES Executive Boards are committed to addressing these critical issues. We know KSDE shares our goals for students and families and values school counselors and school counseling programs. KSDE has demonstrated their dedication to the role and responsibilities of school counselors by their emphasis on college and career readiness and social/emotional growth in the launch of the Redesign Schools. We look forward to working collaboratively with KSDE in addressing these recruitment and retention issues.
Listed below is a summary of recommendations created by KACES and KSCA that will serve as a foundation for professional advocacy.
Please know that the KSCA and KACES Executive Boards are committed to addressing these critical issues. We know KSDE shares our goals for students and families and values school counselors and school counseling programs. KSDE has demonstrated their dedication to the role and responsibilities of school counselors by their emphasis on college and career readiness and social/emotional growth in the launch of the Redesign Schools. We look forward to working collaboratively with KSDE in addressing these recruitment and retention issues.
Listed below is a summary of recommendations created by KACES and KSCA that will serve as a foundation for professional advocacy.
- Advocate with the Kansas legislature to expand funding targeted for licensed school counselors.
- Abide by a ratio no greater than one licensed school counselor to 250 students, as recommended by KSCA and ASCA.
- Allow and expect licensed school counselors to spend 80 percent of time on direct and indirect services with students.
- Require for accreditation implementation of P–12 comprehensive school counseling programs.
- Support and incentivize the development of programs designed to increase the number of licensed school counselors. Examples could include grow your own identified personnel, district cohorts, financial support for candidates, state funded scholarships and loan repayment.
- Increase the minimum hours of professional development on the topic of death by suicide in the Jason Flatt Act from the current mandate of one hour (Statute 72-6284) to a minimum of two hours required for all school personnel.
- Revise the Kansas Teacher Shortage List survey to ensure collection of valid and reliable data.
- Publicize the student loan repayment programs for specified areas and shortages.
- Create systems to align pay scale for counselors similar to education needed (60 graduate credit hours, and other incentives), aligned with other mental health professionals in the school setting (stipends).
Please consider helping our professional advocacy efforts by contacting your district member of the Kansas State Board of Education, local state representative or senator, U.S. representative or senator, and/or the Kansas chair of the House and Senate Education Committees. See the KSCA website for names and contact information.
If you are not a member of KSCA, please consider joining! We need your help to increase the influence of our recommendations! Of course, there are many other reasons for joining KSCA – great conferences, professional development, networking and more. Please go to the KSCA webpage and join for only $35! We appreciate your considering this request in a timely manner; contact any KSCA board member if you have questions.
Thank you for all your work to make a positive difference in the lives of students!
Contact Dr. Judy Hughey, KSCA president, at jhughey@ksu.edu.
If you are not a member of KSCA, please consider joining! We need your help to increase the influence of our recommendations! Of course, there are many other reasons for joining KSCA – great conferences, professional development, networking and more. Please go to the KSCA webpage and join for only $35! We appreciate your considering this request in a timely manner; contact any KSCA board member if you have questions.
Thank you for all your work to make a positive difference in the lives of students!
Contact Dr. Judy Hughey, KSCA president, at jhughey@ksu.edu.