Advocate for Pennsylvania's House Bill 1665: The PA School Counseling Services Act
Advocate for Pennsylvania's House Bill 1665: The PA School Counseling Services Act
The Issue
As aspiring school counselors in Pennsylvania, we are deeply invested in the well-being and future of our students. We believe in the essential role of school counselors and the impact they bring to students and their communities. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is the ONLY state in the United States that does not require school districts to outline comprehensive school counseling programs or require school counselor staffing in schools. For the sake of students across all socioeconomic and geographical boundaries in Pennsylvania, we need to take action!
We are seeking support for House Bill 1665, the Pennsylvania School Counseling Services Act. This act seeks to clarify the services students and their families can expect from school counselors. Given the circumstances our country is currently facing, schools are grappling to find ways to effectively support their students. The passage of this bill would provide not only a roadmap but also a promise of consistent services available to all students, regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.
According to the American School Counselor Association, school counselors advocate for the mental health needs of all students by offering instruction that enhances awareness of mental health, helping with academic, career, and social/emotional development, providing short-term counseling, and connecting students to community resources for long-term support.
Along with this, the percentage of all students enrolled in a school that does not have a counselor for any part of the day had declined from 11.4% in 2014 to 5.6% in 2023. This decline reflects significant progress in Pennsylvania, and we should keep working to reduce it further.
By advocating for House Bill 1665, we're pushing for a future where every K-12 student in Pennsylvania has access to comprehensive school counseling services, ensuring they are well-prepared for post-secondary opportunities or entering the workforce.
Please join us in this fight for equality in education by signing this petition. Support House Bill 1665 and invest in the future of Pennsylvania's K-12 students now!
For more information about school counselors and their roles and responsibilities, feel free to look at the links below:
158
The Issue
As aspiring school counselors in Pennsylvania, we are deeply invested in the well-being and future of our students. We believe in the essential role of school counselors and the impact they bring to students and their communities. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is the ONLY state in the United States that does not require school districts to outline comprehensive school counseling programs or require school counselor staffing in schools. For the sake of students across all socioeconomic and geographical boundaries in Pennsylvania, we need to take action!
We are seeking support for House Bill 1665, the Pennsylvania School Counseling Services Act. This act seeks to clarify the services students and their families can expect from school counselors. Given the circumstances our country is currently facing, schools are grappling to find ways to effectively support their students. The passage of this bill would provide not only a roadmap but also a promise of consistent services available to all students, regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.
According to the American School Counselor Association, school counselors advocate for the mental health needs of all students by offering instruction that enhances awareness of mental health, helping with academic, career, and social/emotional development, providing short-term counseling, and connecting students to community resources for long-term support.
Along with this, the percentage of all students enrolled in a school that does not have a counselor for any part of the day had declined from 11.4% in 2014 to 5.6% in 2023. This decline reflects significant progress in Pennsylvania, and we should keep working to reduce it further.
By advocating for House Bill 1665, we're pushing for a future where every K-12 student in Pennsylvania has access to comprehensive school counseling services, ensuring they are well-prepared for post-secondary opportunities or entering the workforce.
Please join us in this fight for equality in education by signing this petition. Support House Bill 1665 and invest in the future of Pennsylvania's K-12 students now!
For more information about school counselors and their roles and responsibilities, feel free to look at the links below:
158
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on November 24, 2024