A Call to Action in Supporting HB 4667

Hello School Counselor Advocates!

I am writing to urge you to contact your state reprentative and urge them to cosponsor Rep. Donigan’s legislation seeking a three year grant to lower school counselor to student ratio in select school districts serving high risk students. Michigan currently ranks 47th in the nation with an average K-12 ratio of 1 school counselor to 628 students (ASCA, 2006). The bill is asking for funding to reduce this to the recommended level of 250: 1.

How to find your Representative?

A quick way to find your state representative is to link to Association of Michigan School Counselor's PPL webpage and click on “Find your Representative”. You will see a list of representatives that you can scroll down, or at the top of the page, you can search by your zip code. The following is direct link to this page: http://www.michiganschoolcounseling.org/ppl_find_rep.htm

What should I say?

Briefly state the urgency to reduce the ratio of school counselors to students and the impact this is having on Michigan students. This bill is a first step in better serving the educational needs of children in the state.

Encourage their support of HB 4667 being introduced by Representative Donigan to amend the School Aid Act of 1979 establishing a three year grant for reducing School Counselor Ratios in selected school districts serving at risk student populations.

Urge them to cosponsor this bill with Representative Donigan. Feel free to utilize documents on the AMSC webpage for assistance at http://www.michiganschoolcounseling.org/ppl.htm

Thank them for their consideration in support of Michigan children as well as the work they do on behalf of your district and the state of Michigan.

When should I do this?

Right now! Also, please pass this on (as well as the link to the AMSC PPL page) to supporters of our efforts to increase the presence of school counselors in Michigan Schools. In a context of diminishing resources regarding Michigan education, now is the perfect time to be advocating for the interventions and programs that school counselors provide students, families, faculty, and communities on a daily basis.

Thank you for all the work you do and as always….best wishes, Colin Ward

Public Policy Update (2/09)

School Counselor Ratio Grant
A Bill to Amend the School Aid Act of 1979
Overview

In a climate of diminishing resources and inadequate funding, Michigan schools are becoming increasingly more selective in deciding which programs to offer their students. This is evidenced by the alarming increase in Michigan’s student to school counselor ratio. Although the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends a ratio of 1 school counselor to 250 students to adequately meet the needs of students, Michigan currently ranks 47th in the nation with an average K-12 ratio of 1 school counselor to 628 students (ASCA, 2006).

In response to these growing student challenges and to the pressures to implement standards-based educational programs, the Association of Michigan School Counselors and the Michigan School Counselor Association are jointly introducing a bill to amend the School Aid Act of 1979. The proposed legislation establishes a three year grant for reducing School Counselor Ratios in selected school districts serving at risk student populations. Administered by the Michigan Department of Education, the bill would require awarded districts to submit annual evaluation reports to demonstrate the impact that a lower school counselor to student ratio will have on student achievement, school safely, attendance, discipline, graduation rate, and postsecondary choices.

Action Points
1. Please visit the AMSC PPL webpage and take a look at the proposed legislation, supporting documentation, and other pertinent information at http://www.michiganschoolcounseling.org/ppl.htm The current members of the Michigan Education Committee are also available on this site. The Chair of this important committee is Representative Tim Melton, who we will be encouraging to place our proposed legislation on an upcoming agenda for review.

2. Representative Marie Donigan has agreed to champion the School Counselor Ratio bill. Please send her a note of gratitude for leading the way on behalf of school counselors and the students and families in which we serve. Her contact information is:
Marie Donigan
N 0790 House Office Building
P. O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
mariedonigan@house.mi.gov
517-373-3818 (phone)
517-373-5888 (fax)

Thank you all your efforts on in support of school counseling. Encouraging decision makers to reflect on the level of education they are willing to settle for in Michigan is critical in support of those services and programs that school counseling professionals provide.

AMSC PPL Committee (February, 2009)