..news and updates from PSCA



»2011-2012 PSCA HONOREES:  At the 56th Annual Conference PSCA recognized many individuals who are or aspire to be school counselors as well as individuals who have been supportive of school counseling and PSCA. A listing of the recognitions follows. More detailed information is available on the PSCA website www.psca-web.org.

School Counselors of the Year:
Elementary-Alice Weiler, Loyalsock Valley Elementary School, Montoursville, PA
Middle School – William Probert, Dallastown Area Middle School, Dallastown, PA
High School-Karen Capriotti, Lebanon Catholic School, Lancaster, PA

 PSCA Life Member Recognition: Clint Page

Advocate of the Year: Donna Cartia

Presidential Special Recognition Award: Dr. Peggy Hines

Presidential Appreciation Award: Jay D. Cannon

 Bill Lee Leadership Grants:
Ruth Conboy – Southeast Region
Christine Rupert – Central Region
Michelle Buettner – Southwest Region

 Scholarship Recipients:
Kari Eiklor – Marywood University
Susan Decker – Penn State Universit

»  SCHOOL COUNSELORS AS LEADERS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS 

 A new report by The Education Trust's National Center for Transforming School Counseling, "Poised to Lead: How School Counselors Can Drive College and Career Readiness," outlines adjustments that states, districts, and principals must make to empower school counselors to lead college- and career-readiness efforts. The report affirms school counselors as powerful champions in school who, with scads of data at their fingertips, are uniquely positioned to advocate for students in a way that most other educators are not. The report challenges that too often school counselors are either underprepared or underutilized. The report, funded by the MetLife Foundation, also calls on programs that train school counselors to do a better job of preparing their graduates to serve in this role.

 »LEGISLATIVE AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NEWS

 Budget Update
As revenues continue to come in below estimate for the 2011-12 fiscal year, Gov. Tom Corbett directed his Budget Office to freeze nearly $160 million in state spending. Basic education subsidy funds paid to school districts will not be affected.

 School assault bill signed into law
On Dec. 20, Gov. Corbett signed into law SB 1183, now Act 111 of 2011, which creates the offense of institutional sexual assault in a school or child center setting.  The provisions of Act 111 would apply whether or not the student is 16 years old, the age of consent in Pennsylvania. The new law incorporates language creating the offense of institutional sexual abuse, which would make it unlawful for a teacher, coach or other employee of a public or private school, or a volunteer or employee of a center for children to engage in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or indecent contact with a student, or a child receiving services at the center. The penalty would be a third-degree felony that would be punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $

New law updates terminology related to mental retardation
Act 105 of 2011 updates terminology relating to mental retardation.  The law amends the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 to replace the terms "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" with the terms "intellectual disability" and "those with intellectual disabilities." The act is renamed as the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act. It takes effect immediately. Last year President Obama signed "Rosa's Law," which mandates that federal statutes use the term "intellectual disabilities" instead of "mental retardation."

 Pennsylvania receives $41 million in "Race to the Top" funding
Pennsylvania has been awarded $41,326,299 under round three of the federally-funded "Race to the Top" grant program. The grant will be allocated over the next four years by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  Half of the grant funding will be appropriated to local education agencies, such as school districts and intermediate units.

 Secretary's Update
This week Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis met with and briefed members of the House Education Committee on the administration's education initiatives for the coming year.  The secretary told committee members that the administration's top priorities continue to be charter expansion, school choice, EITC and teacher evaluations. He also expressed support for vocational education programs and emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs


»RECENTLY RELEASED RESOURCES

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has announced the release of the 2011-2012 Pennsylvania Career Guide. The newest version of the Pennsylvania Career Guide has been posted online and is available through the publications page on PA Work Stats. It can be accessed directly through this link: http://www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/CG_11-12.pdf

 The Center for Safe Schools has partnered with the Highmark Foundation to produce the Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Toolkit designed to help parents, educators and professionals serving youth prevent bullying and support children affected by it. The Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Toolkit can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.safeschools.info/bp_toolkit.pdf

 Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) cited a recent article that highlights the state's efforts regarding school readiness. The article, Improving School Readiness and Success for Children, by the Social/Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) Southeast Comprehensive Center, reviews the significance of school readiness and factors that help young learners prepare for school.

 »DIRECTORY QUESTIONS:  The PSCA leadership has been receiving questions regarding e-mails that are being sent to school counselorsΔ to verify accuracy of information that will be used in an upcoming State of Pennsylvania School Counselor Guide listing school counselors (primarily high school) in PA. The e-mails have come from Diane Mancini who is doing the research for schoolcounselordirectory.com. PSCA is not affiliated with the project; the decision to send corrections is up to you. Members of PSCA have access to the Member Directory which contains the most up to date contact information…as edited by members themselves.   


»»REMINDER: WINTER ISSUE of the Pennsylvania Counselor NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE!