Greetings, Region One Counselors and Administrators!

This month, we celebrate YOU with our heartfelt appreciation. February 7-11 marks National School Counseling Week 2022. The 2022 theme is School Counseling: Better Together. This is a special time to highlight not only the work you do each and every day but the tremendous impact you make on so many students' lives. YOU matter; YOU make a difference, You change lives in many ways. Not only are you campus leaders, but you are the heart of our schools. You go above and beyond in your work and continuously advocate for students to achieve success.

Region One applauds you. Know that you are appreciated for this well-deserved acknowledgement this month and throughout the year! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! Your light shines bright, school counselors!

It is our honor to work alongside with you.

Congratulations Victor Fields Elementary, McAllen ISD!

Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas

Advising Updates

2022-2023 Financial Aid Applications Now Open

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) are now available for the 2022-2023 award year. Starting this year, students enrolled in grade 12 must submit a financial aid application or submit an opt-out form to graduate. The opt-out form is available on the Texas Education Agency website in English and Spanish. Along with the opt-out form, more information and resources for the new graduation requirement may be found at https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/financial-aid-requirement.

In addition, TEA partnered with Texas OnCourse to create toolkits for four key audiences impacted by the new requirement: students; parents; educators; and community partners. Review and download these toolkits here: https://texasoncourse.org/educators/popular-links/the-new-financial-aid-graduation-requirement/

On January 25, 2021 the College Board announced that the SAT Suite of Assessments is going digital. This will begin rolling out in the U.S. in Fall 2023 with the PSAT.

Here is a link to the website about the digital SAT, which includes an FAQ page: sat.org/digital.

Here is a link to the official press release: https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/digital-sat-brings-student-friendly-changes-test-experience.

There was a webinar on January 25, 2021, but if you click on the registration link below you can still access the recording.

Register Now

TEA partnered with Texas OnCourse to create toolkits for four key audiences impacted by the new requirement: students; parents; educators; and community partners. Review and download these toolkits here: https://texasoncourse.org/educators/popular-links/the-new-financial-aid-graduation-requirement/

Check out the Texas OnCourse Academy, a free professional development resource for Texas school professionals. The Academy offers self-paced learning modules on both the FAFSA and TASFA. They’re designed to help you support students as they complete and submit their financial aid applications.

Have you been experiencing issues with the 22-23 FAFSA? Catch up on the 22-23 FAFSA changes and ways to troubleshoot common issues that you may come across in TxCAN's latest blog post.

All students who are enrolled in the 12th grade are required to participate in this new graduation requirement, or opt-out using the opt out form, in order to graduate. The best option for the LEA is to ensure that all grade 12 students satisfy the requirement by completing and submitting a financial aid application or opt-out form.

For the opt-out option, a student or parent/guardian may sign and submit the opt-out form to authorize the student to decline to submit an application. Additionally, under option 3 of the opt-out form, a school counselor is authorized to submit the form on behalf of the student for good cause. Good cause should be locally defined by LEAs and may include criteria determined to be appropriate by the LEA.

Texas OnCourse is excited to provide free virtual college and career readiness and success workshops to support your counseling and advising efforts. Their current offerings are listed below.

Improving College and Career Knowledge Using the Texas OnCourse Academy
February 2, 2022, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

It is Never Too Early: College and Career Readiness in Middle School
February 9, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Building a Culture of College and Career Readiness
March 1, 2022, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

You can also access their past webinars on the Texas OnCourse YouTube Channel.

Visit the College Board for Counselors Website.

On this site, you can:

• Review Coronavirus Updates for School Counselors
• Access College and Career Planning Resources
• Register for Upcoming and On-Demand Professional Development Webinars
• Check out the SAT Suite of Assessments and College Board Opportunity Scholarships Program E-Modules
• Join the Online Counselor Community
• Sign up for our monthly Counselor Newsletter

College Board Counselor Workshop 2021— Texas.

Here is the Link to Access the Recording and PowerPoint Presentation:https://globalmeet.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1454128&tp_key=524a9ceb13