Counselor Connection--March 18

Attend on Wednesday from 9-12 with the McKinney-Vento Team and your travel for up to three nights, as well as mileage from your campus will be reimbursed. See flyer above for more details.

Low-burden, high-impact strategies to increase well-being, belonging, and engagement in all areas of campus community by introducing a consistent structure for learning that promotes powerful relationship-building while also helping students find value in their learning. Training will include staff community building, research-backed classroom engagement, usable tools and strategies, meaningful and inspirational content, and practical problem solving.

School counselors must negotiate the competing interests of the overregulated school environment, student’s need for confidentiality, and the legal rights of parents to be the guiding voice in their children's lives. Updates on these competing interests will be discussed through recent court developments. Legal rulings will be highlighted in areas such as sexually active students, bullying, academic advising, child abuse, educational records, and sexual harassment, First Amendment rights, and transgender youth. The goal is to facilitate participants’ legal literacy and provide guiding principles to support best ethical practice.

The DD Form 4 upload portal in TEAL is currently in development and is scheduled to be released during the first week of April. LEAs will be responsible for submitting a listing of former students that have enlisted in the military as well as a zip file that contains completed DD Form 4s for each enlistee. To facilitate a smooth upload process, LEAs will be provided a pre-populated template that contains all students from the 2023 cohort, and specific instructions for the zip file upload will be provided when the portal is launched.

Dr. Gaye Lang has launched a brand-new series, Restorative Practices Made Simple: Families as Partners, a video series dedicated to empowering parents with the tools needed for effective communication and Restorative Practices at home. This series is designed to align home environments with the restorative approaches taught in schools, ensuring a consistent and supportive experience for children. It focuses on providing parents with resources and strategies to foster better understanding and relationships with their children, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between families and educational institutions. Watch episode 2, which dives into "Family Connections" featuring Jennifer McCready, counselor and restorative practices coordinator. Through compelling stories from both the DAEP and the Early Excellence Pre-K Center, Jennifer shares how these practices bridge communication gaps within families, enhance student behavior, and foster community building. The episode showcases real-life examples of how restorative practices empower students and parents alike, making a significant impact on family dynamics and educational environments.

Bring Restorative Discipline Practices (RDP) to your schools. Register for upcoming RDP trainings at RDP Training Information. If the training you plan to attend is FULL, please check back. New training dates are updated monthly.

Module 1:

Administrator Training

March 6, 2024

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Module 2:

Campus Coordinator Training Tier 2

March 19, 2024

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Module 3:

Campus Coordinator Training Tier 3

March 20, 2024

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Module 4:

Early Childhood Training

March 5, 2024

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Please submit all questions regarding Restorative Discipline Practices to rdp@tea.texas.gov.

TEA has published a proposed rule on the new middle school advanced mathematics programs required by Senate Bill 2124 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023). The proposal outlines the requirements related to automatic enrollment of certain middle school students into an advanced mathematics program designed to prepare students to enroll in Algebra I in Grade 8.

To view the proposed rule and submit public comments, visit the Proposed Commissioner of Education Rules webpage. The proposed rule is listed under Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter DD, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Mathematics Instruction, §74.2101, Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program.

The public comment period for the proposal runs from February 23, 2024, to March 25, 2024.

In support of the proposed commissioner’s rules on middle school advanced mathematics programs, TEA will be hosting a webinar on the new middle school advanced mathematics programs required by Senate Bill 2124 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023). The webinar is scheduled for March 28, 2024, at 2 pm CDT. You must register in advance. All are welcome and can sign up at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JOHpjPkASb-MT-Qm3_Uy8w. If the system does not allow you to register, select the “sign up free” link and follow the directions from there.

For additional information, please use the Curriculum Help Desk with “Middle School Advanced Math Program webinar” as the subject.

• June 24th AM Face to Face http://apps.esc1.net/ProfessionalDevelopment/esc15/Registration/Workshop/316740
• June 24th PM Zoom http://apps.esc1.net/ProfessionalDevelopment/esc15/Registration/Workshop/316741
• July 19th AM Face to Face http://apps.esc1.net/ProfessionalDevelopment/esc15/Registration/Workshop/316744

Our team is excited to bring you a new book study starting in April! We will be using the book Connections over Compliance: Rewiring our Perceptions of Discipline by Lori L. Desautels, Ph.D. In order to ensure we have enough books available for those interested in participating, we are asking you to complete a Google Form prior to the end of March. We are working on setting up the ESC links for you to be able to register and get your CPEs. We will have the Google Classroom option available again, as well as Zoom options on the following dates:

• April 2: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 1 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• April 2: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 1 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)
• April 9: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 2 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• April 9: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 2 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)
• April 23: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 3 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• April 23: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 3 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)
• April 30: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 4 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• April 30: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 4 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)
• May 7: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 5 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• May 7: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 5 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)
• May 14: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 6 Group 1 (8-9 am)
• May 14: Connections over Compliance Book Study Session 6 Group 2 (11:30-12:30)

We’re hoping to continue the great discussions that were started with our first book study of the year and maybe see some new faces as well!

TCA is currently seeking committee volunteers who are looking for ways to be more active in our counseling organization. As a non-profit organization, TCA depends on the commitment of its members to keep our association strong. Terms will begin on July 1, 2024 and continue through June 30, 2025. Committee members may serve on a committee for up to three consecutive years. The work of our committees is developed annually to align with the TCA Strategic Plan. All applications are reviewed by the TCA President-elect and approved by the TCA Board before any individual is assigned to a committee. We are seeking current TCA members for each of the following committees:

• Awards
• Bylaws
• Communications
• Educational Endowment Fund (EEF)
• Equity & Inclusion
• Ethics
• Membership
• Public Policy
• Program Review
• Wellness

To learn more about the volunteer commitment or if you are interested in volunteering, please complete a short application by the deadline, Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

The TSHAC has updated both the Health Education for All Texas Students K-12 Grade and the Opioid and Substance Use Prevention Resource for Texas Schools documents, which are now posted online. Visit the Research and Recommendations developed by TSHAC and Resources created by TSHAC webpages to view these documents, alongside all other resources developed and updated by TSHAC.

The U.S. Surgeon General released an Advisory on E-cigarette Use Among Youth. Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People website helps address how harmful e-cigarettes can be to the health of youth and young adults. Web information includes e-cigarette trends among youth, the risks of e-cigarette use, and other resources.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health have updated their mental health toolkit. The updates include increased guidance on best practices, practical guidance on implementing the elements of Zero Suicide, and examples from organizations on their implementation plans utilizing this framework. To view the full update, visit the Suicide Care in Texas Toolkit. To view additional resources, visit the resources webpage and scroll to the bottom for downloadable documents.

Texas School Safety Center is hosting their Lunch and Learn event, Beyond Burnout: Exploring the Cost of Caring on April 12, 2024, from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Participants will be given tools to reduce the risk for compassion fatigue, stress, trauma, and burnout. The presentation will revise self-care and offer a live Q&A session. Register for this virtual training.

The deadline to apply is April 5, 2024.

TSCA Scholarship Flyer

Direct Links to the forms.....

• 2024 Senior Student Whose Counselor is a TSCA Member
• 2024 Senior Student Who is a Child/Grandchild of TSCA Member
• 2024 Member Graduate Student

Alliance for a Healthier Generation published 10 Tips for Taking Screen Breaks for parents and caregivers. Although computers, televisions, and phones can provide us with unique benefits, it is important to regularly take breaks from screens. This resource shares ways to balance screen time, physical activity, and family connection. It’s accessible in the Alliance’s free Action Center, where all Healthier Generation resources are housed. A free login is required.

We all go through ups and downs at work, but if hard days are becoming your new normal, you might be experiencing what 280 million people go through worldwide: depression. Depression is a mental health condition that can show up as visible sadness and exhaustion, but a lot of times, it can also show up in ways you would not expect. Read more.

Repeat this line: You feel happy, calm and fulfilled. It may not be as easy as that — but daily affirmations have been linked to improved mental health, according to a study from the University of California Berkeley. Read More

NEW Refreshed programs of study will be implemented beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. Changes to programs of study are additive and should not negatively impact students who have already started a program of study.

The TEA CCMP Division has completed a “soft launch” of the refreshed program of study framework documents. This soft launch is to provide you with the opportunity to give input/edits/concerns to the agency before finalization. Please submit your comments to cte@tea.texas.gov The framework documents can be found at: https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/career-and-technical-education/2024-2025-cte-programs-of-study

As TSDS is beginning their update system for next year (ODS), they have released the 24-25 C022 info here. It is easiest to download the Excel version to search. The new Career Prep course is listed there as well as any other updates. Please make sure that when you are updating your master schedule for next year you are using the correct service ids for that school year.

https://www.texasstudentdatasystem.org/tsds/texas-education-data-standards-references

The Perkins Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (located in TEAL – eGrants) has been pulled down for corrections. TEA hopes to post it on March 14. ESC 15 will have CLNA workdays to help districts in completing the required report. CLNA is due June 12. Every two years the CLNA is a required report for schools who receive Perkins funds. Allocations should be posted sometime mid-March.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is inviting public comment on the Perkins V State Plan developed pursuant to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act signed by the president on July 31, 2018. The Perkins V State Plan, as well as instructions for submitting public comments, are available on the TEA website at https://tea.texas.gov/cte.

TEA will accept written comments pertaining to the Perkins V State Plan by mail to the TEA Division of College, Career, and Military Preparation, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701-1494 or by email to ccmp@tea.texas.gov. Comments on the plan narrative must be submitted by Monday, March 31, 2024. Comments on the State Determined Performance Levels, found in Section V of the plan, must be submitted by Tuesday, April 9, 2024

At the January-February 2024 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new TEKS for a set of career and technical education (CTE) courses from the agribusiness, animal science, plant science, and aviation maintenance programs of study as well as two CTE courses that satisfy a science graduation requirement. The SBOE is scheduled to consider the proposed new TEKS for second reading and final adoption at its April 2024 meeting.

The official public comment period for the proposed new CTE TEKS is now open. To view the proposed revisions and submit public comments, visit http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Laws_and_Rules/SBOE_Rules_(TAC)/Proposed_State_Board_of_Education_Rules/.

Public comments are shared with SBOE members each week during the public comment period. Providing feedback early in the process is the best way to ensure that your feedback may impact the final draft. Specific, actionable feedback submitted early in the 30-day timeframe provides SBOE members with more information and time to consider the comment.

Public Comment Period: March 1, 2024–April 1, 2024

Earliest Possible Date of Adoption: April 2024 SBOE meeting

The courses in the public comment period included the following:

Agribusiness

• Agribusiness Management and Marketing
• Agriculture Leadership, Research, and Communications
• Extended Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
• Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
• Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
• Professional Standards and Communication in Agribusiness

Animal Science

• Advanced Animal Science
• Equine Science
• Livestock & Poultry Production (currently titled Livestock Production)
• Small Animal Management
• Veterinary Science (currently titled Veterinary Medical Applications)

Plant Science

• Advanced Floral Design
• Advanced Plant and Soil Science
• Floral Design
• Greenhouse Operation and Production
• Horticultural Science
• Viticulture

Aviation Maintenance

• Aircraft Airframe Technology
• Aircraft Powerplant Technology
• Aircraft Maintenance Technology
• Introduction to Aircraft Technology
• Advanced Transportation Systems Laboratory

CTE Courses that Satisfy a Science Graduation Requirement

• Applied Physics and Engineering (currently titled Principles of Technology)
• Scientific Research and Design

The State Board of Education (SBOE) approved new TEKS for eight career and technical education courses in career preparation and entrepreneurship.

The SBOE adopted TEKS for four new courses in entrepreneurship:

• Entrepreneurship I
• Entrepreneurship II
• Practicum in Entrepreneurship
• Extended Practicum in Entrepreneurship

Additionally, the SBOE adopted new TEKS for a project-based course, Career and Technical Education Project-Based Capstone, and the following career preparation courses:

• Career Preparation General
• Career Preparation for Programs of Study
• Extended Career Preparation

Career Preparation General provides students with an option to earn state elective credit for employment experiences that may be in a career field or industry outside a student’s program of study. Career Preparation for Programs of Study is a Level 4 course option for multiple programs of study. A student’s employment experience connected with this course must be related to the student’s program of study. Extended Career Preparation is a one-credit course that can be paired with either new course. Career and Technical Education Project-Based Capstone will replace the existing Project-Based Research course.

The new CTE TEKS are scheduled to be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The new TEKS are available in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development and Career and Technical Education, with “Adopted 2023” in the title.

To view the TEKS for the entrepreneurship courses, visit 19 TAC, Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development and Career and Technical Education, Subchapter F, Business, Finance, and Marketing.

To view the TEKS for Career and Technical Education Project-Based Capstone and the career preparation courses, visit 19 TAC, Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development and Career and Technical Education, Subchapter B, High School.

The TEA CTE team and Educator Certification division are providing updated guidance on applying for the Educational Aide I certification. For step-by-step instructions, please review the Applying for Educational Aide Certificate document.

To overcome recruiting challenges and better prepare future soldiers for initial basic training success, the U.S. Army and Navy have established preparatory courses to provide assistance to aspiring military personnel to meet the entry-level Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score and/or physical fitness requirements before entering basic training. For more information about the Army’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course, see the article Future Soldier Preparatory Course marks 1-year anniversary, provides path to service, contact a local Army recruiting center, or visit https://goarmy.com. For additional information about the Navy’s Future Sailor Preparatory Course, see the article Navy prep course aims to launch hundreds of recruits into the fleet, contact a local Navy recruiting center, or visit https://www.navy.com/.

TEA is seeking educators and subject-matter experts across Texas to serve as instructional materials reviewers for the new IMRA review process.

Selected reviewers will earn extra income while making a statewide impact. Reviewers will work in small teams to conduct quality reviews and collaborate with other educators to produce ratings and reports for assigned reading language arts, phonics, and mathematics products.

If you or your colleagues want to participate in the IMRA review process, please apply through this link: Quality Reviewer for IMRA Spring 2024: Initial Application (jotform.com).

In this session, Texas OnCourse will take a deep dive into Texas' favorite college advising chatbot ADVi. ADVi uses text messages to provide student-friendly, accurate, and engaging information about key college access milestones, common questions, and action steps. The chatbot is backed by a team of advisors who provide personalized support to students. Learn how ADVi can enhance your advising practices through scheduled text campaigns and reminders.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. (CDT)

Register

The Texas Education Agency’s Supportive Schools Division and our Project AWARE Texas partners will be hosting a series of monthly webinars to highlight resources and best practice strategies on timely and relevant safe and supportive schools topics. Topics will include school mental health, substance abuse prevention, school discipline, early mental health interventions, approaches to whole child student support, and building community partnerships to increase capacity.

You can join a webinar every 2nd Thursday of the month from 11:00 am CST to 12:30 pm CST from December until June. CPE credits will be made available to those who attend the full live session.

Register Below for Upcoming Webinar Sessions:

Family & Caregiver Engagement- April 11th , 2024

Elevating Mental Health & Wellness- May 9th, 2024

Supporting the Mental Health of Special Populations- June 13th, 2024

• The Texas School Safety Center is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security on School Safety Prevention and Management monthly lunch and learn sessions. Sessions will cover current topics related to how districts are addressing school safety, prevention, and management. Resources and strategies will be provided in these informative one-hour sessions with a Department of Homeland Security partner. Click Here to View Dates and Register Here
• The Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Educators - Elementary focuses on providing an overview of trauma, and its impact on student behaviors in the elementary (K-5) classroom. Attendees will learn about the role of mental health in daily functioning, how trauma impacts the brain, the importance of unrecognized executive function deficits, and the role neuro-diverse complexities play in student behavior. Click Here to View Dates and Register
• The Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Educators - Secondary focuses on providing an overview of trauma, and its impact on student behaviors in the secondary (6-12) classroom. Attendees will learn about the role of mental health in daily functioning, how trauma impacts the brain, the importance of unrecognized executive function deficits, and the role neuro-diverse complexities play in student behavior. Click Here to View Dates and Register

If you are a school administrator, school-based law enforcement officer, educator, emergency manager, school safety specialist, first responder, mental health provider, or school board member, the 2024 Texas School Safety Conference is for you!

Join us June 23-27, 2024, at the beautiful San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter Hotel for a deep dive into current trends, best practices, and innovative, evidence-based approaches in school safety and security. Learn from leading experts in the fields of school behavioral threat assessment, emergency management, school-based law enforcement, and mental health, and hear from your peers throughout the state about strategies to effectively engage educators, law enforcement, and community members to promote positive cultures of safety and preparedness.

Come prepared to network, share ideas, and return to your community equipped with new knowledge, tools, and inspiration, to continue the essential work of creating safe and healthy environments in Texas schools and communities.

Conference Links

Learn More and Register

We've got some really great sessions this spring designed to support you this school year. You can simply click on any of the session links to register.

FACT: According to the Harvard Division of Continuing Education, employees engaged in professional development are also more likely to stay engaged in their work and to be enthusiastic about pursuing their goals.

General School Mental Health Resources: https://schoolmentalhealthtx.org/

Mental Health Resources Database: https://schoolmentalhealthtxdatabase.org/

Mental Health Best Practice Repository: https://schoolmentalhealthtx.org/best-practices/

This list is of known providers of particular services. The providers on the list are from a variety of sources. The list is being provided as a courtesy, for information only, and the user should understand that no assurances or guarantees regarding the providers on the list are being made by providing this list. We do not endorse, approve, or recommend any specific provider listed below. This list is not inclusive of all community agencies, services, or organizations that provide the particular service, and the omission of an agency, service, or organization from this list does not imply disapproval. It is the responsibility of the user of this list to determine whether any of the content is of value to them and whether or not the agency, service, or organization meets their specific needs.

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National

• Emergency: (24/7): 911
• Referral Services: (crisis counseling, housing, food, health care, family services): 211 | https://www.211texas.org/
• Suicide Prevention: 988 | 988lifeline.org
• Self-Injury/Cutting: 1-800-366-8288 | selfinjury.com
• Eating Disorders: 1-800-931-2237 | nationaleatingdisorders.org
• Runaway Hotline: 1-800-231-6946 | 1800runaway.org
• Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 | childhelp.org/hotline/
• Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
• Domestic/Relationship Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.org
• Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386 | thetrevorproject.org
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline | samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
• Other resources for developing healthy lifestyles, including mental and emotional help: helpguide.org

Email: mentalhealth@esc15.net
Website: https://www.esc15.net/
Phone: (325)658-6571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC/
Twitter: @Region15ESC