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School Counselor Connection
Monthly updates for Arizona School Counselors
February 2024
Let's take a moment to celebrate and recognize the hard work of our school counselors, and appreciate the incredible job they do in supporting our students. Without your collaboration with teachers, support for students, and communication with parents, our schools could not function. As we acknowledge School Counselors Week, it's also important to note that February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. School counselors play a pivotal role in recruiting and retaining high school students to CTE programs, but there are opportunities to promote CTE for elementary and middle school students as well. Here are some ideas to boost CTE awareness and career exploration for our young students:
- Use My Future AZ with middle school students. Check out the Middle School Get Started Guide: MFAZ K-8 Student Guide 7.6.2023.pdf
- Show CTE recruitment videos from local high schools to elementary and middle school students.
- Elementary and middle school students can take a field trip to tour CTE programs.
- Incorporate CTE awareness and career exploration into summer programs.
- Share CTE program flyers during middle school homeroom or advisory periods.
- Check out ADE’s K-8 Career Literacy website for more resources and ideas. K-8 Career Literacy | Arizona Department of Education
- To learn more about CTE month visit: CTE Month® – ACTEAZ
School Counselor Connection is brought to you by: Andrea Glenn, Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement and Emily Brown, School Counselor Director at the Arizona Department of Education.
ECAP Updates
For those of you working with students in grades 9-12, Education and Career Action Plans will be due by April 30, 2024. If your plans are complete, you can submit at any time prior to the due date. We recommend logging into EMAC and familiarizing yourself with the EMAC system before the due date to ensure your tasks are submitted on time. ECAPs are required for all public high schools including charters. Plans need to be uploaded in the EMAC system. Please ensure that your current staff is assigned the correct role and anyone that has left your district has been removed. The two required compliance tasks are the Implementation Plan and the Student Sample Plan. Please note that the Student Sample Plan is only required for schools NOT utilizing the My Future AZ platform.
We have compiled a variety of resources to ensure you find success with ECAPs this year.
My Future AZ Updates
We are currently offering two virtual trainings a month.
Returning User Training: Provides a more in-depth overview of the different user types and features of our platform. Time will be given for questions and answers at the end of the session.
Best Practices/Office Hours: Highlights one feature of our platform and some strategies for implementation. At the end of this session, we will have a question and answer session.
Professional Development Opportunities
AZ Counselor Spring Training Virtual Event
Save the Date for the 2024 AZ Counselor Spring Training Virtual Event
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Spring Training Event on Thursday, April 25th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. National and state presenters will offer tools and insight around FAFSA completion, supporting ALL students through an untraditional application cycle, and establishing strategies to celebrate the incredible resilience and hard work of the class of 2024. Register early to reserve your spot!
Evidence Based School Counseling Conference
The EBSCC will be held March 8-9, 2024.
This conference has 3 areas of focus: 1. Identifying Effective School Counseling Program Components and Interventions 2. Using Evidence-Based School Counseling Practices 3. Innovations in School CounselingFor additional details and registration information, please view the flyer below.
Hatching Results
Virtual Events: https://www.hatchingresults.com/virtual-events
Use of Data in School Counseling Institute: Virtual learning sessions
March 11, 2024, https://www.hatchingresults.com/uodof-mar-2024
The Use of Data in School Counseling 2e: 7-Part Series:
Wednesday, March 8, 2024 - School Counseling for Systems Change
Wednesday, April 26, 2024 - Sharing Results and Flashlight Presentations
The Use of Data in School Counseling 2e: Intermediate/Advanced: April 19, 2024
Continuing Education Classes: https://arizona.hatchingorders.com/
Lunch and Learn
February 21: Summer Programs
March 27: ADE ECAPs
Please see the flyer below to get registered.
Arizona College Access Network
If you have not had the opportunity to become an AzCAN member, you can join here for free!
Some noteworthy features of the new CAP courses include:
CAP scholarships are available, and the request is built into each course registration.
Courses are accessed on the Canvas platform.
Courses are completely updated and redesigned to meet the needs of Arizona college access practitioners – course content is relevant, timely, and focused on immediate implementation with Arizona students and families, middle school through high school.
Courses only require a maximum of 15 seat hours to complete.
The 2023-2024 CAP Training Course Schedule is now available and all fall courses are open for registration.
Are you looking to remove deficiencies from your school counselor certificate?
Hatching Results: Hatching Results partners with California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) to offer courses for school counselors for continued education. These courses allow Arizona School Counselors to complete the 6 semester (credit) hour deficiency to renew their certificates in the three-year window who apply for certification under options B, C, and D.
AZCAN College Access Professionals Training Courses: AZCAN partners with Lindenwood University to provide CAP Training Courses. Arizona School Counselors can complete the 6 semester (credit) hour deficiency to renew their certificates in the three-year window who apply for certification under options B and C. If using the CAP courses to remove deficiencies, there will be an option to pay Lindenwood University $75 for each course to receive one graduate semester (credit) hour starting January 2024.
Options B and C require completion of six semester hours of courses in any of the following areas: school counseling, college and career guidance, or academic advising. These courses would fall under the categories of college and career guidance or academic advising.
The courses would not be accepted for the Standard School Counselor certificate under the
Option D: Completion of a graduate program in academic advising. This option requires six semester hours of courses in any of the following areas: social and emotional development, mental health counseling, trauma and disaster counseling, multiculturalism in counseling, theories of counseling, the foundation of school counseling, or child and adolescent counseling.
For additional certificate questions check out the ADE Certification Unit website.
ACTEAZ Summer Conference
College and Career Competencies Project
In partnership with ADE, the College and Career Competencies (CCCs) Project invites you to tune into the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Professional Learning Series, The Skills that Matter: Developing College and Career Competencies in Students. We plan to share various information and strategies to support your understanding and implementation of self-efficacy, assertiveness, and self-regulation.
Registration is required for each session. Please view the attached flyer with details of upcoming sessions and registration links. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Each topic will be a two-part series. Consecutive attendance is encouraged but not required. The trainer will provide a brief overview in Part Two of each series for attendees who could not attend Part One.
Topics include:
Teaching Students Respectful Communication: A Two-Part Series in Assertiveness
Part One: February 6, 2024
Part Two: February 13, 2024
For more information or if you have any questions, please email Pattie Noonan.
AZ Day of Discovery
Discovery Education and Discover are hosting Arizona Day of Discovery: Dollars and Scholars: A FinLit Symposium for Educators at Mesa Community College on March 2. If you're interested in attending, please view the flyer below for the link to register.
All Grade Levels Resources
National School Counseling Week 2024
National School Counseling Week - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
Grant Opportunity
Project AWARE is please to announce the Workforce Development for School Mental Health Professionals Grant. This grant provides school districts with funding to meet the unique workforce development needs of school mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses) for safe and supportive schools that foster student academic success. To learn more information including how to apply, view the flyer below.
School Mental Health Professionals in Arizona
A huge shout-out to our amazing professional organizations in the collaboration of this one-page document outlining the roles of mental health providers within schools. The document was a collaborative effort of the Arizona School Counselors Association, the Arizona Association of School Psychologists, the School Nurses Organization of Arizona, the School Social Work Association of Arizona, and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. We hope you find this document useful in trainings and meetings with various stakeholders.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Updates
Accessing Behavioral Health Services in Schools: AHCCCS has everything you need to know about accessing behavioral health services. Please visit their page: Accessing Behavioral Health Services in Schools to gain information for schools, parents, universal referral form, approved providers, and more.
School Feedback Form: AHCCCS wants to hear from you and help! Please share your feedback with them on your experience working with community behavioral health providers. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSjIRzPfSFksMRjwYa6XVchmK471g6Oe7fL0cSURTDaq_Azg/viewform
ADE Free Tutoring Program
Do you have students that could benefit from tutoring? Study Smart Tutors is providing through ADE. Tutoring begins Mid-January. Please view the flyer below for more information.
Study Smart Tutors is also looking for tutors. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a tutor, learn more here.
Calling All Educators
Please see the flyer below on information to share your insights on STEM Competencies. In return for your participation, you will receive access to curriculum modules, professional development, and other resources.
High School Specific Resources
FREE FAFSA Office Hours
February 24th
March 23rd
Please share the flyer below with your teams as well as your networks as widely as possible so that we can encourage students and families to take advantage of this 1:1 FAFSA completion support with trained Ask Benji staff members.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS up to $25,000
The Horatio Alger Association Scholarship is for students who demonstrate financial need and display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity. We encourage your students to apply because we believe their possibilities are endless!
Scholarship Eligibility:
Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States.
Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution).
Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required).
Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities.
Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity.
Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
Be a United States citizen.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS MARCH 15, 2024 at 12:00 NOON
Application: Scholarships - Horatio Alger
To request a presentation or more information, please reach out to: Zulema Fragoso
Horatio Alger Field Director for Arizona
School Counselor at Nogales High School
AZ Professional Writers $1,000 Scholarship
Please encourage your students interested in communications to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Please see flyer below for more information.
Tribal College Dual Enrollment
College Depot Scholarship Expo
College Deport is holding a Scholarship Expo on February 1 at the Burton Barr Library in Phoenix. Please share the flyer below with your students and parents.
The Better FAFSA is now open!
Free Spring Training Tickets for Seniors
Exciting news! We're delighted to announce our second-year partnership with the Arizona Cactus League to boost FAFSA engagement for the high school class of 2024.
The first 750 Arizona high school seniors who complete the FAFSA and submit a spring training submission form will receive four tickets to attend a spring training game this season – a fantastic home run for all!
This promotion kicks off on January 8, with FAFSA submissions accepted before that date. Spread the word about this fun and exciting FAFSA incentive, and help your seniors score tickets to a memorable spring training experience!
Ask Benji- Your Digital FAFSA Assistant
Ask Benji is looking for any Spring or Winter nudges that your students/users will want to know. Submit a nudge by completing the form below if you have an event about Vocational & trade school, College, FAFSA, or Career resources!
If you are new to Ask Benji check out their School Resource page to get started.
FFA and Agriculture Related Scholarships
Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader of the Year
Current Phoenix high school students committed to making Phoenix a better place should apply for this prestigious award. Application is open until February 23. Interested students can learn more on the website.
Track your school's FAFSA progress on Arizona College Connect!
Make sure you are tracking your school's FAFSA completion progress on Arizona College Connect! The student-level FAFSA data will be accessible in Arizona College Connect in early February. If you haven't yet gained access, it's easy to set up! · Step 1: Have your principal set up a Data Sharing Agreement · Step 2: Set up Authorized Users · Step 3: Access your FAFSA Data
ARIZONA DECISION DAY: CELEBRATING FUTURES, EMBRACING DREAMS
Join the Arizona Board of Regents to learn more about Arizona Decision Day, a statewide celebration in May that showcases the postsecondary education decisions of our state's high school seniors.
This session will explore how Arizona Decision Day empowers students to take charge of their futures by committing to further education. Designed for school counselors, teachers and school leaders, this session will provide participants with a Decision Day toolkit, ideas to celebrate Decision Day on your campus, and ways to showcase the diverse array of educational pathways chosen by Arizona’s graduating class.
When: March 6, 2024, 10am-11am
Register Here: https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrcO6sqzgiHtO7IGRuY4yyx4UMWy5Zt7Px
NCAA Updates
- Reminder: Update Your Core-Course List
- Reminder: Upload First Semester Transcripts
National Letter of Intent Signing Period: The National Letter of Intent signing period for Division I and II football (regular period) begins Feb. 7! To sign an NLI, your student-athlete must have a paid Academic and Amateurism Certification account. Click here to view all upcoming NLI signing dates.
Women in Wildfire Bootcamp
Bootcamp attendees can receive the beginning certification needed to start a career in wildfire. This camp will be held in April 2024 and is open for 18-37 year old (some exceptions may be made). Please see flyer below for more information.
Email Distribution List
Do you have colleagues who didn’t receive this email? Please use this form to add/update their information in our database.
Emily Brown- School Counselor Director
Email: Emily.Brown@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/cte/counselors
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-542-5353
Andrea Glenn- Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement
Email: Andrea.Glenn@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/ccr
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-364-4799
School Counselor Director at ADE