Counselor Corner ESC 2

As summer fades away, we are excited about the new school year ahead. I hope you all had a chance to create wonderful memories, recharge, and relax over the break. It’s been a bustling summer here at ESC 2.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our team:

• Associate Director of School Improvement and Data Systems

• McKinney Vento and Foster Care:

• Career and Technical Education:

• Title I :

• Parent and Family Engagement, Title I Part C Migrant

• Title IV A: Well Rounded Student, Counseling, and Career and Technical Education

• Title III A: English Language Acquisition

• Keep in mind that your superintendent has until September 1st to submit your district's 2024-2025 ESC contracts.
• If your district hasn't submitted their 24-25 contracts, you may be charged when registering for a counselor coop workshops.
• MARK YOUR CALENDAR COUNSELOR COOP DATES

How will you know if your district has submitted the 2024-2025 ESC contracts for services

1. You can ask your supervisor
2. You will receive a email notification welcoming you to the Counselor Coop after September 1st
3. You will be able to register on Omni Track after email notification

Please use the Google link below to update district counselor information. This will ensure that counselors receive important information.

Click Here

Answer: If you are a certified school counselor or hold an emergency school counselor certification AND you are hired as either a full or part-time school counselor, YES. See TAC §61.1073

Every year 4 of our districts/charters in our region will be selected for random validation from the previous year's time. That notification goes out to superintendents in October.

Here is the link to my updated Time Tracker. You are welcome to use or change as you see fit.

Where can I find information for school Counseling?

Dissemination of Information for Automatic Admissions

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.026, each high school in the school district must post appropriate signs regarding automatic college admission as outlined under the Uniform Admission Policy (TEC, §51.803). District staff must post signs in each

• counselor's office,
• principal's office, and
• administrative building.

To assist in the dissemination of this information, the school district must

• require that each high school counselor and class advisor receive a detailed explanation of the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy;
• provide each student, at the time the student first registers for one or more classes required for high school graduation, with a written notification of the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy; and
• require that each high school counselor and senior class advisor explain to eligible students the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy.

TEA Automatic Admission Website has more information and resources for you to use.

Financial Aid Requirement

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:

• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
• Submit a signed opt-out form.

Visit the TEA Financial Aid Requirement webpage for more information

Upon a student’s initial enrollment in high school, a school district or open-enrollment charter school is required to provide to the student and the student's parent or guardian information regarding the requirements to earn a high school diploma under the program and the Texas First Scholarship Program.

For the 2022-2023 school year, each public high school must provide a written notification to each high school student and the student's parent or guardian listing the eligibility criteria for the Texas First Early High School Completion Program and Texas First Scholarship Program. (19 TAC Part I, §21.54)

After the 2022-2023 school year, the school must provide the notice to each student and the student's parent or guardian upon the student's initial enrollment in high school. The notice must include information about the requirement that a student must provide an official copy of their assessment results and transcripts, as applicable, to receive credit for the assessments and credits required to receive early graduation from the program.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has provided a flyer that can be used by school districts and charter schools as notification to students and families.

Visit TEA's Texas First Early High School Completion Program for more information.

As you may remember, ApplyTexas went through a big update over the summer. School districts must submit new MOUs with ApplyTexas. ApplyTexas will reach out to districts individually. That being said, ESC contacts for ApplyTexas accounts have been asked to not renew counselor logins at this time. In addition, once this has been processed a district supervisor must email ESC 2 representative (melody.pro-smith@ESC2.us) in order to grant access for counselors or district designee. However, they say you should be able to access the old counselor suite until your account expires.

From Texas Oncourse

Welcome back to the Texas OnCourse Professional Learning Series for the 2024–2025 school year! We have an exciting line-up of professional learning sessions with new guest speakers and monthly topics. Our first session will cover the redesigned ApplyTexas application which has a completely fresh new look with an enhanced student experience. Here is our session description:

Your students can apply to Texas colleges and universities with an application system that has been streamlined and simplified and is already live! This will be a two-hour session where our staff will highlight several key areas that include the following:

• Student navigation of the application
• New student screener to help navigate application type
• Counselor Suite look and feel with reporting features
• Payment changes
• TREx integration for transcript requests

We plan to cover everything you need to know to support all your students this year, including dual credit, transfer, first-year freshmen, and graduate level. Attendees will have an opportunity to stay for a Q & A with our staff and receive all materials, links, and guides we share in the session.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 10 a.m. (CDT)

You can register here

POS Editable PowerPoint Framework

TSDS COURSE SERVICE ID #

TEA July 26, 2024 NEWSLETTER

NEW Chapter 74 Graduation Requirement UPDATED August 2024

If you have any specific questions about items not included in the list, please email me, and I will do my best to find the information for you.

Melody Pro-Smith

Melody.pro-smith@esc2.us

(361) 561-8567