III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 371 

Designating the week of February 6 through 10, 2012, as ‘‘National School 

Counseling Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 9, 2012 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 

WEBB, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. STABENOW, and Ms. SNOWE) submitted 

the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of February 6 through 10, 2012, as 

‘‘National School Counseling Week’’. 

Whereas the American School Counselor Association has designated the week of February 6 through 10, 2012, as 

‘‘National School Counseling Week’’; 

Whereas the importance of school counseling has been recognized through the inclusion of elementary- and secondary-school counseling programs in amendments to the 

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 

U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); 

Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the education system of the United States must provide equitable opportunities for all students; 


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•SRES 371 ATS 

Whereas personal and social growth results in increased academic achievement; 

Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded students 

by guiding the students through academic, personal, social, and career development; 

Whereas school counselors assist with and coordinate efforts 

to foster a positive school culture resulting in a safer 

learning environment for all students; 

Whereas school counselors have been instrumental in helping 

students, teachers, and parents deal with personal trauma as well as tragedies in the community and the United 

States; 

Whereas students face myriad challenges every day, including 

peer pressure, depression, the deployment of family members to serve in conflicts overseas, and school violence; 

Whereas school counselors are one of the few professionals in 

a school building who are trained in both education and 

mental-health matters; 

Whereas the roles and responsibilities of school counselors are 

often misunderstood; 

Whereas the school-counselor position is often among the 

first to be eliminated to meet budgetary constraints; 

Whereas the national average ratio of students to school 

counselors of 459 to 1 is almost twice that of the ratio 

of 250 to 1 recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the American Counseling Association, 

the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and other organizations; and 

Whereas the celebration of National School Counseling Week 

would increase awareness of the important and necessary 


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•SRES 371 ATS 

role school counselors play in the lives of students in the 

United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of February 6 through 

3 10, 2012, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’; 

4 and 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and 

7 activities that promote awareness of the role school 

8 counselors play in the school and the community at 

9 large in preparing students for fulfilling lives as con10 tributing members of society. 

Æ 


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