IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 56 

Expressing support for designation of the week of February 2 through 

February 6, 2009, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 13, 2009 

Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California (for herself, Mr. EHLERS, Ms. 

BORDALLO, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, 

Ms. SUTTON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WU, Mr. 

CASTLE, and Mr. LOEBSACK) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of the week of February 

2 through February 6, 2009, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’. 

Whereas the American School Counselor Association has declared the week of February 2 through February 6, 

2009, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’; 

Whereas the House of Representatives has recognized the importance of school counseling through the inclusion of elementary and secondary school counseling programs in 

the last reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act of 1965; 


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•HRES 56 IH 

Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the education system of the United States must leave no child 

behind and must provide opportunities for all students; 

Whereas school counselors have long emphasized the importance of personal and social development in academic 

achievement; 

Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded students 

by guiding them through their academic, personal, social, 

and career development; 

Whereas school counselors play a vital role in ensuring that 

students are aware of financial aid and college opportunities; 

Whereas school counselors may encourage students to pursue 

challenging academic courses to prepare them for college 

majors and careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; 

Whereas school counselors provide support for students whose 

family members have been deployed to conflicts overseas; 

Whereas school counselors help students cope with serious 

and common challenges of growing up, including peer 

pressure, mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary problems, and problems in the home; 

Whereas school counselors are also instrumental in helping 

students, teachers, and parents deal with personal trauma and community and national tragedies; 

Whereas school counselors are among the few professionals in 

a school building that are trained in both education and 

mental health; 

Whereas, despite the important contributions of school counselors to student success, counseling positions are not alVerDate Nov 24 2008 21:45 Jan 14, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR56.IH HR56

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ways protected when budgets are cut, especially in tough 

economic times; 

Whereas the average student-to-counselor ratio in America’s 

public schools, 475 to 1, is almost double the 250 to 1 

ratio recommended by the American School Counselor 

Association, the American Counseling Association, and 

other organizations; 

Whereas the celebration of ‘‘National School Counseling 

Week’’ would increase awareness of the important and 

necessary role school counselors play in the lives of students in the United States; and 

Whereas the week of February 2 through February 6, 2009, 

would be an appropriate week to designate as ‘‘National 

School Counseling Week’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the United States House of Rep2 resentatives— 

3 (1) honors and recognizes the contributions of 

4 school counselors to the success of students in our 

5 Nation’s elementary and secondary schools; and 

6 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

7 to observe ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’ with 

8 appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote 

9 awareness of the crucial role school counselors play 

10 in preparing students for fulfilling lives as contrib11 uting members of society. 

Æ 


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