2012 FSCA Convention Online Program Proposal Submission

 

Florida School Counselor Association School Counselors: Champions of Student Success Contact Us P.O. Box 752 Safety Harbor, Florida 34695-0752 888-785-8611 Have you submitted your program proposal for the 2012 FSCA Convention yet?   2012 FSCA Convention Online Program Proposal Submission   The Florida School Counselor Association is soliciting proposals for presentations in two formats: Ninety minute break out sessions promoting evidence-based programs in the domains of academic, career, and personal/social development or highlighting the latest techniques and practices in school counseling. Presentations need to showcase proven programs, current research, or skills of value to counselors (pre-K to postsecondary) as well as district personnel, graduate students, and counselor educators. Sixty minute graduate student poster presentations that visually describe effective, solution-focused strategies on the "how-to" of school counseling. A poster session may be a visual description of a project or research that you have completed, and/or a program that you have delivered in k-12 schools. This format allows conferees to visit each poster table, to see and talk with graduate students in a less structured setting about the poster topic. Handouts and contact information should be provided at your table. Submit electronic proposals and a resume for the primary presenter by July 15, 2012.    Proposals received after 5pm on July 15, 2012 will be accepted on a space-available basis only. Proposals of a political, marketing, or for-profit nature will NOT be accepted. Sincerely, Christopher Smith, President Florida School Counselor Association

April 24, 2012: Letter to superintendents sharing information and asking for assistance in meeting the needs of military-connected school children

Letters from the Education Secretary or Deputy Secretary
April 24, 2012

April 24, 2012

Dear Superintendent:
Throughout April, our nation has been celebrating the Month of the Military Child. In recognizing these remarkable children, we are focused on their many achievements and strengths. We are also reminded of the unique challenges they face as military-connected children.
Virtually all school districts educate a child whose parent or guardian is serving in our Armed Forces, whether stationed here or abroad and whether on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves. Of the more than 1.2 million school-aged children of service men and women, more than 80 percent attend public schools.
One of the key issues facing military families is the frequent transitioning from one installation to the next, from one state to the next. Each of these moves impacts the military-connected child—from kindergarten through high school and even college. This is because oftentimes there are inconsistent school transfer policies that can inhibit a student's academic standing and social integration. Military-connected children with disabilities often face additional challenges.
The data demonstrate that transition challenges are not a one-time occurrence. On average, military-connected children attend six to nine different school systems from kindergarten through 12th grade. We want all military-connected school children to have an equal and fair opportunity for academic success. This requires that those individuals who make up our nation's educational system—our teachers, principals, school nurses, coaches, and counselors—understand the unique situations the children of our service members experience.
I am writing this letter to share information and ask for your assistance in meeting the needs of military-connected school children. I hope you will help raise awareness with respect to, and provide assistance for, military-connected children and their families in your schools and community. To be sure, not every military family looks the same, and the support needs will differ. One useful resource in this regard is the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which has been adopted by many states. (See www.mic3.net for Compact language.) This Compact, developed by the Council of State Governments, education experts, and the Department of Defense, addresses common problems that affect military-connected children as a result of frequent moves and deployments. For military-connected children with disabilities, a useful resource is the National Parent Training and Information Center−Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP) (www.stompproject.org).
Specifically, I would encourage you to:

• Review the Compact and consider ways of making your policies and procedures consistent with the guidelines and rules set forth under the Compact;
• Involve teachers, counselors, instructors, coaches, school nurses, administrators, and students at all levels in your district's efforts to better address the needs of military-connected school children;
• Honor and respect the previous academic standing and accomplishments of military-connected children new to your district;
• Be flexible and open to ways to help students transfer earned courses/credits to their new school;
• Enable implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs) as soon as possible and ensure that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is provided for military-connected children with disabilities;
• Evaluate participation guidelines across your district for extracurricular, after-school, and sports activities to ensure they are welcoming to, and inclusive of, newly arriving students;
• Consider revising other programs or policies that inhibit military-connected children's transition; and
• Share your success stories with respect to implementation of the Compact and service member children. This will allow your work to be showcased to other school districts on the Compact's website (www.mic3.net). Please e-mail your stories to Charles Boyer (charles.boyer@ed.gov) with a short paragraph describing the impact of the Compact in your community.

Thank you for your leadership in helping us fulfill our commitments to our service members and their children. When the women and the men in uniform answer the call of duty, their children are also impacted. Although military-connected children can be adaptable and resilient because of their parent's or guardian's experience, they still need and deserve our help. Please work to ensure their future success as they progress to adulthood. Like their parents and guardians, they will, with your assistance, do our nation proud.

	Sincerely,
	/s/
	Arne Duncan

FSCA Professional Recognition Banquet

Florida School Counselor Association Professional Recognition Banquet   Quick Links FSCA Home Page Register for the convention Purchase only Banquet tickets FSCA 2012 Convention FSCA is committed to recognizing the outstanding work done by school counselors, administrators, and advocates of the school counseling profession. FSCA recognizes individuals who excel in promoting and facilitating the role of school counselors in Florida.    We hope that you will share in celebrating this year's recipients. Awards will be presented during a professional recognition banquet at the FSCA 2012 Convention in ST. PETERSBURG.    The nomination deadline is July 15th, 2012. See below for each award description.  Visit our website at http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/awards to learn more about each award and to nominate a deserving professional.    You can purchase Banquet tickets when registering for the convention at a discounted price or purchase only banquet tickets online at: http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/calendar_list.asp    © Copyright 2006-2012 Florida School Counselor Association. All Rights Reserved.  FSCA is a the only approved Division of the American School Counselor Association

Keiser University Celebrating 35 Years

Keiser University Celebrating 35 Years

Register Now! Advancing School Counseling through Advocacy

Advancing School Counseling through Advocacy   Summer Drive-In Conference for School Counselors   June 29th, 2012 8:30 am - 3:00 pm   Universal Technical Institute 2202 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida (407) 240-2422 FREE for Members $45 for Non-Members
Sponsored by:

8:30 - 9:00	Registration & continental breakfast juice, coffee & pastries; provided by UTI
9:00 - 9:15	Welcome from UTI President and FSCA President
9:15 - 11:15	SESSION A: DRS. JANSON & MAXIS: “Advocacy through School Counseling Advisory Councils”
11:15 - 12:45	UTI Walking Tour & LUNCH provided by UTI
12:45 - 3:00	SESSION B: DR. ISAACS: “Advocacy Basics: Releasing Your Inner Advocate”

SESSION INFORMATION:

·         SESSION A: “ADVOCACY THROUGH SCHOOL COUNSELING ADVISORY COUNCILS”

The ASCA National Model recommends that school counselors create an advisory council to help guide their school counseling program.  Importantly, advisory councils can also be conceived and constructed in order to empower parents and community members who may be more effective student advocates than school staff. Despite the powerful potential advisory councils hold as an essential advocacy tool, very few school counselors have initiated this process in their school.  In this session, we'll explore school counseling advisory councils, school counselors’ perspectives of them, how they can be effective, and some practical tips on getting started.
 

·         SESSION B:  “ADVOCACY BASICS: RELEASING YOUR INNER ADVOCATE”

This workshop focuses on advocacy, where school counselor leadership, data driven decisions, social justice, professional identity, and professional empowerment come together.  FSCA has become a driving force for reform efforts at the school, district and state level using data and leadership strategies that help advance professional and policy agendas.  By providing a background in recent public policy actions and definitions of advocacy, counselors will learn how to frame advocacy agendas and implement their actions at the school, community and state legislative level.  Practical advice and tips will be provided.  

EVENT LOCATION:UTI Orlando
2202 Taft Vineland Road
Orlando, Florida 32837
Main Campus: 1-800-514-4337
(Janice M. Tkaczyk, National Director CAR Program)
 
HOTEL RECOMMENDATION/INFO:Crowne Plaza Orlando-Universal
7800 Universal Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819
407-355-0550
https://resweb.passkey.com/go/UTIPDG
*RESERVE YOUR ROOM BEFORE JUNE 7^thand receive a rate of:  $89.00 for a king room.
*BE SURE TO REQUEST THE “FSCA SUMMER CONFERENCE RATE” (Carol Gorham, Sales Manager)

Advancing School Counseling through Advocacy

SAVE THE DATE Advancing School Counseling through Advocacy   Summer Drive-In Conference for School Counselors   June 29th, 2012 8:30 am - 3:00 pm   Universal Technical Institute 2202 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida (407) 240-2422 FREE for Members $45 for Non-Members
Sponsored by:

8:30 - 9:00	Registration & continental breakfast juice, coffee & pastries; provided by UTI
9:00 - 9:15	Welcome from UTI President and FSCA President
9:15 - 11:15	SESSION A: DRS. JANSON & MAXIS: “Advocacy through School Counseling Advisory Councils”
11:15 - 12:45	UTI Walking Tour & LUNCH provided by UTI
12:45 - 3:00	SESSION B: DR. ISAACS: “Advocacy Basics: Releasing Your Inner Advocate”

SESSION INFORMATION:

·         SESSION A: “ADVOCACY THROUGH SCHOOL COUNSELING ADVISORY COUNCILS”

The ASCA National Model recommends that school counselors create an advisory council to help guide their school counseling program.  Importantly, advisory councils can also be conceived and constructed in order to empower parents and community members who may be more effective student advocates than school staff. Despite the powerful potential advisory councils hold as an essential advocacy tool, very few school counselors have initiated this process in their school.  In this session, we'll explore school counseling advisory councils, school counselors’ perspectives of them, how they can be effective, and some practical tips on getting started.
 

·         SESSION B:  “ADVOCACY BASICS: RELEASING YOUR INNER ADVOCATE”

This workshop focuses on advocacy, where school counselor leadership, data driven decisions, social justice, professional identity, and professional empowerment come together.  FSCA has become a driving force for reform efforts at the school, district and state level using data and leadership strategies that help advance professional and policy agendas.  By providing a background in recent public policy actions and definitions of advocacy, counselors will learn how to frame advocacy agendas and implement their actions at the school, community and state legislative level.  Practical advice and tips will be provided.  

State overrules Volusia County School Board, OKs virtual charter school - News

DAYTONA BEACH -- A virtual charter school was given the green light by the state to start operating in Volusia and other area counties.

The state Board of Education overturned the Volusia County School Board's decision to deny the application last fall of the Central Florida Virtual Board and the Florida Virtual Academy.

The School Board had several concerns with the application, including the school's governance and lack of oversight, its curriculum and financial plan. The Charter School Appeal Commission in February supported denying the application. The Central Florida Virtual Board and Florida Virtual Academy appealed to the state, which decided this past week to overturn the decision as well as decisions by school boards in other area counties for various charter and virtual charter school companies.

Read more: State overrules Volusia County School Board, OKs virtual charter school - News

Education of Homeless Children and Youth Project Grant

The Department of Education has issued the following memorandum regarding the 2012-2015 Title X, Part C, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Project Grant: Call for Proposals.  The memorandum may be viewed at:

 

 

   http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6365/dps-2012-43.pdf

   http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6366/dps-2012-43a.pdf

 

Netsmartz: Using Technology with Special Needs Children

	May 2012
These experts say video and computer games help special needs children practice social skills in a controlled environment. Online games, like this one from Do2Learn, can assist special needs children in recognizing facial expressions. iPads offer tremendous benefits to children with special needs. Read this mother's heartwarming story about how the iPad has helped her non-verbal son with autism communicate. There are literally hundreds of learning and productivity apps you can use with special needs children. This website provides reviews and helpful tips so you know which ones to buy. NetSmartz has resources specifically made for special needs children, including safety pledges using Picture Communication Symbols™ and Safety Stories. Articles and comments do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Any products or websites mentioned are not necessarily affiliated with, endorsed or licensed by NCMEC. "Last year, I was asked to help a small school that had gone through three kindergarten teachers before Christmas. Over 50% of the class were students with disabilities. One look at the classroom, and it was clear that student engagement was the critical issue, and computers seemed like a place to start customizing. By leveraging the available tools and committing to a student-centered classroom, we used technology to enhance management and individualize learning." Rebecca A. Hines Member, Council for Exceptional Children Associate Professor, University of Central Florida
This e-mail was sent by: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 699 Prince Street Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA

ESSCP Grant Competion Assistance: Free Webinar

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Healthy Students will sponsor two technical assistance webinars on May 4 and 8, 2012, to help applicants better understand various aspects of the 2012 application for grants under the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program. Specific information regarding this technical assistance opportunity is listed below. The ESSC power point presentation will be available in the webinar presentation. Applicants can join the online meeting and dial into the teleconference to participate in the webinar. You can submit questions to be read and answered during the Q&A portion of the presentation.

The webinar will be presented on Friday, May 4, 2012, at 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Eastern, and Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Call in info: 1-877-951-6686
Participant Code: 5828011

To join the online meeting

1. Go to http://bit.ly/IZCI2A
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: OSHS
4. Click "Join."

To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link: http://bit.ly/IZCI2A

To join the teleconference only Please call: 1-877-951-6686 Participant code: 5828011.


ASCA Staff
American School Counselor Association
________________________________________
email: ascaaspects@schoolcounselor.org
web: http://www.schoolcounselor.org


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