Regents Approve Initiative To Improve School Counselor Training
Atlanta — June 10, 2003
The Board of Regents of the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System of Georgia approved the Principles for the Preparation of School Counselors today, the final section of the boardÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s principles designed to improve GeorgiaÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s schools by setting standards for the preparation of educators who can ensure the academic success of every child.
The principles are an important step toward the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ SystemÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s goal of “Creating a More Educated Georgia.”
“The Board of RegentsÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ approval of the principles is the third cornerstone of the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System’s efforts to strengthen educator preparation,” said Jan Kettlewell, associate vice chancellor for P-16 initiatives. “As a result of the regentsÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ action, school counselors prepared in the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System of Georgia will be prepared to enter GeorgiaÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s schools ready to help every child achieve academic success.”
In 1998 and 2001, respectively, the Regents approved Principles for the Preparation of Teachers and Principles for the Preparation of Educational Leaders (school principals and superintendents). All sections of the principles ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ” now including school counselors ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ” are based on three themes: quality assurance, collaboration, and responsiveness.
School counselors largely are responsible for the social, emotional, and career development necessary for studentsÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ academic success. They play a critical role in advising students about the courses needed for acceptance into college ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ” commonly known as the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC). For example, research with African-American males in Georgia has shown that a key contributor to their low college-going rates is insufficient counseling about the appropriate pre-requisite and academically rigorous courses to take.
A unique feature of the principles is the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ SystemÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s guarantee that any school counselor it prepares will be able to promote the academic success, career preparedness and social/emotional development of all students. Backing up the guarantee, the Board of Regents will provide additional training to any counselor who has completed an approved program in the previous four years and does not meet expectations. This training will be provided at no expense to the counselor or to the school.
“The Principles and Actions for the Preparation of School Counselors shows that Georgia is committed to enhancing the academic success of all students,” said Brent Snow, Ph.D., department chair of the State ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ of West GeorgiaÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s College of Education. “School counselors are absolutely critical as leaders and advocates for Georgia students.”
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