As we all start the new year, we hope you are returning with a new sense of hope and excitement for what 2022 has in store for you. Let's move forward with confidence about all the good things to come. When our perception is positive, our reality is sure to follow.

As counselors, we are so often looking for answers and solutions, but sometimes it's not about the perfect answer. It's about just how wonderfully you have grown, and how you have supported the growth of so many others (students, staff, family, and friends).

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. We want to know how to better serve you and understand your needs in professional development.

School Counselor Needs Survey 2022 - Google Forms

2022-2023 Financial Aid Applications Now Open

The FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid and the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) are now available for the 2022-2023 award year. Starting this year, students enrolled in grade 12 must submit a financial aid application or submit an opt-out form to graduate. The opt-out form is available on the Texas Education Agency website in English and Spanish. Along with the opt-out form, more information and resources for the new graduation requirement may be found at https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/financial-aid-requirement.

Texas OnCourse is excited to provide free virtual college and career readiness and success workshops to support your counseling and advising efforts. Their current offerings are listed below.

Improving College and Career Knowledge Using the Texas OnCourse Academy
January 19, 2022, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
February 2, 2022, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

It is Never Too Early: College and Career Readiness in Middle School
January 26, 2022, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
February 9, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Building a Culture of College and Career Readiness
March 1, 2022, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

You can also access their past webinars on the Texas OnCourse YouTube Channel.

Ask ADVi

ADVi is a chatbot – free to use – that can help your students get the answers they need to their questions about college. ADVi reaches Texas students via text message 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a student chats with ADVi, they can get answers to questions about applying to college, financial aid, the FAFSA and TASFA, scholarships, and much more.

Access to this resource and marketing materials can be found at AskAdvi.Org.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.