# data[].attributes.body
I am an experienced teacher who is working on her masters in guidance and counseling.  Upon completion of my degree this fall,
I will receive my Texas school
counselor certification and hope to become a middle school counselor.

# data[].attributes.headline
Exploration Option 1- Top 5 legal and ethical issues according to a current professional

# data[].attributes.subject
Exploration Option 1- Top 5 legal and ethical issues according to a current professional

# data[].attributes.body
Suzanne Cunningham, K-12 counselor for a small rural school, shared her current legal and ethical concerns.

1. Maintaining confidentiality in a community where everyone knows each other  is difficult.  It is important to stay neutral and maintain trust with students.

2. Electronic devices and social media exaggerate problems and create new issues.  Staying informed on rights and legal issues regarding social media is important.

3. Self-harm and suicide are on the rise.  Counselors establish trust and ensure safety while determining if  there is imminent danger. Administration must be involved to ensure a safe environment for all students.

4. Rural communities have many migrant students.  It is necessary, especially with older students, to  place students in classes and give proper credit based on their school transcript.

5. School safety is a topic of great concern, even in small, close-knit communities. Regardless of circumstance, school administration, counselors, and teachers must have a plan of action in place for emergencies,
(S. Cunningham, personal communication, June 6, 2018).

# data[].attributes.headline
Exploration Option 2- National Education Association (NEA) Legal and Ethical Issues

# data[].attributes.subject
Exploration Option 2- National Education Association (NEA) Legal and Ethical Issues

# data[].attributes.body
NEA is proud to support the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which provides states additional factors to use in determining the success of schools. No longer are test scores the only focus; art and athletic programs, full time counselors, rigorous AP classes, and strong parental involvement programs
are additional factors used to determine a school's effectiveness.
NEA also supports a safe environment for all students. Research shows that learning is negatively affected when a student's basic need for safety is not met; therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure schools are welcoming of all students, (National Education Association, 2018).

# data[].attributes.headline
Exploration Option 2- American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Legal and Ethical Issues

# data[].attributes.subject
Exploration Option 2- American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Legal and Ethical Issues

# data[].attributes.body
ASCA's legislative affairs currently  support the School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act. Expanding Title II funding will provide additional resources; thus, funds may be used to hire additional school counselors. Schools that are properly staffed with counselors and other mental health care workers, positively affect students' overall well-being, influencing academics and behavior.
Additionally, the Every Student Succeeds Act, passed in 2015, supports funding for counselors. Section Title IV-A encourages districts to improve conditions for student learning, including "providing mentoring and school counseling to all students," (American School Counselor Association, 2018).

# data[].attributes.body
Through my investigation of legal and ethical issues related to the field of guidance and counseling, I have chosen to focus on the role of counselors in the school setting.  With support from the ESSA and organizations such as ASCA and NEA, counselors are more necessary than ever. School counselors should be available to assist in the creation of a positive school environment while offering social, emotional, and academic support to students.

# data[].attributes.body
Researching the role of school counselors, I found an article titled, "Comprehensive School Counseling Programs: In Some Schools for Some Students but Not in All Schools for All Students" from the Professional School Counseling journal available in the Angelo State library.  This article discusses the gaps that are present in the delivery of counseling programs, (Lapan, 2012).

# data[].attributes.body
While utilizing the internet to research legal and ethical issues related to the role of school counselors, the article "Cutting School Counselors Hinders Student Success in Unexpected Ways"  (Vercelletto, 2018) provided important information.
This article emphasizes the importance of hiring school counselors to work on career and social-emotional needs, as well as academics.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Role of School Counselors in Public Education

# data[].attributes.subject
The Role of School Counselors in Public Education

# data[].attributes.body
As school counselors, we have the ethical responsibility to serve the whole student through academic, career, and social/emotional development. In fact, research suggests that students benefit from a comprehensive school counseling program; however, that is not always the case (Lapan, 2012).  When the counselor to student ration is above the recommended 1:250, counselors have little time to serve students individually (Vercelleto, 2018).  Funding provided by the ESSA, specifically Title IV-A, needs to focus on hiring more counselors to meet the needs of all students (American School Counselor Association, 2018).

When schools are adequately staffed with counselors, student success is shown through increased graduation and post-secondary acceptance rates, as well as lower dropout rates. Counselors are able to teach life skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world. Additionally, the needs of all students can be addressed; not just average students, but also high and low achieving students who are often ignored (Vercelletto, 2018). Therefore, states must realize that more counselors are needed-not just fulfill other jobs such as test administration, but to serve students in an effective and comprehensive school counseling program.

# data[].attributes.body
American School Counselor Association  (2018). Legislative Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors members/legislative-affairs

Lapan R. I. (2012). Comprehensive school counseling programs: in some school for some students but not in all schools for all students. Professional School Counseling, 16(2), 84-88.

National Education Association  (2018). Issues and action. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/IssuesAndAction.html

Vercelletto C. (2018, June 1). Cutting school counselors hinders student success in unexpected ways. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/cutting-school-counselors-hinders-student-success-in-unexpected-ways/524756/