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My professional perspective is attaining a position as an elementary school counselor where I can support students achieve academic, career, and social/emotional success. I have worked in an elementary setting with students in Kindergarten through 4th grade for fourteen years and would like to continue guiding students upon completion of my Master's of Education in Guidance and Counseling.

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Exploration Option 1 - Top 5 According to a Current School Counselor

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Exploration Option 1 - Top 5 According to a Current School Counselor

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In an interview with counselor Jessica Martinez, she discussed the current legal and ethical issues that impact her role. Mrs. Martinez is a middle school counselor at Young Women's Leadership Academy at Arnold.

#1: Counselors must be aware of students' 504 accommodations and ensure students are receiving them. Additionally, they must ensure they are up to date as well.

#2: Accurate notes must be taken for every student outcry and kept in record for future references. Such case notes must be taken with caution as they can be subpoenaed by court or requested by the Child Protective Services.

#3: Anyone who suspects abuse of a child is obligated to report it  to Child Protective Services (CPS).  Reporters are required to report it within 48 hours after being approached by a student with an outcry.

#4: It is important to be aware of legal custody rights, as legal issues can arise with non-custodial parents. School professionals can be legally held accountable for releasing students to non-custodial parents.

#5: Confidentiality is an essential part of any clinical relationship. Student confidentiality is protected by the Family EducationRights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

(J. Martinez, personal communication, June 8, 2018)

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policy; privacy; academic records; technical assistance; parent rights; student rights; ferpa

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Home Page.

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Exploration Option 3 - Education Dive - ... Arming Teachers

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Exploration Option 3 - Education Dive - ... Arming Teachers

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In the Education Dive (Jacobson, 2018), the federal commission members state they would look into developing "meaningful and actionable" school safety recommendations that would reduce gun violence in schools after advocates call for more mental health services. The idea of arming teachers and other school personnel was rejected by them as well.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos may have said that the Federal Commission on School Safety would not focus on guns, but those who spoke at the commission's "listening session" Wednesday offered strong opinions on reducing gun violence in schools and rejected the idea that arming teachers or other school personnel is a good idea.

"This commission should look at guns," Michael Yin, who graduated Tuesday from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md., and is 2018 Presidential Scholar, said during the session, which was live streamed. "Rather than being a sign of cowardice, it would show great courage for this commission and this administration to make our schools and our students and our entire country safer even when it is hard, even when it is about guns."

On Tuesday, DeVos, who did not attend Wednesday's session because she was traveling in Europe to observe apprenticeship and vocational education programs, told a Senate subcommittee that the commission is not focusing primarily on gun policy, according to CNN. The commission's website, however, notes that the members were charged with developing "meaningful and actionable" school safety recommendations that include discussing minimum ages for firearm purchases, as well as addressing social-emotional issues, school safety infrastructure and the impact of violence in video games and the media. The commission is expected to complete its work at the end of the year.

Perhaps because of DeVos' statements, Deputy Secretary Mick Zais, who presided over the session, said that he wanted to clarify that the commission would not be considering confiscating Americans' guns, but that it would look at "specific age limits for the purchase of specific kinds of weapons" and examine "legal procedures for the confiscation of weapons from people with identified mental health issues."

Speakers call for wraparound services, privacy protections

Increasing the availability of trained school resource officers and expanding access to mental health services for students were among the top recommendations members of education organizations and the public made during the session. Several speakers also asked the commission to reject any consideration of rescinding the Obama-era guidance related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act - which states that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will investigate complaints of discipline policies and practices that discriminate based on students' "personal characteristics" - should be maintained and that it improves school safety.

That guidance was the topic of two April " listening sessions" held on the same day, in which DeVos first heard from those who want to maintain the guidance and then met with those who argue it should be rescinded. Opponents of the guidance say that the policy is an example of government overreach, and that school leaders are reluctant to address "troubling, sometimes violent behavior" when they are told to reduce suspensions among disabled and minority students. DeVos has indicated she's considering rescinding the guidance.

"Listen to communities"

Wednesday's session was the first gathering for the commission that was open to the media and the public, and some speakers called on the commission to increase its membership to add parents and students, and to hold meetings in communities.

"This federal commission on school safety needs to listen to communities that it's supposed to represent, communities like mine," Amina Henderson-Redwan, a leader with Voices of Youth in Chicago Education, told the commission.

While some of the speakers argued in favor of more trained school resource officers, others said these personnel create an unwelcoming environment in schools and lead to more arrests for nonviolent infractions.

"Police presence in schools has increased over time and contributes to the criminalization of young people, particularly young black people and brown people," said Hashim Jabar, of Dayton, Ohio-based Racial Justice Now.

Congressman John Rutherford, R-Fla., the first speaker of the morning session, said it's important for the DOJ to quickly implement the STOP School Violence Act, which includes funding for violence prevention training as well as physical security measures, such as more metal detectors, locks, emergency response technology

"We need to make this money available to schools as soon as possible," he said, but added that it's important to better understand what is occurring in the perpetrators' lives that makes them return to schools to kill people. "They go there to kill the pain in their life."

That's why speakers also called for "softer" measures, such as more counselors, conflict resolution programs, school nurses and social-emotional learning programs.

"Counselors, wraparound services and strong relationships with caring adults for struggling students is what is needed," said Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, the national field organizer with the Dignity in Schools Campaign, a coalition pushing for alternatives to suspension and zero-tolerance policies.

Amelia Vance, of the Future of Privacy Forum, also urged the commission to consider privacy issues when increasing video surveillance and using technology to monitor students' online activity.

"We are talking about the government actively seeking out children's social media accounts, both public and private, and combining this information with existing law enforcement or social services records to profile which students are threats," she said. "Programs to collect student data should be targeted at the most serious threats."

States move forward with safety agendas

Last week, the commission, including those representing the Justice, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security departments, visited a school for the first time, learning about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports at Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School in Hanover, Md. According to a ED press release, George Sugai, a special education professor at the University of Connecticut, gave the commission members an overview of PBIS - a widely used school climate framework - and leaders from the Anne Arundel County (Md.) Public Schools talked about how they implement the program.

In a statement released to the press Tuesday, Beverly J. Hutton, deputy executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), called on the commission to "abandon the notion of arming teachers, principals and other school personnel," to maintain the discipline guidance and to spend more "purposefully" on mental health services in and out of schools.

"The consensus of the education community - more than one hundred education and law enforcement organizations - was captured in the 2013 Framework for Safe and Successful Schools," her statement said. "I hope the members of this commission can reclaim some time on your busy calendars with an awareness that many of the answers you seek are already known."

Those points were echoed by NASSP senior manager of federal engagement and outreach Zachary Scott during the public forum's Wednesday afternoon session. Also speaking during that session, Rabbi Abba Cohen of Agudath Israel of America emphasized that Jewish and other religious-affiliated schools also face the threat of rising ethnic, racial and religious extremism, adding another layer to the school safety discussion.

Meanwhile some states are holding their own school safety commissions. In Arkansas last week, mothers and grandmothers voiced opposition to arming school staff members, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The 18-member commission, appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, also listened to a presentation on PBIS. And in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott last week recommended more police and armed officers at schools and called on lawmakers to consider a "red flag" law, which allows family members or police to ask a judge to temporarily take a gun away from someone who appears to be a threat to themselves or others, according to The New York Times.
Roger Riddell contributed to this article.

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Advocates, parents call for more mental health services, reject idea of arming teachers

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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos may have said that the Federal Commission on School Safety would not focus on guns, but those who spoke at the commission's "listening session" Wednesday offered strong opinions on reducing gun violence in schools and rejected the idea that arming teachers or other school personnel is a good idea.

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Exploration Option 3 - Education Dive - Schools Shouldn't Become ICE Enforcement Zones

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Exploration Option 3 - Education Dive - Schools Shouldn't Become ICE Enforcement Zones

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U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos clarifies that schools shouldn't become ICE enforcement zones after she had previously stated at a hearing that it would be a school's decision to report undocumented students to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), (Vercelletto, 2018).

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Dive Brief:

Asked at a Tuesday Senate hearing if school staff could report undocumented students to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos replied, "I don't think they can," Chalkbeat reports.

DeVos previously commented at a House hearing that it was "a school decision" whether to report undocumented students to ICE, which prompted responses from civil rights groups that the statement stood in opposition to Plyler v. Doe, a 1982 ruling that schools must educate undocumented students .

On Tuesday, however, DeVos mentioned Plyler, though Chalkbeat reported that she also sidestepped several opportunities to reply "yes" or "no" to the undocumented student question. Her spokesperson, Liz Hill, said, "She did not avoid the question and was very clear schools are not, and should not ever become, immigration enforcement zones."

Dive Insight:

The ever-changing, highly charged political landscape has left administrators and educators stymied over what they legally can and cannot do when it comes to undocumented students. Thornier still are the practical and ethical issues swirling around the situation.

The official policy of the U.S. Department of Immigration is that it can't undertake enforcement action in "sensitive areas." These include places of worship, hospitals, funerals, weddings and schools. That said, civil rights activists have called out immigration authorities for making arrests in neighborhoods near schools, thus pushing undocumented students away from classrooms.

When administrators provide information to district families on their rights under federal, state and district policies, it may be worth keeping in mind that legal experts maintain that referring to a school as a "sanctuary" may be taken literally. That could cause families to believe schools can give them greater legal protection than is actually the case.

For instance, in Clark County, Nev., and several other districts, administrators limit ICE school access by processing requests through a district lawyer or the superintendent's office. Yet, as required by law, the school authorities will assist agents if called upon to do so, reports Education Week. ICE is a federal agency with legal authority to enforce immigration law, so there could be situations in which they can gain access to a school after making a strong enough case that it's necessary.

Back in 2004 in Albuquerque, N.M., Border Patrol Agents questioned undocumented students at a school, resulting in a suit from the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund and subsequent settlements. Now, Albuquerque officers are prevented from "stopping, questioning, detaining, investigating, or arresting" minors on or in the vicinity of public school grounds.

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DeVos tells Senate schools shouldn't become ICE enforcement zones

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Asked at a Tuesday Senate hearing if school staff could report undocumented students to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos replied, "I don't think they can," Chalkbeat reports. DeVos previously commented at a House hearing that it was "a school decision" whether to report undocumented students to ICE, which prompted responses from civil rights groups that the statement stood in opposition to Plyler v.

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After exploring legal and ethical issues in the field of school counselors, I was interested in exploring the issue of child abuse. Child abuse rates are high and many school counselors/educators experience difficulties identify and/or reporting suspected cases. Research on this topic will help me be more aware of the signs of child abuse and know how to properly report them.

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As I researched the topic of child abuse in the Angelo State University Library, many resources pulled up. The article, " A School counselor's Guide to Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect," by April Sikes, provides information to help identify , report, and even prevent child abuse.

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Angelo State University - Library Online Resources

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Unauthorized use is prohibited; Usage may be subject to security testing and monitoring; Misuse is subject to criminal prosecution; No expectation of privacy except as otherwise provided by applicable privacy laws.

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While researching the topic of child abuse on the internet, I identified a training presentation entitled Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting by SafeSchools Training. The presentation is provided by Grand Prairie ISD. It helps identify what is child abuse and its different forms by presenting scenarios how to identify signs of abuse, and state and legal responsibilities on handling and reporting disclosures and suspicion of child abuse.

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The safety of our staff and students is of utmost importance. That's why we're pleased to offer the SafeSchools Online Training System to our employees. We're confident you'll find these courses to be informative and helpful towards maintaining a safe learning environment.

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Jacobson, L. (2018, June 06). Advocates, parents call for more mental health services, reject idea of arming teachers. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/advocates-parents-call-for-more-mental-health-services-reject-idea-of-arm/525127/

Lyness, D. (Ed.). (2015, August). Child Abuse. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/child-abuse.html

Vercelletto, C. (2018, June 06). DeVos tells Senate schools shouldn't become ICE enforcement zones. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/devos-tells-senate-schools-shouldnt-become-ice-enforcement-zones/525152/

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Child maltreatment is a serious problem. Child reports are increasing but still many go unreported. Cases are often unreported because children are afraid to tell somebody who can help.  School employees play an important role in child protection as we are often the first to come in contact with a child who's been abused.

Proper reporting is paramount to get a child/student the help he/she needs and deserves. Texas law requires anyone who suspects child abuse to report suspicions to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services within 48 hours. All reports of child abuse and the identity of the reporter are confidential. Staff members who report a suspicion of child abuse in good faith are protected.

It is important for all school staff member to know how to identify , intervene, and prevent child abuse. As a school counselor not only am I responsible for reporting suspected child abuse, but also providing counseling services to the students, coordinating community resources, and designing prevention programs. Child abuse is a common part of many children's lives. By being aware of with child abuse prevention and intervention strategies, and appropriate reporting, I can advocate for children of abuse in an effort to stop the cycle of child abuse.