(N. Guzman, personal communication, March 19, 2019.)

     On the home website of the National Education Association (NEA), I came across the House Bill entitled “Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act”. This particular bill is now moving to Senate for the next step in the judicial process. With this bill, an award would be developed and given to an outstanding Education Support Professional (ESP) each year called the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Program. Award recipients would consist of  para-professionals, bus drivers, custodians, school secretaries, and cafeteria workers, just to name a few. Individuals who go above and beyond their job title contribution in grades K-12 aid in the growth of a well-rounded to school, and would be eligible for recognition ("National Education Association (NEA) ", 2019).
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           Also discussed on NEA's website, is the newly proposed, American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) which works to support immigrants. This bill covers many aspects including minors who enter the United States unaccompanied by an adult. For numerous reasons, immigrants are given the right to remain in the United Stated as an undocumented immigrant. If passed, the bill grants immigrants extended stay, the right to pay in-state tuition, thus lowering their cost for education, and the ability to apply for financial aid and work-study programs ("National Education Association (NEA) ", 2019). 

The issue of cyberbullying has become so prevalent that schools and courts are beginning to gain awareness and take action. In 2016, high school student David Molak endured so much online harassment, that he committed suicide. In an effort to prevent any others from going through the hurt they endured, David’s parents began to advocate for youth who experience cyberbullying. They worked to create SB 179, also known as David’s Law, which was signed into effect in June 2016 (Jones, 2017). Under David’s Law, schools are responsible for providing anonymous reporting of bullying incidents, time parameters are placed on schools for reporting to parents. Additionally, cyberbullying is now a Class B misdemeanor. 

As a current educator and future school counselor, it is imperative that I know and understand the parameters of this law and all that it entails. Due to the fact that schools have only three business days to report to parents of the victimized student and the parents of the bully, schools and personnel can become legally liable if these procedures are not followed. Often, because of the nature of the job, school counselors would most likely be the adult many students confide in and report to. Not knowing the process set up by the school and legislature, could cause damage not only to the students, the case, and the school, but to the counselor as well. Counselors also play a vital role in educating students on cyberbullying and the consequences. With the passing of this law, students are held to a higher legal standard of punishment. Knowing these consequences, educating students of them, and educating of the pain these actions can cause each individual involved, may mean the difference in students having a criminal record, or worse, life and death.   

The issue of cyberbullying has become so prevalent that schools and courts are beginning to gain awareness and take action. In 2016, high school student David Molak endured so much online harassment, that he committed suicide. In an effort to prevent any others from going through the hurt they endured, David’s parents began to advocate for youth who experience cyberbullying. They worked to create SB 179, also known as David’s Law, which was signed into effect in June 2016 (Jones, 2017). Under David’s Law, schools are responsible for providing anonymous reporting of bullying incidents, time parameters are placed on schools for reporting to parents. Additionally, cyberbullying is now a Class B misdemeanor. 

As a current educator and future school counselor, it is imperative that I know and understand the parameters of this law and all that it entails. Due to the fact that schools have only three business days to report to parents of the victimized student and the parents of the bully, schools and personnel can become legally liable if these procedures are not followed. Often, because of the nature of the job, school counselors would most likely be the adult many students confide in and report to (Shariff, 2005). Not knowing the process set up by the school and legislature, could cause damage not only to the students, the case, and the school, but to the counselor as well. Counselors also play a vital role in educating students on cyberbullying and the consequences. With the passing of this law, students are held to a higher legal standard of punishment. Counselors must know the consequences, educate students of them, and create lessons describing the pain these actions can cause each individual involved. Education may mean the difference between a student having a criminal record or not, or worse, life and death.