Sponsors (17)
The resolution increases public awareness of school counselors' important roles in student support and school safety, but it is purely symbolic and does not provide the funding or staffing needed to expand services, risking unmet expectations.
Students and families: A national School Counseling Week (Feb 3–7, 2025) raises awareness of school counselors' roles in academic support, social-emotional development, career guidance, college readiness, and financial aid navigation.
Teachers and schools: Highlights counselors' contributions to positive school climate, trauma response, and student safety, which can strengthen local support for student wellbeing and coordinated safety efforts.
Students and schools: The resolution is symbolic and does not provide funding or staffing, so it does not address high student-to-counselor ratios or expand services (e.g., 376:1 remains unchanged).
Students and educators: Publicity from the designation may raise expectations and demand for counseling services that schools cannot meet under current budgets, potentially creating frustration or unmet needs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates Feb 3–7, 2025, as National School Counseling Week and highlights counselors' roles and the counselor-to-student ratio to raise awareness.
Introduced January 30, 2025 by Patty Murray · Last progress January 30, 2025
Designates February 3–7, 2025, as National School Counseling Week and sets out findings describing the roles school counselors play in students' academic success, social-emotional development, career readiness, financial-aid awareness, school climate and safety, and trauma support. The resolution highlights student challenges, cites a national average student-to-counselor ratio of 376:1 compared with the ASCA-recommended 250:1, and states that observing the week will raise awareness of the importance of school counselors.