May 2025

Table of Contents

A Message from the WSCA Executive Director

WSCA Pop Up Survey – Respond by May 13th

WSCA is actively planning for the 2025–2026 school year, and we need your input! We’re looking to identify locations where school counselors would like to attend ASCA Model/Standard e training.

Please take a moment to complete this very short pop-up survey and let us know what you’d be interested in attending if it were offered in your area.

The survey will close on Tuesday, May 13th, don’t miss your chance to weigh in! Your feedback will help us bring meaningful professional development closer to you.

ASCA Model 5.0 Feedback-Respond by May 19th

Along with completing the WSCA pop-up survey, I strongly encourage you to review the draft of the ASCA National Model 5.0 and provide your input during the public feedback window, which is open through May 19th.

This draft includes several significant proposed changes, most notably, a new requirement that goals be written to impact academic achievement (previously, academics, attendance, or discipline). The ASCA Model is designed to support you in being a highly effective school counselor, and your voice matters in shaping its future. Please take this opportunity to share your insights and ensure that feedback from practicing professionals is heard by ASCA leadership.

ASCA Model 5.0 Draft

Click here for the ASCA National Model 5th Edition public comment link.

~Stacy Eslick

A Message from the WSCA Board of Directors

At the April meeting of the WSCA Board, the agenda for the 2025-2026 year was set, focusing on our ENDS, our desired outcomes that create the conditions that enable school counselors in Wisconsin to work as effectively as possible, prioritize equity in their practices, and make the best use of the resources they have to support all students fairly and effectively. This includes making sure that:

  1. School counselors (active and pre-service) have the knowledge necessary for effective school counseling practices to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs. This knowledge encompasses
    1. current ethical and professional practices and their application
    2. trends in school counseling and education
    3. leadership and advocacy principles
    4. equitable and culturally responsive practices
  2. Key Stakeholders (including but not limited to) school administrators, policymakers, and community members understand the impact made by the school counselor implementing a comprehensive school counseling program.

To ensure our success at meeting these results, over the summer, a newly constituted group of WSCA board members will complete training on Policy Governance, engage in leadership development training and target improved engagement skills to increase our effective interaction with WSCA members. Engagement with school counselors is key to our success as a board.

As Karla Vinci, the current WSCA Board Chair, shared last month, board members participate in at least two WSCA events a year (other than the annual WSCA conference in November) including SIG groups, WSCA trainings, Summer Academy, Pre-Conference, Afternoon on the Hill, and National School Counseling Week Breakfast. These frequent and invaluable interactions with our membership help us evaluate whether our identified outcomes are benefiting members and creating the conditions for you to excel in your roles and meet the diverse needs of all students.

As a board, we look forward to a productive summer and an even more impactful year ahead.

~Carrie King, Board Member

ASCA Connections

ASCA Seeks Public Comment on Key Standards Documents

ASCA is seeking public comments on two key standards documents, the ASCA National Model® and the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies. Draft versions of both documents are available and open for public feedback.

  1. The ASCA National Model®: A Framework for School Counseling Programs: This document outlines essential components of a school counseling program that align with the school’s mission. The proposed fifth edition is concise and streamlined and will be available in PDF format for free in late spring. Click here to provide feedback.
  2. ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies: These standards define the necessary mindsets and behaviors for school counselors to effectively support pre-K–12 students. They ensure school counselors can develop and sustain programs addressing academic achievement, career planning and social/emotional development. Click here to provide feedback.

ASCA encourages you to share your comments by May 19, 2025. Simply click on the links above to respond to questions about the draft documents.

New ASCA-Certified School Counselors® (ACSC®) 

ASCA is pleased to announce its latest class of ASCA-Certified School Counselors®. Congratulations to:

  • Onetha Bethel, ACSC, Rutledge Middle School, Midfield, Ala.
  • Jordan Blevins, ACSC, Pacific Law Academy, Stockton, Calif.
  • Marisa Burkhardt, ACSC, Basic Academy, Henderson, Nev.
  • Megan Corey, ACSC, Neuse River Middle School, Raleigh, N.C.
  • Rosalie Durazo-Ramirez, ACSC, Coronado High School, Henderson, Nev.
  • Sarah Flier, ACSC, Willow River Elementary School, Hudson, Wis.
  • Rose Nava, ACSC, Heber School, Heber, Calif.
  • Monica Rosales, ACSC, Los Alisos Middle School, Norwalk, Calif.
  • Andrea Vansant, ACSC, March Middle School, Moreno Valley, Calif.

The ACSC® certification demonstrates school counselor knowledge in designing, implementing and assessing a school counseling program. School counselors who hold the ACSC® demonstrate their commitment to the highest levels of professionalism, ethical practice and continuing professional development in their school counseling practice. The next application deadline is June 15, 2025.

U.S. Department of Education VoterVoice Campaign 

The U.S. Department of Education has suffered a severe reduction in workforce that will greatly impede the agency’s ability to carry out congressionally authorized services for K-12 students. These include efforts to complete and file the FAFSA, civil rights protections for students and school staff, and the ability to ensure accountability for federally funded programs such as Title I and IDEA. Contact your members of Congress and ask them to ensure students and educators have access to these important resources, services and protections.

Feature Article

Transitioning Students and Families to Summer Break: A Guide for a Smooth Shift

Tammy Van Ess, School Counselor, Annie Jackson Elementary, Green Bay Area Public School District

As the school year winds down, students and families begin to shift from the structured routine of classes and extracurricular activities to the more relaxed pace of summer break. The transition from structured school days to the freedom of summer can be both exciting and challenging. Finding the right balance helps families make the most of their time while keeping a sense of routine. Here are some strategies to help ease into summer.

Celebrate the School Year’s Achievements:
Before fully embracing summer, taking the time to celebrate a student’s achievements, big or small, gives them a sense of accomplishment from the past academic year. Whether it’s a simple conversation, a fun family outing, or a heartfelt note recognizing their efforts, showing appreciation for their growth makes a huge difference. Plus, it sets the tone for a positive summer experience.

Create a Flexible and Structured Routine:
Transitioning from the structured school environment to the freedom of summer break can be overwhelming for both students and parents. To make the most of this time, families should aim for a balance between routine and flexibility, ensuring a mix of structured activities and spontaneous fun. Setting expectations for wake-up times, meals, chores, and recreational activities can add stability to the transition. This approach helps maintain a sense of order while allowing for creativity and relaxation.

Encourage Fun and Engaging Learning:
Learning doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork—it can be exciting and immersive when tied to real-world experiences. Keeping education fun and interactive ensures that students continue to develop skills over the summer break. Create a summer reading challenge with fun rewards or visit local libraries for themed reading programs. Incorporate math into daily activities, like cooking, budgeting for a lemonade stand, or even playing math-based board games. Organize backyard experiments, visit science museums, or explore nature trails to observe wildlife and ecosystems.

Maintain Peer Social Connections and Physical Activity:
Summer break can be a challenge when it comes to maintaining friendships, but keeping kids connected with their peers is so beneficial for their social and emotional growth. Playdates, group outings, or sports activities can help bridge the gap until the school year starts again.
Additionally, staying active is essential for both mind and body. Whether kids are splashing in the pool, riding bikes through the neighborhood, or just exploring the outdoors, movement keeps boredom at bay while promoting overall health. Plus, fresh air and sunshine do wonders for mood and energy.

Embrace the Joy of Summer:
Summer is a time for exploration, growth, and memorable experiences and can offer the perfect balance of enrichment and rest. By balancing relaxation with engaging activities, summer allows students to sharpen their skills while also recharging. Whether it’s learning a new skill, embarking on adventures, or simply enjoying quality time as a family, summer can be a season of fulfillment rather than disruption.

How do you plan to make summer meaningful for your family?

DPI Connections

Dr. Underly Condemns Elimination of Grant Supporting Mental Health

Dr. Jill Underly condemned the federal government’s abrupt decision to terminate a vital $10 million grant aimed at expanding school-based mental health services in Wisconsin. The grant, awarded in 2024 and intended to span five years, was a lifeline for schools in meeting the growing mental health needs of their students. View the news bulletin here.

Tracking Federal Funding Cuts: The Effect on Wisconsin

Tracking Federal Funding Cuts: The Effect on Wisconsin website is being regularly updated with the latest information. For example, earlier this week there was information added about funding cuts related to Homeless Children & Youth Administrative Funds. As noted earlier, “[t]he Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has launched a new webpage dedicated to providing real-time updates, critical information, and resources related to federal funding for public schools and libraries across the state.” Click here if interested in learning more.

Final Report from the DPI Advanced Placement (AP) Programming & Planning Workgroup

The Advanced Placement (AP) Cohort Class of 2024 report on exam participation and performance was recently released. There is much for Wisconsin students, families, and districts to be proud of.  25.2% of Wisconsin public high school graduates scored a 3 or higher on an AP Exam during high school. That puts Wisconsin well above the national average of 22.6%, making it 12th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In April 2025, DPI released the “Final Report from the DPI Advanced Placement (AP) Programming & Planning Workgroup.” The DPI and a dedicated group of educators from across the state collaborated to determine ways that schools could increase access, participation, and success for historically underserved students in Advanced Placement coursework and exams. The group’s final report and the corresponding infographic provide ideas and potential solutions that can help improve AP access, participation, and success at the high school level.

Career Pathways Newsletter: Pathways Wisconsin Volume 2 Issue 3 April 2025

Check out all the great career pathway work going on in each region of the state by clicking on the latest Pathways Wisconsin Newsletter!

College Access Program in Education (CAPE)

The College Access Program in Education (CAPE) is a two-week summer collegiate experience for rising high school seniors interested in academic majors/fields within the School of Education. CAPE  students reside on the UW–Madison campus and take a two-credit course taught by faculty and staff in the School of Education. CAPE is Free! There is no cost required to participate in the program.

You Spoke, We Listened

Legislative Updates

Wisconsin State Budget Updates

Check out the WisconsinEye Wisconsin Budget 2025 featuring live and on-demand coverage of the 2025-2027 Wisconsin State Budget, including the Governor’s address, JFC hearings, news conferences and more! WisconsinEye offers you an unfiltered, non-partisan platform to watch and engage in the process.

Reach out to your state elected officials and share how state funding will impact your schools and students.

WSCA Resources on Talking to Your Elected Officials

  • Wisconsin Budget Areas Impacting School Counseling
    • In addition to the areas directly impacting school counseling, WSCA also encourages advocating for an increase in the special education reimbursement rate. When special education services receive more funding, that will in turn, free up more general funds for services such as school counseling. 
  • Legislative Meeting Planning Guide
    • The document helps you develop your key issues and talking points for your meetings or communication, as well as providing space for you to fill in details of your own story. WSCA leaders are available for consultation if you would like some extra support.
  • Watch this Afternoon on the Hill preplanning video 
    • This was recorded in a previous budget year but has some great advice for preparing for meetings with your legislators. 
  • Look over the “Communicating with Your Legislator: Do’s & Dont’s” handout.
  • Review how the Wisconsin government functions, including how legislation is passed and the budget process in the NEW WSCA Legislative Advocacy Guide.
  • Who is your WI State Senator and Representative? Click this link: https://legis.wisconsin.gov, and enter your home address in the search box in the upper right-hand corner. 
  • Review and save this “Role of the School Counselor” document, which may be a helpful tool to share in your meetings.

Advocacy Guide Spotlight: Advocating for Subgroups of Students

Does your district policy go against what is in the best interest of protecting LGBTQ+ students?

Do you know what rights undocumented students have?

When a student is in and out of home care, who do you need to communicate with regarding that student?

How can you support students in the Criminal Justice system?

Under the “Assessments” section of the WSCA Advocacy Guide you will find information on advocating for the following areas:

  • Supporting Students in the Criminal Justice System
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ Students
  • Supporting Racial Minorities
  • Supporting Students who are Homeless or in Foster Care
  • Supporting Students who are Undocumented
  • Supporting Students with Disabilities

This section includes:

  • Law & Official Guidance
  • Toolkits and resources for supporting equitable practices for all students

To access the WSCA Advocacy Guide, login to your WSCA member account and click on “Member Only Content”.

2024-2025 Professional Development

Conference Information & Updates

Members Corner