Counseling Services Newsletter

National Career Development Month

North Texas Kindness Week

National Homeless Youth Awareness Month (NHYAM)

Monthly Maps:
ES | MS | HS - check for a full list of events

• Nov. 7-14 -- Dallas ISD Kindness Week (WAIP)

Mental Wellness During the Holidays

SchooLinks Career Awareness Lesson (continued)

See link below for more information. Add to your Outlook Calendar.

November 3 -- Districtwide Counselor PD

Click the image for more information.

Per TEA, all school counselors must complete Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) certification to proactively identify and intervene before violent incidents occur.

Click the links below for more information and to register for a training session.

Restorative Practices in Texas

Mental Health Webinars

Trauma Informed Training Series

LSSSCA provides three days of professional development specifically for school counselors. The conference includes breakout sessions, keynote sessions, general sessions and networking events that allows you to enhance your school counseling knowledge, improve your school counseling program, and network with other school counselors to discover best practices in the field.

Link: LSSSCA Conference

PSCC is an opportunity for school counselors from across Texas come together to grow, connect, and renew their passion for the profession. This conference is sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA), a division of the Texas Counseling Association (TCA)

Link: PSCC

Click links below for more information or to submit items

• You have one goal for SCEI this year
• Goal must focus on academic achievement - specifically off-track students or academic improvement
• Goal must represent at least 5% of your caseload
• Goals submitted prior to the re-launch in Cornerstone will need to be resubmitted using the new format
• Use your resources to identify your target students and to write your goal statement
• AI is a great support resource (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.)
  -- Use to proofread and make sure your goal meets criteria
  -- Use for ideas on implementation, tracking, and a success plan

Our district is partnering with New York Life on a Grief-Sensitive School Initiative. Every campus will read a grief book aloud with students this fall. Please read on for additional information about what to expect and what we need from you to make this effort a success.

NEXT STEPS

1. Access your book using the link for your campus level:

1. K-5 campuses: The Golden Sweater

• The Golden Sweater English
• The Golden Sweater Spanish

6-12 campuses: Lost in the Middle

• Lost in the Middle English
• Lost in the Middle Spanish

Multi-level campuses: Please read both books

3. Submit your documentation by Wednesday, Dec 2 using this form: GSSI Completion Form
You’ll upload photos, enter the number of students, and share any optional observations or stories. Multi-level campuses submit one form for both books.

CONSENT (SB 12)

Only students with parent consent on file for school counseling services may participate. Readings can be done in whichever format your school prefers: in small groups, by class, or as a whole school, as long as all students have a consent form on file.

PHOTOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

• No identifiable student faces. Photograph the book, the reader, the setting, or students from behind.
• No student names in photos, captions, or form responses.

TIPS FOR THE READ-ALOUD

• Review the book ahead of time.
• Check in privately beforehand with students you know are grieving.
• Never ask students to share their own losses out loud.
• Follow up afterward with any student who seems affected.

Welcome to a journey of awareness and inclusion! Your campus has received the Participation Guide focused on the Purpose of the McKinney-Vento Impact, promoting National Homeless Youth Awareness Month (NHYAM) every November. This initiative aims to highlight the challenges faced by students with housing instability under the McKinney-Vento Act, fostering a supportive environment that encourages self-identification without stigma. When students feel acknowledged, they can access essential resources to aid their academic success.

The Homeless Education Program (HEP) is providing outreach materials for families to learn about available resources. Participation is flexible, allowing you to choose enjoyable activities that promote awareness. Don’t miss the "Wear Purple" day, a vibrant event to show support and spread awareness across the campus.

And the spirit of belonging doesn’t stop there! No One Eats Alone (NOEA) Day is coming in February, offering more opportunities for students in grades 5-8 to build connections -- starting in the lunchroom. Register early to receive a free Belonging Box filled with resources to make your NOEA celebration a success. ​​​​

Click image to access the dashboard

Presentation: Counselor BTA Collaboration October 2026

Dallas ISD BTA Resources

See the links below for tools to help you plan for guidance and schoolwide events.

Also use our K-12 Guidance site for resources and lessons.

Remember to include your staff and parents in your awareness events.

Share on social media and with your coordinator!

It's never too soon to start preparing for the future. There are so many different options out there, and the more you learn about them, the easier it will be to make informed decisions about your future. Don't be afraid to start exploring EARLY.

Link: K-5 CCMR with Ms. Thrash

Bilingual Feelings Chart

Whole Hearted School Counseling

Senate Bill 12 Link: SB 12

See section in newsletter for the district's response

SB 179 Link: SB 179

Requires school boards to adopt a policy requiring school counselors spend at least 80 percent of the counselor’s total work time on duties that are components of a school counseling program, including: Individual Planning, Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, and System Support.

Dallas ISD Policy and Exhibit Links: Policy, Exhibit

• Requires school boards to adopt a policy requiring school counselors spend at least 80 percent of the counselor’s total work time on duties that are components of a school counseling program.

• Outlines the duties of school counselors

• Counselors shall not be testing coordinators or committee chairpersons. Rather, school counselors are participating members of committees.

Texas Education Code (TEC) - Counselor Time Tracker Link: TEC, Time Tracker Guidebook

Includes a mandate for school counselors to document their time for the components of a school counseling program as well as time spent on non-counseling duties.

It is important for counselors and campuses adhere to state mandates and district policy.

Couselors are sometimes contacted by outside entities for information or interviews. It is important to follow district protocol, which begins with notifying your principal of the request. See below for additional information and documents from the Dallas ISD Legal Services department.

Helpful Links from Legal Services:

• Legal Services FAQs
• Staff Completing Non-School Related Forms
• Request for Completion of Input Form (English)
• Request for Completion of Input Form (Spanish)

SRAs and RVQs must be completed IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of information on a student. This is NOT optional. You must follow protocol. See the link below for required forms. If you need assistance, please contact your mental health clinician or coordinator.

Staff Reminders

Remind your staff of the expectations for following protocols and taking immediate action on student concerns.

Links:

MHS website

MHS Continuum of Support Services

• Dallas ISD Child Abuse Office
• Dallas ISD Child Abuse Reporting Procedures
• Texas Educator's Guide to Reporting Suspected Abuse and Neglect (printable)

Counselors may be asked to complete forms about students from outside agencies. Please see the WAIP for guidance on what is permissable and related forms for parents to complete when making a request.

NOTE (per the WAIP):

Care providers and/or parents may also make requests for employees to provide letters of support/recommendation, written statements pertaining to child custody or other legal matters, and various other letters of opinion. Employees are advised to deny these requests. Under no circumstances should employees use District letterhead for such requests.

Homeschool Policy

Over-Age Students

Promotion & Retention Guidelines

Credit by Examination for Acceleration (CEFA) is a means by which high-achieving elementary students with above average grades and test scores may advance one grade level by taking and passing required tests.

Credit by Examination (CBE) with no prior instruction is a means by which high-achieving middle and high school students with above average grades and test scores may be awarded course credit(s) for a particular course by taking and passing required test(s).

Link: CEFA/CBE

Images are linked

Also see the Community Resources section

Dallas ISD has partnered with Carson's Village to give counselors tools to help students and families on their grief journey. See the links below to learn more about these supports.

Links:

General Resources

Educator Specific Resources

Website

If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing issue, such as an eviction, and needs to speak with a free lawyer, please contact the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center by texting 469-436-2704 or emailing info@dallaseac.org. If you or someone you know is worried about, or currently experiencing, homelessness, call the Housing Forward Homeless Crisis Helpline at 1-888-411-6802.

Links: English Flyer | Spanish Flyer

Click the links below for more information.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

The City of Dallas has emergency funding rent relief to Dallas residents. Funding is limited and parents must meet requirements to qualify. Link: www.dallasrentrelief.com

Homeless Education Program (HEP)

Parents can contact the Homeless hotline at 888-411-6802 to get connected to appropriate resources. Please note that the department does not have direct access to housing for families.

Link: Food Bank Resources

Links:

Flyers

Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/78689

HEP has approximately 25 copies of their Resource Guide for each campus. Counselors can come to pick them up at 4600 Spring Avenue near Fair Park. Please contact the office to make an appointment for pickup as the staff is often out support campuses. Also, if parents are seeking resources at the school, please print out the emergency resource guide from our website or direct the parent to our webpage.

Link:

Referral Follow up Form

Link: PowerSchool Manual for Counselors

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA)

Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA)

Email: counselingservices@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/Domain/3068
Location: 9400 N. Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75231 Suite 601
Phone: 972.925.8989
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasISDCounselingServices
Twitter: @CounselingDISD