February 2026

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Welcome February and Happy National School Counselors Week.

This year’s theme from the American School Counselors Association is School Counselors Amplify Student Success. In the role of school counselor, there are so many stakeholders whom we have an opportunity to interact with to assure student success. When reflecting on this year’s theme, and using ASCA’s sentence stems; I thought I would share how I amplify student success:

I amplify student success by building strong, trusting relationships, advocating for students’

academic, social, and emotional needs, and helping them develop the skills and confidence they

need to reach their goals.

I amplify my success by collaborating with colleagues, reflecting on my practice, continuing my

professional learning, and staying grounded in the belief that every student has strengths and

potential.

School counseling programs amplify student success by providing data-informed,

comprehensive services that support academic achievement, career readiness, and social-

emotional development for all students.

School systems amplify student success when they prioritize student well-being, support

comprehensive school counseling programs, and foster a collaborative culture focused on

equity and access for every learner.

Families can help amplify their student’s success by maintaining open communication,

encouraging perseverance, partnering with the school, and supporting their child’s growth both

inside and outside the classroom.

Students success is all of our success!

A. Michelle Williams

Secondary Vice-President

“I amplify student success by focusing on the foundational elements of a positive self-esteem, assisting students with courage to help navigate healthy relationships and build their confidence to tackle academic challenges.

A highlight of my career (and life) has undoubtedly been the honor of representing Arkansas at the School Counselor of the Year Gala and associated events in Washington, D.C. This experience was a powerful affirmation of the vital role our profession plays in nurturing the whole student. Being in the company of exemplary school counselors—professionals who are truly forging the way forward for both our students and our collective profession—was an experience that was not only deeply humbling but also profoundly inspiring.

To gather in our nation’s capital, where nationally and globally historic and current pivotal decisions are made, lent a truly nostalgic perspective to the experience. This environment was exceptionally inspirational, connecting the legacy of what has been with the potential of what will be for the field of school counseling and the futures of the students we serve.

The opportunities to hear from other school counselors were invaluable, providing a new view of innovative programs and emerging trends from across the country. Discussions ranged from the successful implementation of student-to-student mentor programs to the latest best practices and trends in career counseling and post-secondary planning. These interactions have ignited new visions for my own professional role, sharpening my understanding of how I can enhance my impact. My work is not merely about day-to-day counseling; it is about strategically shaping the future by amplifying the voices, potential, and success of my students and, in turn, elevating the stature of school counseling as a vital educational force.”

Hugh Lovett Scholarship

We are accepting applications for the 2026 Hugh Lovett Scholarship. The scholarship awards a

student in a counselor preparatory program a one time payment of $1000.

If you are interested, or if you know of anyone who is in a counselor program, please share the

email and form with them.

The deadline for applications is March 6, 2026.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at amber.williams@lrsd.org

March family calendar from our President Elect Jane Stewart

Comprehensive School Counseling Program Requirements Each public school district shall provide a developmentally appropriate comprehensive school counseling program to aid students in academics, social/emotional needs, and career exploration and planning. The district Comprehensive School Counseling Plan, which is a reflection of the program, shall be posted on the district website under “State Required Information” no later than August 1 of each year. The requirements for the comprehensive school counseling program plan can be found in the Arkansas School Counselor Toolkit and in the Arkansas Comprehensive School Counseling Program Guide which are posted on the Arkansas Department of Education – Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Guidance and School Counseling webpage. http://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/divisions/learning-services/guidance-and-school-counseling For specific accreditation requirements visit Standards for Accreditation

Per A.C.A. § 6-15-2911- Commissioner's Memo LS-24-042, the four major components of the Student Success Plan are:

• Guide the student along pathways to graduation

• Address accelerated learning opportunities

• Address academic deficits and interventions

• Include college and career planning components

Additionally, each student's Student Success Plan shall be reviewed annually and revised as necessary to identify the courses to be taken each year until all required core courses are completed. Upon completion of the review, the student's Student Success Plan shall be signed by the:

(a) Student;

(b) Student's parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the student; and

(c) School counselor.

2023 legistated changes(see pp 14-16)

Presentation on SSP from DESE Summit

Review the Success Ready Pathway Guide. This guide outlines what a success ready pathway looks like for all students in grades 9-12, however it is a useful tool for students in middle school who are initiating their Students Success Plans. The Success Ready Pathway Guide:

• Outlines each pathway course sequence.

• Identifies the merit and distinction demonstration for each pathway.

• **"Completion of a success-ready pathway leads to eligibility to earn State Distinction, by demonstrating readiness at the culmination of that pathway. Schools will have an opportunity to earn points in accountability for students graduating with merit or distinction.

• Provides additional information regarding merit and distinction opportunities for students.

This tool should be used to assist connecting Students Success Plans to student goals post graduation. Becoming a success ready graduate is a multi-year process that begins well before high school. As we continue to build career ready pathways and ensure all Arkansas graduates are success ready.

• All districts will transition to using the Launch for Students (LFS) platform to track student success plans (SSP) beginning the 2026-2027 school year. In order for a smooth transition to this platform, we ask that districts begin the following:

  • All LFS data is imported directly from eSchool.

  • For successful implementation, districts must:

• Ensure all student and staff emails are entered correctly - these control login access and communication

• Assign counselor and advisor roles accurately within eSchool so the correct users have SSP access

  • • Use the Counselor and Advisor Entry guidance document to complete the setup

  • Completing the above steps in advance ensures:

    • Accurate, real-time data flow

    • Reduced technical issues

    • A smooth statewide implementation

  • Additional information regarding timelines, training, and system functionality for LFS is forthcoming

ArSCA Member Counselors,

In order to be part of the ArSCA Listserv your ArSCA Membership needs to be current. If you have questions about your membership you can contact office@arschoolcounselor.org

If you have questions about the listserv please email technology@arschoolcounselor.org. Please see the link below if you need to make changes in your listserv subscription.

ArSCA Listserv Guidelines

Our counselor listserve address: https://groups.google.com/a/arschoolcounselor.org/g/arsca-listserv You won't see this group listed in your list of Google Groups (if you are a Google school).

Our inaugural Pop-Up Fellowship was held at Golden Corral in NLR on Thursday, February 5th. As this was immediately on the heels of “snow-mageddon” we had limited participation, however, WOW! Great conversations, collaboration, food and fellowship were had, and we look forward to our next event. We are looking to host another Pop-Up in early April, so if you have a venue you would like to suggest, please contact us at central@arschoolcounselor.org. A note about these events - you do not HAVE to be a member of ARSCA to participate, but members get additional perks (for instance - All participants in February’s event ate for FREE!)

TasselTIME is a comprehensive website designed by a former school counselor for school counselors. TasselTIME has been provided to Arkansas School Counselors for free for 23 years. TasselTIME is available to purchase for school use for the entire district. Many districts in Arkansas are using TasselTIME. Find out more by going to www.tasseltime.com

Sign-up for your free counselor membership here.

If your school is wanting to schedule professional development, please contact Dr. Robin Finley, robin@tasseltime.com, 479-461-9030.

Professional Development 2026 Catalog

This newsletter is sent out via the ArSCA Listserv and individually emailed to all Arkansas School Counselors. If you know of a counselor that did not receive the newsletter, please have them email us at technology@arschoolcounselor.org so we can make sure we have their infomation in order to receive our future communications.