March 16, 2003

California School Counselors Association commits to advancing the professional standards of school counselors as a means to better identify universally accepted strategies and methodologies best suited for improving the academic performance of all students. If we are to “leave no child behind”, then we must provide services so all populations can measurably demonstrate improvements in academic as well as social and career orientation.  For many decades the scores on standardized tests measuring academic achievement have revealed a wide gap between some minority populations as compared to Americans of European and Asian descent.

It stands to reason that if we are going to sincerely rectify a problem that is identifiable as an American tradition it would now be imperative to concentrate resources on diminishing the size of the gap. America has never had a problem educating students, regardless of ethnic or cultural background, who come into the educational system with a mindset to achieve. America has never had a problem producing leadership capable of advancing new technologies to the extent  that we have become the undisputed champion of the global economy---a position threatened only by the unwillingness to correctly identify problems and consciously work towards progressive improvements in our public education system. 

Under-performing students by and large suffer through the stigma of traditionally being branded, looked upon by some as genetic failures. In order to begin a process of correction within the public education environment (because this is where the problem is manifested on a national systemic level) the 2002-‘03 board of California School Counselors Association recognizes the need to work with other institutions. We seek to design and implement programs for the improvement of professional standards among all educators so that the needs of our under performing students are correctly addressed. Our intent is to join others who are actually working in the field to produce viable education counseling models. Professional introspection coupled with movement will lead to greater gains in a shorter time.

California School Counselors Association already has models in the field that have been functional to the development of improving how public schools educate populations that have traditionally scored low on standardized tests, populations noted for a lack of heightened awareness in the areas of socialization and career orientation. We have formally created programs that deserve governmental structures to come in for reviews as a means to formulate purposeful communication lines.

Together we can achieve; alone we are doomed to continue a cycle of wide-spread systemic failure. 

Respectfully,

Luis South
Southern California Regional Director