School Counselor Resolution

Whereas, school counselors are an essential part of guiding students from elementary through postsecondary education; and

Whereas, the ratio of counselors to Oklahoma students is one for every 419 students**; and

Whereas, the amount spent on student support services (including guidance and psychological services) is a small portion of the per pupil expenditure in the State of Oklahoma; and

Whereas, per pupil expenditures in Oklahoma are seventy-one percent (71%) of the national average; and

Whereas, the Oklahoma Department of Education is focusing on plans to redesign Oklahoma’s high schools to better prepare students for higher education and the workplace; and

Whereas, the federal government proposes to cut funding to the Department of Education, Health, Human Services and Labor even while recognizing that it is necessary to increase the number of students who graduate from high school and receive postsecondary education and/or training;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Edison Preparatory PTSA work with local school districts, coalitions, parents, business leaders, educators and others to develop a plan, along with members of the Oklahoma Legislature, to ensure that education funding be made a priority at both the federal and state level; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Edison Preparatory PTSA work with local school districts, coalitions, parents, business leaders, educators and others to develop a plan, along with members of the Oklahoma Legislature, to ensure that the number of counselors at all grade levels, elementary through secondary, are increased and that the ratio of students to such counselors is decreased; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Edison Preparatory PTSA work with local school districts, coalitions, parents, business leaders, educators and others to develop a plan, along with members of the Oklahoma Legislature, to ensure that per pupil expenditures, especially in the area of student support services, are increased; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Edison Preparatory PTSA will forward a copy of this Resolution to the Tulsa Council of PTAs and the Oklahoma PTA and will ask those organizations to adopt this Resolution.

** National Association for College Admission Counseling, Public School Student-to-Counselor Ratio by State, 2004. The Oklahoma State Department of Education 2006 report on counseling services indicates that, in Oklahoma, ratios for counselors for all levels (elementary, middle and secondary) were one counselor for every 356 students. However, the October 2003 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2001 data year) reported that the Oklahoma ratio was one counselor for every 387 students.