Are you ready for National School Counseling Week, Feb. 2-6, 2009? This special week is set aside each year to honor school counselors and the work they do improving students' academic achievement.

If you plan to order a National School Counseling Week Kit, please make sure you order by Friday, Jan. 23, to ensure your kit gets to you in time.

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) recently introduced a congressional resolution to officially recognize Feb. 2-6, 2009, as National School Counseling Week to honor the important work school counselors play in the lives of students across the country. The effort comes as part of Rep. Sanchez' drive to make schools safer, provide additional school counseling and student support to low-income schools and to improve environments for personal growth and academic achievement.

Although ASCA recommends a ratio of 250-to-1, the national average is 475-to-1 for the 2006-2007 school year (the most recent year available), according to the National Center for Education Statistics. See how your state stacks up.

Interested in learning how you can implement the ASCA National Model across an entire district? Listen to the newest ASCAway podcast, where past-president Eric Sparks, director of school counseling, Wake County Public Schools, shares his tips on how to take the ASCA National Model districtwide.

Edutopia magazine, published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, recently highlighted ASCA and the ASCA National Model in its publication.

RAMP applications: Due Feb. 1

Governing Board nominations: Due March 1

Conference registration: Early bird cutoff, March 1

FAFSA Web Tools Available: As you help students prepare to fill out the 2009-10 FAFSA on the Web, you might find these tools useful. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is now online in PDF. Students may use it to jot down their answers before going online to fill in the online application. The FAFSA on the Web demo site is also ready. The site helps you increase your own understanding of FAFSA on the Web and show it to students and parents before they apply. At the site, you can complete a sample FAFSA, make corrections or check the status of the application. However, when you choose "submit," the information is not actually submitted. The site is purely a learning tool. Access the demo site. The user name is eddemo, and the password is fafsatest. Also, the final PDF of the 2009-10 Counselors and Mentors Handbook has been posted; the link to the handbook is on the home page, under the heading "Counselor Resources."

Restore PE in Schools: NFL Network has launched a new initiative to restore physical education in America's schools. Keep Gym in School is working with partners across the country to combat the childhood obesity epidemic by helping more kids gain access to quality PE programs. NFLN is offering a grant of $10,000 to one middle school to help improve and sustain its physical education program - build a new track or playing field, refurbish a gym or indoor PE facility, purchase new equipment or supplement a teacher salary. Visit KeepGymInSchool.com for more information and to nominate your school for the $10,000 grant.

Career Video Targets Future Fluid Power Engineers: The National Fluid Power Association has launched a new seven-minute career video, "YOUR Career in Fluid Power" and companion resource Web site to address the lack of adequately trained workers in fluid power. YOUR Career in Fluid Power is a high-energy, high-impact introduction to the industry that encourages high school and college students to consider the world of fluid power and the exciting careers available in the field. Go to to watch the new career video.

Grants Available for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems: Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems will provide funds to increase student access to high-quality mental health care by developing innovative approaches that link school systems with the local mental health system. Applications due Feb. 23, 2009. Eligible applicants: State educational agencies, local educational agencies, including charter schools that are considered LEAs under state law, and Indian tribes. Estimated range of awards: $150,000-$400,000. Estimated average size of awards: $325,000. Estimated number of awards: 15. More information.

Pre-college Program Information: Usummer.org is a non-profit pre-college programs resource for students, parents and educators. Usummer.org stands out as a site committed to listing all pre-college programs free of charge to all schools. This helps students find great programs, even at small schools that might not advertise their programs. Pre-college summer programs are a great way for high school students to test drive college life. There are hundreds of pre-college programs to choose from, each with its own history, culture and costs.