Brian Law, Valdosta High School Counselor and President Elect of Georgia School Counselors Association Lobbies for School Counselors in Washington, DC

Brian Law, VHS School Counselor and President-Elect of Georgia School Counselors Association was accompanied by his Government Relations Chairperson, Gail Smith, Cobb County Student Services Director in Washington, DC for the American School Counselors Association Advocacy and Public Policy Institute from March 1^st -March 5^th . Each state organization sends a representative to this 4 day event where the participants are taught about national education issues and bills that are proposed by the Senate or Congress that affect student services and school counselors.

Law and Smith received information on the new Response To Intervention (RTI) movement and lobbied for bills in congress: Put School Counselors Where They are Needed, The Elementary Secondary School Counselors Act, Mental Health in Schools and Removing Barriers to Learning. Each bill would provide school counseling services that would reduce the drop out rates and help students be successful with services from Certified Professional School Counselors. They asked for members of Congress and Senate to include school counselors in No Child Left Behind to receive support and Title 2 services if the act is reauthorized during this administration. After receiving training on how to lobby, they met with two congressman and two senators from Georgia on the hill on their last day in Washington. Law found the professional development very rewarding and understands how the federal government operates to fund federal programs to states. Law has a better appreciation of the process and how professionals must talk to lawmakers about issues that affect student achievement. The two thanked the members of Congress and Senate for recognizing National School Counseling Week during the first week of February. This was the first year that a resolution was read in both houses. The opportunity was funded by Georgia School Counselors Association.