Coping Cards for Mental Wellness

Here is a set of coping cards for various mental wellness situations. You could print these on cardstock and share with students as the needs arise.  Or it could be an office resource for your use when working with students. 

Articles on the topic:

Using Coping Cards and Coping Statements to Improve Mental Health

Using Coping Cards 

Keystone Counselor Academy 2018-19

Keystone will offer a Counselor Academy in 2018-19. This will be a four-part series of meetings offered at Keystone in Elkader. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

• September 19, 2018
• December 13, 2018
• February 13, 2019
• April 2, 2019

We will work through the ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs 3rd edition. Please purchase the book if you plan to attend the academy. It is available on Amazon or at ASCA if you are an ASCA member. We will offer the four-day workshop for licensure renewal. Bev Berns and Pat Lehmann will facilitate the academy.

Be watching for more details next fall!

Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters

Free download: Help students understand award letters

With deadlines to accept financial packages looming, are your students confused about award letters?  Here are some tips and a free handout to walk students through their letters: 

Make sure students check the deadline. Most colleges and universities require a response by May 1.

Explain the differences between these kinds of financial aid:

• Grants and scholarships
• Loans
• Work study

Help students understand next steps: In addition to a signed copy of the award letter, is the school asking for other paperwork?

Free handout: Download our “Understanding Award Letters” handout, including a sample award letter, here.

One piece of information missing in this resource is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. You may also want to share the above link with parents to help them understand the difference.

Legislative Update on State Assessment

HF 2235 - State Assessment - This bill requires that the State Board of Education adopt administrative rules designating the “assessment developed by the Iowa Testing Programs within the University of Iowa College of Education and administered by the Iowa Testing Programs’ designee” as Iowa’s statewide/summative assessment for accountability. The bill requires that the assessment must be aligned to the Iowa Core academic standards; accurately describe student achievement and growth; be available in both paper-and-pencil computer-based formats; and meet the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The bill also requires that the designated assessment must be peer-reviewed by an independent, third-party evaluator to determine that it is aligned with the Iowa Core academic standards and meets the summative assessment requirements of ESSA. If the third-party evaluator determines that the assessment from Iowa Testing Programs is not aligned or does not meet the requirements of ESSA, then Iowa Testing Programs must “make any necessary adjustments as determined by the peer review” in order to meet those requirements. The assessment would be administered in the last quarter of the 2018-2019 school year.

A few highlights pulled out:

• All students in grades 3-11 must take a math assessment and ELA assessment that includes reading and writing
• Students in grade 5, 8 and 10 must take a science assessment
• Testing will take place during the last quarter of the school year
• The assessment must be aligned in content and rigor with the Iowa/Common Core
• Include assessments in reading, writing, science, and math
• The assessment must be available in both paper and computer format
• If a peer review determines the Iowa test does not meet these requirements, Iowa Testing must make necessary adjustments
• The assessment would be administered in the last quarter of the 2018-2019 school year.
• The assessment must meet ESSA requirements

ADAH Summary Sheet

Here is a brief summary of ADHD.  You may have something like this already but if not, it may be an option for your use. 

Credit Accrual Tip Sheet for Students Experiencing Homelessness

NCHE Credit Accrual Tip Sheet This NCHE tip sheet summarizes the key provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act related to credit accrual, provides credit accrual strategies at the State and local levels, and recommends credit accrual training and collaboration practices. 

Legislative Update on Suicide Prevention

Report from The Capitol Group 
ISCA Lobbyist
Legislative Update March 26, 2018

Suicide Prevention Bill Heads to the Governor

• Great thanks to all the ISCA members who contacted lawmakers to encourage them to pass suicide awareness legislation. Your efforts have paid off!
• Senate File 2113, the ISCA-backed bill to increase suicide awareness education for school employees was approved by the Senate on a 49-0 vote following approval and amendment by the House.  It now awaits signature into law by Governor Reynolds.
• The bill requires the Board of Education to require schools to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and postvention and protocols for the identification of adverse childhood experiences to mitigate toxic stress response.
• The bill also requires school boards to require at least one hour annually of evidence-based training for employees who have regular contact with students.