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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Good morning!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Many of you are aware that the Office of Student Development at SDE has been working toward new administrative rules for school counselors. As you are wrapping up your semester,
please take a few minutes to read about the proposed new administrative rules and
<b>your role</b> in this change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The State Department of Education has proposed new administrative rules that could transform the role of school counselors in Oklahoma! If approved by the legislature, these
rules will require districts to prioritize school counselor time, ensuring counselors spend
<b>80% of their time</b> providing direct and indirect services to students. The remaining
<b>20%</b> would focus on program planning, school support, and fair-share duties. This is a
<b>huge step forward</b> for school counselors and, most importantly, for the students we serve. But we need
<b>your voice</b> to make this happen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attached is a link to an FAQ document that further explains this rules change and how it will make a positive impact on schools and school counseling programs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The next step is public comment, and now is the time to advocate for the school counseling profession. Please note that public comment closes January 17, 2025. Together, we can
help ensure this <b>powerful standard of practice</b> becomes a reality. Written comments may be submitted by email to
<a href="mailto:kory.kile@sde.ok.gov" target="_blank" title="mailto:kory.kile@sde.ok.gov">
kory.kile@sde.ok.gov</a>. Let’s make history for Oklahoma schools!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC"">Wishing you all happy holidays!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC"">Annette Long<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Director of Student Preparation for College Readiness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:along@osrhe.edu">along@osrhe.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.okhighered.org/student-prep">www.okhighered.org/student-prep</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">405.225.9156<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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