Whereas the American School Counselor Association has designated the week of February 6, 2017, through February 10, 2017, as “National School Counseling Week”; Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the education system of the United States must provide equitable opportunities for all students; Whereas school counselors have long emphasized the importance of personal and social development in contributing to academic achievement; Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded students by guiding them through their academic, personal, social, and career development; Whereas school counselors play a vital role in ensuring that students are college and career ready and aware of financial aid and college opportunities; Whereas school counselors may encourage students to pursue challenging academic courses to prepare them for college majors and careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; Whereas school counselors provide support for students whose family members have been deployed to conflicts overseas; Whereas school counselors help students cope with serious and common challenges of growing up, including peer pressure, bullying, mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary problems, and problems in the home; Whereas school counselors are also instrumental in helping students, teachers, and parents cope with trauma and community and national tragedies; Whereas school counselors are among the few professionals in a school building that are trained in both education and social and emotional development; Whereas despite the important contributions of school counselors to student success, counseling positions are not always protected when local budgets are cut, especially in tough economic times; Whereas the average student-to-counselor ratio in the Nation’s public schools, 491-to-1, is almost double the 250-to-1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and other organizations