A Decade of Impact, A Future of Integrated Support
Ten years ago, there was no roadmap for the leaders responsible for school counseling, so we built the conference we wished existed. As NSCLC celebrates its 10th year, Dr. Trish Hatch looks back on how this community grew and looks ahead to a next decade built on integrated student support.
Guide to CA’s Student Support and Professional Development Block Grant
California’s SSPDBG puts $5 billion in flexible funding in LEA hands for 2026–27. Here’s what your district gets, how long you have to spend it, and how to make it count for students.
From Good Intentions to Better Outcomes: Using PDSA to Continuously Improve Student Support
Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee impact for students. Whitney Triplett explains how the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle helps school counselors and student support teams match interventions to root causes, check that they were delivered as planned, learn from results, and decide what to adopt, adapt, or abandon.
What Can a School Leadership Team Accomplish in One Day?
One high school leadership team spent six hours together and left with a clear, data-driven plan to support incoming freshmen before problems surfaced. Here's how they did it and what your team could accomplish in a single focused day.
California's 2026-27 Budget Is In: What $149 Billion Means for Student Support Services
Governor Newsom signed California's 2026-27 budget on June 29, unlocking $128 billion for schools—including a $5 billion flexible block grant districts can direct toward counseling and student support. Here's what's in it, and how to make the case for your program.
Strengthening the Heart of the School: A Strategic Case for School Counselor Collaboration and Alignment in Community Schools
California's $4.1 billion Community Schools Partnership Program offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform student support—but only if districts move beyond isolated programs to a coordinated strategy. Discover why school counselors are the essential "central nervous system" of integrated student supports, how the MTMDSS framework aligns counseling roles with CCSPP's four pillars, and the data-driven strategies needed to sustain these initiatives beyond the 2032 funding sunset.
From Silos to Synergy: Why Hatching Results is Evolving to Support All Student Services
Students don't experience school through a single role. They move through hallways, classrooms, offices, and conversations that involve school counselors, school social workers, college and career advisors, school psychologists, school-based therapists, administrators, and more. And when those professionals aren't aligned, students feel it.
CA Proposed Budget May Revision 2026-27 - aka “May Revise”
California just proposed a record $127.1 billion in education funding for 2026–27 — including $5 billion in completely discretionary block grants and a 4.31% Super COLA. Here's what the May Revise means for school counseling, student support, and postsecondary readiness programs.
Funding Student Success: Strategies for School Counseling, Student Support & Postsecondary Readiness Leaders
Funding Student Success highlights timely federal and California funding opportunities that can support school counseling, student support, and postsecondary readiness efforts. From Title programs and Perkins V to LCFF, Community Schools, CTE grants, and career pathway investments, this resource helps leaders identify where funding exists and how to align it with student-centered goals.
Perkins in 5th grade
Did you know federal CTE funding can now reach students as early as 5th grade? Under Perkins V, that's exactly what's possible — a significant shift from the previous law, which generally didn't allow funding below 7th grade. Learn what this means for your state and how schools are using these funds to introduce career pathways earlier than ever.
School Counselors as Leaders in CYBHI
California's students deserve mental health support that meets them where they are — and CYBHI is making that possible.
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative's statewide school-linked fee schedule is reshaping how school counselors deliver care. With zero out-of-pocket costs for families, coverage for students through age 26, and a permanent reimbursement pathway replacing the old grant-funding cliff — this isn't just a policy update. It's a structural shift that puts school counselors at the center of sustainable, equitable student wellness.
The result so far? 31,567 students served and $6.84 million in new revenue generated statewide.
Here's what every PPS credentialed counselor in California needs to know.
Career & Technical Education (Perkins V)
Federal funding exists to bring career exploration into your school — starting as early as 5th grade. Perkins V provides $1.4 billion annually to support CTE programs, counselor positions, and professional development. Is your district making the most of it?