National School Counseling Week 2026 (#NSCW26) is Feb. 2-6, 2026, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. The theme is: School Counselors Amplify Student Success. National School Counseling Week, presented by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February. Multiple resources, many of them free, are available to help you celebrate National School Counseling Week. 

WAYS TO CELEBRATE YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR DURING #NSCW26

The Vermont School Counselor Association encourages you to utilize National School Counseling Week (2/2 - 2/6) as an opportunity to show school counselors how much they are appreciated in your school and district. While there are many ways to do this, please consider the following:

• Start the week off by signing this proclamation and sharing it school wide and district wide. Take a picture of your counselor(s) holding the proclamation and post it to your website and in your school’s socials.
• During the week, do something special for your counselors. For example, write them a thank you note, make a special announcement to faculty, staff and parents, buy them lunch, etc.  Consider giving them this Certificate of Appreciation. 
• Order a gift from the online VTSCA Merch Store to make your school counselor(s) feel special and appreciated.  Items are shipped directly to the purchaser.  Get your counselor t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, polos and more. New items have been added to the store recently.
• Want to better understand the differences and similarities among school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists? Go here to learn more.
• Attend our webinar during the NSCW - Got Attendance Issues? Leveraging School Counselors to Improve Attendance Rates – on Monday, February 2 from 10 AM to 11 AM. Go here to register.
• Review other resources for celebrating National School Counseling Week from the American School Counselor Association.
• Gift VTSCA new memberships to your school counselor(s) or renew their current memberships.
• Consider providing counselor specific professional development to your counseling staff, either in-district or online. VTSCA can provide in-district training to your counseling staff on a variety of topics. Please contact ptomashot@vermontschoolcounselor.org.

When counselors are supported as professionals, with access to membership, training, and learning communities, districts are better positioned to meet legal requirements, advance school improvement plans, improve student outcomes in attendance, discipline, and achievement, and ensure students are prepared academically, socially, and for life after graduation.

Thank you for all you do and for your dedication to students, families and school counselors. Let the celebration begin!