Recognitions & Celebrations
Martin Luther King Holiday and Day of Service
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a day each year when individuals across the country commit to volunteering in their communities on behalf of Dr. King’s dream. Each year an observance on the third Monday in January a federal holiday is designated as a National Day of Service. Join individuals on Monday, January 19th statewide for local days of services in your area. Resources for students and educators from The King Center below:
National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week is almost here! February 2-6, 2026 highlighting this year's theme: "School Counselors Amplify Student Success," focusing on counselors' vital roles in academic, career, and social-emotional development.
From individual student support to systemic change, school counselors are essential leaders in our schools and communities. Stay tuned throughout the coming weeks as we count down to National School Counseling Week and highlight the powerful work of school counselors across our state. You can use these resources prepared by the American School Counseling Association. We can’t wait to celebrate YOU!
Policy, Practice & Legislative Updates
CFNC Financial Aid Champions Program
School counselors and college advisors provide essential support for students and their families throughout the college application and financial aid process. CFNC is providing an easy-to-follow checklist of events and steps designed to help students access financial aid. In addition, they are recognizing high school staff and community partners who are Financial Aid Champions for the hard work they do to increase financial aid awareness. Make your nomination by March 31, 2026.
Toolkit to Prepare for FAFSA February
FAFSA February is around the corner, and it’s up to all of us to make sure students have the opportunity to see what financial aid they qualify for. Start lining up partners now to reach students and provide support completing a FAFSA, which is now easier than ever due to a streamlined form and other new improvements:
- Students now have the ability to set up their studentaid.gov account and fill out their FAFSA on the same day
- All a student needs for the contributor process is their contributor’s email address
You can start getting prepared for FAFSA February now by accessing our toolkit, which provides resources and graphics you can use to spread the word and help students. Materials will continue to be added so check back often.
Career Development Plans
Visit the career development plan website to review our updated guidance document, planning tool and the 2025-2026 office hours (see dates below).
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Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, February 20, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, March 16, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, May 4, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 1, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Exploring New CFNC ProTools Reporting Features and CDP Integration
Join us for an engaging and informative session, January 22nd at 9:30 a.m., as we unveil the newest CFNC ProTools reporting features. This live showcase will highlight exciting updates and strengthened connections with NCCareers, making it easier than ever for districts and schools to access and interpret Career Development Plan (CDP) data. Discover how these enhancements can help you better support students at the school, district, and state levels. Click here for registration.
Effective Content Instruction for ML Students in Speaking and Listening
Join the ML/Title III Collaborative series, January 21st, 3:30-5pm, for a session that provides educators strategies to enhance speaking and listening skills for ML student during content creation. Click here for registration and more details.
Coffee & Chat with Character Education
Join us January 21st, 10:00-11:00 a.m. for the monthly chat. Once you register, you will receive an email with the meeting link. This is an opportunity each month for an informal virtual gathering where educators across North Carolina come together to share stories, reflect, and encourage one another in this work of building character and community. Whether you bring a cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite morning drink, this is a space to:
- Celebrate stories of impact happening in schools
- Share resources, strategies, and ideas
- Support one another in sustaining a culture of character
Click here to register.
Rural School Counseling Webinar Series
Join us for a virtual professional development series designed for North Carolina’s rural school counselors. In partnership with higher education professionals, each session offers practical strategies and fresh ideas to support your work. Click here for more details.
January CTE Lunch & Learn Series
Join us for January 20th, 10:30-11:30 a.m. for an engaging Lunch & Learn series designed for school counselors, career development coordinators, and special populations coordinators. This session topic is: Leaky Pipeline: MyFutureNC - Graduation, Credentials, and Attainment. Click here to register and attend the sessions.
CFNC Spring Regional Trainings
Don’t miss out on CFNC’s action-packed, one-day learning experience designed to equip you with the tools, insights, and confidence to better support your students on their path to FAFSA completion and higher education attainment. Our Spring regional trainings are coming up in January and February and are also your opportunity to pick up FREE CFNC materials to use with your activities for FAFSA February and beyond, including Decision Day events. Sign up for one of our eight trainings now: Professional Development Opportunities | CFNC
Standard Based Instruction Spring Webinar Series
Join the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for a three-part Spring Webinar Series focused on implementing effective standards-based instruction. Participants will explore the foundations of standards-based instruction, strategies for differentiating to meet the needs of all learners, and approaches for aligning standards with meaningful performance tasks. Click here for more details.
11 Principles of Character Education: Building School Cultures Where Every Student Thrives
Join NCDPI for an engaging, interactive workshop focused on the 11 Principles of Character Education. Participants will explore practical strategies, review North Carolina success stories, and gain tools to strengthen school culture while supporting the School of Character application process. This full-day session is designed for educators and school leaders committed to fostering environments where character development and student success thrive. Click here for more information and to apply.
Regional Trainings for Jewish and Antisemitism Today
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is offering a series of full-day regional trainings focused on Jewish Identity and Antisemitism Today. Designed for administrators, counselors, and teachers, these sessions will engage educators in critical conversations to support safe, inclusive, and respectful school communities. Participants will explore Jewish identity, examine how antisemitism has evolved over time, consider the impact of global conflicts on K–12 schools, and learn strategies to foster understanding and empathy among students of diverse backgrounds. Trainings will be held across regions throughout February 2026 in partnership with the Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center. Click here for more information.
Nash County Student Support Summit
Join student support staff from across North Carolina for a day of learning, connection, and collaboration on February 12th— hosted by Nash County Public Schools, a district that is breaking down barriers to student achievement! Explore breakout sessions on safety, technology, family engagement, and more as we work together to strengthen support for every student. Come network, share ideas, and take away fresh strategies to strengthen support services in your district. Click here for more details.
ASCA January and February Webinars
American School Counseling Association is offering a variety of live webinars and office hours this fall to support your comprehensive work as school counselors. January and February sessions include topics designed to strengthen practice. View the full schedule and see more detail for registration here.
- January 20th, School Counselors as Leaders in Crisis, 2-3pm
- January 28th, Empower Student to Make Smart Financial Decision with MONEYSKILL, 12-1pm
- February 10th, School Counselors and CTE Teams, 12-1pm
- February 19th, Confidence Matter: Leadership Skills as Tier 2 Intervention for Girls, 2-3pm
SHAC Learning Collaborative
NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative. These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.
These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts. Meeting link for monthly meetings.
Research Participation for School Counselors
School counselors have the opportunity to participate in research surveying social determinants of health competency. Click here for more information.
Resources
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