Counseling and Post-Secondary Success: SFUSD School Counselors and Staff

• Plan 3 Overview, Policies and Updates 
• Plan 3 Waiver (REVISED 2026) & Resonableness Worksheet 
• Partial Credits 
• Add. Info: Newly-Arrived Immigrant Students enrolled in a Newcomer Program 

• Voluntary Low Credit Transfer Forms  Transfers to district alternative schools - Ida B Wells, Independence, or Downtown - that are not complicated (students with safety concerns, high level SPED services, ELLs, etc.) still use the Voluntary Transfer process. 
• Safety Transfer Form All transfers for County schools or safety transfers now go through the Transfer Request Form.  

Guidelines and student packet

• Referral Form 
• SFUSD Attendance Steps and Overview document

All seniors must complete the FAFSA or CADAA or complete an opt out form. If students elect the opt out form they/parent/guardian will need complete the form then the site counselor/registrar will need document the opt out form in Synergy and place form in the cum folder.

• Opt Out Form  View instructions on Synergy Tools Page  
• Forms should be completed by March 2nd and by the end of the school year for late decisions 
• Document in Synergy
  • Student Course History      >     Click the Financial Aid Tab       >     Click the box next to Opt Out Form

• High School Readiness Landing Pad
• High School Transition Workshop Lesson
• My Future in My Hands Guide
• Middle School to High School Advising
• Resoruces for Students & Families on Website:
  • Are You Ready for Middle School?
  • Are You Ready for High School?

• *** HS COUNSELING- FAQ's FOR COUNSELORS***HS (GO TO HS RESOURCE! Has a full list of resources and answers you are looking for!”) If you are new to HS counseling, start here!
• On Track Grad Guide 2024-25
• On/Off Track Overview & Site Planning
• Resource List Letter to Rising Seniors
• Guidelines for Practical Implementation (Formally Section 2B)
• High School Counseling- Transcripts & Student Course History (Formally Section 2-C)
• Non-SFUSD Coursework
• Plan 3 At-A-Glance
• Math Validation & LOTE Validation/Exemption
• Updated for 2025-26 SY:
  • A reminder that all transfers for County schools or safety transfers now go through the Transfer Request Form.  Transfers to district alternative schools - Ida B Wells, Independence, or Downtown - that are not complicated (students with safety concerns, high level SPED services, ELLs, etc.) still use the Voluntary Transfer process.
• 11th Grade Financial Aid Lesson
• College & Financial Aid Resources for Mix Status/Undocumented Students
• Resources for Students & Families on Website:
  • Are You Ready for High School?
  • Life After High School
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships

Ethnic Studies 25-26 SY: Guidance for School Counselors

• SFUSD Website: 2025-2026 Ethnic Studies Plan
• Ethnic Studies graduation requirement for class of 2029 (family letter 7.30.25)
• Sample course change form   (Staff Document Only)
• Ethnic Studies Opt Out Log- 2025-26 SY (Change/opt out must be logged daily) 

• School Counseling Program Support for Administrators
• Supervision and Role Guidance: School Counselor/Head Counselor
• Appropriate and Inappropriate Activities for School Counselors
• Here is a sample template for a counseling retreat agenda. Just suggestions, but the tool includes suggested engagement strategies and protocols.
• Promising Practices for Counseling Department
• The Role of the School Counselor
• School Counselor Roles & Ratios + More Resources
• ASCA Position Statement: Multi-tiered Systems of Support
• ASCA Position Statement: The School Counselor and Discipline
• ASCA Position Statement: The School Counselor and Social/Emotional Development
• Full library of position statements on all topics 

• Here is a sample template for a counseling retreat agenda.
• Promising Practices for Counseling Department
• Sense of Belonging 2024-25 PD Series
• What is a Retreat?
• Discussion Protocols & More Protocols
• Engagement Strategies, Check-in Cards
• Values & Beliefs
• 40 Developmental Assets
• ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
• Additional Coaching Activities
• Data:  
  • Five Root Causes Analysis
  • Fishbone diaphragm
  • Facilitator Toolkit
  • DATA, DATA, DATA

Second Step Digital SEL Program Resources 

Check out the the resources and overview/refresher videos below for ways to encourage and monitor usage at your school sites. All Elementary, Middle and K8 sites have access to the Second Step SEL Program via Clever SSO. 

Contact Person: Katrina Cubilo, cubilok@sfusd.edu, SFSD Health Education TSA; Julia Meyer, jmeyer@cfchildren.org, Senior Client Success Manager, Committee for Children

More Info:

• Elementary
  • 8.14.25 Updates Video: SFUSD Second Step ES Updates
  • Fully scripted PPT deck with videos embedded to introduce Second Step to staff
    • Included is a video titled “Benefits of the Second Step Elementary Program” which might help with Teacher Buy-in
  • Second Step Program Overview video is found on this page (This is also a part of the self-paced training.)
  • Reinforcing Learning Schoolwide: One video per Unit that covers key concepts to encourage a holistic approach to support students across the campus. These are great to show at staff meetings or in department meetings.
• Middle Grades
  • 8.15.25 Updates Video: SFUSD Second Step MS Updates
  • From Julia Meyer: “There are fantastic Leader resources that we did not cover today. I encourage you to look through your Leader Dashboard on your Second Step homepage and let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to join another meeting and go over these in more detail with you!”