June 16, 2017

Dear Governor McAuliffe and Board members,

I strongly opposed CACREP-only requirements for counseling programs- there are unproven claims being made that CACREP-accredited programs produce better or more competend counselors. My university is not a CACREP-accredited one, and in my opinion we have some of the most brilliant professors teaching us, and I don't think any university's program needs to be defined by this standard. Further, I would hate to see other amazing educators not have the chance to be able to teach and share their stories with future counselors, simply because they did not graduate from a specific type of program.

I sincerely hope that this is not a mistake that will be made in my home state, one in which I wish to practice- state standards should be more important than national ones in this case.

Sincerely,

Meagan Delaney

M.Ed Counseling and Development, School Counseling

George Mason University