School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling program to the school's academic mission and school improvement plan. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of ASCA and promote the development of the school counseling program based on the following areas of the ASCA National Model: define, deliver, manage, and assess.
School counselors create school counseling programs based on three sets of standards that define the profession. These standards help school counselors develop, implement, and assess their school counseling program to improve student outcomes.
ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success
To be delivered effectively, the school counseling program must be efficiently and effectively managed. School counselors use program focus and planning tools to guide the design and implementation of a school counseling program that gets results.
School counselors deliver developmentally appropriate activities and services directly to students or indirectly for students as a result of the school counselor's interaction with others.
These activities and services help students develop the ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success and improve their achievement, attendance, and discipline. Through the school counseling program, school counselors ensure equitable academic, career, and social/emotional development opportunities for all students.
Direct services are in-person interactions between school counselors and students and include the following:
Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors' interactions with others including:
To achieve the best results for students, school counselors regularly assess their program to:
School counselors also self-assess their own mindsets and behaviors to inform their professional development and annually participate in a school counselor performance appraisal with a qualified administrator. The ASCA National Model provides the following tools to guide assessment and appraisal.
Visit the www.schoolcounselor.org for more information on the role of the school counselor and research on the effectiveness of school counseling programs.