The National Model
FoundationBeliefs and Philosophy:
The philosophy is a set of principles guiding the program development, implementation and evaluation. All personnel involved in managing and implementing the program should reach consensus on each belief or guiding principal contained in the philosophy.
Mission:
A mission statement describes the program’s purpose and goals. A school counseling program mission statement aligns with and is a subset of the school and district’s mission.
AccountabilityResults Reports:
Which include process, perception and results data, ensure programs are carried out, analyzed for effectiveness and modified as needed. Sharing these reports with stakeholders serves to advocate for the students and the program. Immediate, intermediate and long-range results are collected and analyzed for program improvement.
School Counselor Performance Standards: The school counselor’s performance evaluation contains basic standards of practice expected of school counselors implementing a school counseling program. These performance standards should serve as both a basis for counselor evaluation and as a means for counselor self-evaluation.
- CESCAL Counselor Evaluation (cescal.org)
- Sample
Program Audit: The primary purpose for collecting information is to guide future action within the program and to improve future results for students.
Management
Management:
Agreements ensure effective implementation of the delivery system to meet students’ needs. These agreements, which address how the school counseling program is organized and what will be accomplished, should be negotiated with and approved by designated administrators at the beginning of each school year.
Advisory Council: An advisory council is a group of people appointed to review counseling program results and to make recommendations. Students, parents, teachers, school counselors, administration and community members should be represented on the council.
Use of Data: A comprehensive school counseling program is data-driven. The use of data to effect change within the school system is integral to ensuring every student receives the benefits of the school counseling program. School counselors must show that each activity implemented as part of the program was developed from a careful analysis of students' needs, achievement and/or related data.
Delivery
Guidance Curriculum: The guidance curriculum consists of structured developmental lessons designed to assist students in achieving the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The guidance curriculum is infused throughout the school’s overall curriculum and is presented systematically through K-12 classroom and group activities.
Individual Student Planning: School counselors coordinate ongoing systematic activities designed to assist students individually in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
- Sample Curriculum for individual Sessions
Responsive Services: Responsive services, which are the traditional duties of a school counselor, consist of activities meeting individual students’immediate needs, usually necessitated by life events or situations and conditions in the students’ lives. These needs require counseling, consultation, referral, peer mediation or information.
Systems Support: Like any organized activity, a school counseling program requires administration and management to establish, maintain and enhance the total counseling program.
American School Counselor Association (2008). Foundation, Delivery, Management, Accountability. Retrieved May 06, 2009 from, http://www.ascanationalmodel.org/
SCHOOL COUNSELOR FAQ
What is a school counselor?
A school counselor is a member of the school environment who works with students in three domains: personal/social, academic, and career. School counselors focus on help students to get their needs met in these areas in order for students to excel in the schools.
What duties should a school counselor perform?
The counselor at your school should be focusing on ensuring the students have the necessary information they need to do well in school. In high school this means A-G requirements, in middle school is transition to high school, and elementary it is social skills.
How are today's school counselors different?
Today's school counselor is a change agent and works to be preventative in schools rather than reactive!
What education does a school counselor have?
School counselors usually get a Master's Degree and a Pupil Personnel Service Credential
What populations does a school counselor work with?
School counselors work to ensure that all students are receiving the best education!
How does a school counselor reach all students?
Individual and group counseling, guidance lessons, SSTs and IEPs are all ways that school counselors work to assist all students.
What about students with disabilities?
This includes students with disabilities
Where does the school counselor fit in the
IEP meeting?
The school counselor can aid the IEP by being school personnel who understand the general education curriculum, by observing students, individual counseling for students, and assessing student for career and transitional activities.
Additional Resources:
