Counseling Program Overview

What You Should Look for in School Counseling Program

Comprehensive Program Elements
Guidance Curriculum - Provides students with classroom
based lessons which provide skills and knowledge.
Individual Student Planning Provides students one on one
sessions to develop personal goals and future plans.
Individual and Small Group Counseling and Consultation
Providing students with proactive and reactive goals,
referrals, crisis response and peer facilitation
Systems support Community outreach, advisory board,
management of the counseling program

Advocacy
Ensure that high levels of academic, career, college and
social skills are fostered in all students.
Act as an agent of change by helping to change
policies and practices that contribute to achievement
gaps.
Student Empowerment
Community Collaboration
Public Information
Social/Political Advocacy
Advocacy
Empowering students working with students or for
students to make sure they are in appropriate level
courses and navigating the changes needed.
Empowering Parents and Guardians inform about
school operation and how to obtain access to services.
Help parents and guardians to interpret information.
Referrals to outside services.
Empowering Educators/Administrators recognize
inequalities and correct them. Challenge biases and
misinformation.

Access, Attainments & Achievement
Access equitable access to educational process
School Counselor belief systems
School policies, procedures and practices
Course enrollment patterns, student participation and
presence of qualified teachers.
Attainment Data such as course completion rates,
graduation rates, college attendance rates, and
attendance.
Achievement Grades and test scores

Access, Attainments & Achievement
Data Driven Accountability
The Comprehensive School Counseling Program is based on
data.
School Counselors look to test scores, graduation rates and
other data points to determine what the needs of the
student populations needs for support


Barriers to Student Development
Poverty
Inequities in school policy
Biased Attitudes in Educational Staff or Student body
Empowerment
Emotional and Academic Support at School and at
Home.
Bullying
Counteracting Barriers to Student
Development
Support
Family Support
Mentors
Parent Involvement and Volunteering
Empowerment
Service to others
Community Outreach to Students
Advocacy
Enhance relationships and affiliation
Building supportive bonds between students and
teachers/mentors and other students
Counteracting Barriers to Student
Development
Zero Tolerance Bullying
Teaching Students what bullying is
Instilling in students to not tolerate bullying behaviors
Connecting Families to Support Services
Referrals to Housing, Food and Financial Support
Referrals to Mental Health and Community Services
Engaging the local community to support school by
volunteering, donating supplies or finances.
Advocating with local, district and state educational
bodies to change policies or programs to open access to
all students.

Questions