The School Counselor’s Role
S
chool 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.
n Lesson Plans
n Annual Administrative Conference
n Use of Time
n Calendars
n Annual
n Weekly
n Advisory Council
DELIVER
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 with Students
Direct services are in-person interactions
between school counselors and students
and include the following:
n Instruction
n Appraisal and Advisement
n Counseling
Indirect Services for Students
Indirect services are provided on behalf
of students as a result of the school
counselors’ interactions with others
including:
n Consultation
n Collaboration
n Referrals
ASSESS
To achieve the best results for students,
school counselors regularly assess their
program to:
n determine its eectiveness in helping
all students succeed
n inform improvements to their school
counseling program design and delivery
n show how students are dierent as a
result of the school counseling program
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.
Program Assessment
n School Counseling Program
Assessment
n Annual Results Reports
School Counselor Assessment
and Appraisal
n ASCA School Counselor Professional
Standards & Competencies
Assessment
n School Counselor Performance
Appraisal Template
For research on the eectiveness of school counseling programs, go to https://www.schoolcounselor.org/eectiveness
For more information about the role of the school counselor, go to https://www.schoolcounselor.org/role
DEFINE
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.
Student Standards –
ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets &
Behaviors for Student Success
Professional Standards –
n ASCA Ethical Standards for School
Counselors
n ASCA School Counselor Professional
Standards & Competencies
MANAGE
To be delivered eectively, the school
counseling program must be eciently
and eectively managed. School
counselors use program focus and
planning tools to guide the design and
implementation of a school counseling
program that gets results.
Program Focus
n Beliefs
n Vision Statement
n Mission Statement
Program Planning
n School Data Summary
n Annual Student Outcome Goals
n Action Plans
n Classroom and Group
n Closing the Gap
School
counselors
work to create
a future world
where all
students
thrive.
Updated 2023