Many states are actively working to change the traditional counseling model to a comprehensive program based on standards and evaluated by outcomes. Some state legislatures are taking an active role in ensuring that all students receive the guidance and counseling they need to make good academic and career choices.

Resources

State School Counselor Associations
Links to the Internet homepages of school counselor associations in 42 states.

Education Trust: Transforming School Counseling
Describes "two initiatives to connect school counseling with the new mission of schools." One initiative supports professional development for counselors, and the other pairs universities with K-12 school districts to transform school counseling programs.

California Counselor Leadership Academy
"[P]rofessional development program for school counselors, administrators and related student support staff" with the mission of "[assisting] school sites and districts in the development of comprehensive, results-based guidance and counseling programs consistent with the National Standards for School Counseling."

Nebraska/ASCA School Counseling Model
Online training for Nebraska school counselors to help them use the national ASCA model as a basis for counseling programs tailored to the needs of Nebraska students.

Georgia Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Curriculum
Comprehensive guidance and counseling model to help school counselors transform the educational environment and assist all students in making good choices in and out of school.

North Carolina's Guidance Curriculum for Comprehensive School Counseling Program
Curriculum supporting North Carolina's comprehensive counseling program. The lesson plans included "are designed to be taught from a team approach with many activities for teachers, counselors, parents and the community. This is based on the philosophy that everyone who works with students has a responsibility for helping to guide them."

Tennessee School Counseling and Career Guidance Standards (2005)
Standards, learning expectations and performance indicators for Tennessee's school counseling program, broken out by grade level and type of competency (academic, career, or personal/social).

Best Practices for School Counseling in Connecticut (2001)
PDF | Word
"These standards provide direction to districts concerning the competencies that can be expected of a first year counselor, requirements for Connecticut State certification, role definition based on graduate level education and training, an appropriate evaluation model based on role definition, and standards for establishing and improving comprehensive school counseling programs."

Indiana Gold Star Guidance
Website for a counseling initiative designed to give all Indiana students the guidance and support they need to make informed decisions about education and careers. Includes standards for school counselors.

State Legislation and Policy

Recent State Policies/Activities in Guidance and School Counseling (Education Commission of the States)
Brief summaries of state legislation and policy actions in guidance and counseling since 2000.

Texas School Guidance and Counseling Home Page
Outlines the responsibilities of guidance counselors for providing specific information to students and parents under Texas law.

Illinois State Standards for School Counselors
PPT | MS Word
Powerpoint presentation on Illinois' state standards for counselors as passed by the Illinois state legislature in 2002.

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