/**/

desktopMenu

Mobile menu

  1. Orange
  2. Blue
  3. Purple
  4. Green
  5. Light Blue
  6. Dark Blue

American School Counselor Association

Counselors in Rankin County School District follow the American School Counselor Association National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs to implement comprehensive school counseling programs that are student-focused and data driven.  Counselors focus on academic, personal/social, and career development for students in grades K-12.  Additionally, counselors use the MS Counseling Frameworks, which are based on the ASCA National Model, to guide their school counseling programs.  

American School Counselor Association 

 

Role of the School Counselor 

Guidance Curriculum 

  • Classroom Instruction:  School counselors instruct, cooperatively teach, and provide assistance in teaching the school guidance curriculum.
  • Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development: School counselors participate on interdisciplinary teams to develop and to refine curriculum in content areas.
  • Group Activities:  School counselors conduct planned small groups outside the classroom to respond to students' identified needs or interests. 
  • Parent Workshops and Instruction: School counselors conduct workshops and informational sessions for parents or guardians to address the needs of the school community and to implement the school guidance curriculum.

Individual Student Planning

  • Individual or Small-group Appraisal:  School counselors work with students analyzing and evaluating students' abilities. 
  • Individual or Small-group Advisement: School counselors advise students using personal/social, educational, career, and labor market information in planning personal, educational, and occupational goals.

Responsive Services

  • Consultation:  School Counselors consult with parents, colleagues, and community agencies regarding strategies to help students and families.  School counselors serve as student advocates.
  • Individual and Small-group counseling:  Counseling is provided in a small group or on an individual basis for students expressing difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns, or normal developmental tasks.
  • Crisis Counseling:  Counseling, comfort, and support are provided to students and families facing traumatic situations.  School-based crisis response is offered onsite and is timely in nature.
  • Referrals:  School counselors use referral sources to address concerns such as suicidal ideation, violence, abuse, depression, anxiety, and family difficulties.
  • Peer Facilitation:  Many school counselors train students as peer mediators, conflict managers, tutors, and mentors.
  • Strategic Interventions:  School counselors customize educational experiences in order to enhance capabilities and support positive choices. 

System Support 

  • Professional Development:  School counselors are involved regularly in updating and sharing their professional knowledge and skills.
  • Collaboration and Teaming:  Through consultation, partnering, collaborating and teaming, school counselors make important educational and psychological contributions to the school system.
  • Program Management and Operations:  This includes planning and management tasks needed to support activities conducted in the school counseling program.
  • Data Analysis: School counselors analyze student achievement and counseling program-related data to evaluate the counseling program, to conduct research on activity outcomes, and to discover gaps that exist among different groups of students that need to be addressed. 

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR STUDENT ACADEMIC, CAREER AND PERSONAL/SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

K-5 FOCUS AREAS

Elementary school years are the entry level for students to participate in the school counseling program.  Learning is focused on:

  • Increasing Self-Awareness
  • Increasing Social Skills
  • Learning Safety Skills
  • Developing Self-Efficacy 

6-8 FOCUS AREAS

Middle school years allow students to continue awareness activities and learning is focused on:

  • Improving Academic Self-Efficacy
  • Understanding Self and the Career Exploration Process
  • Respecting Self and Others
  • Establishing Effective Relationships 

9-12 FOCUS AREAS 

High school years encourage continued awareness and exploration activities, learning is focused on skill development and planning activities, and learning is focused on:

  • Transitioning to Post-Secondary Education
  • Improving Academic Self-Efficacy
  • Respecting Self and Others
  • Relating School to Life