School counselors design and deliver comprehensiveschool counseling programs that promote studentachievement. These programs are comprehensive inscope, preventive in design and developmental in na-ture. “The ASCA National Model: A Framework forSchool Counseling Programs” outlines the componentsof a comprehensive school counseling program. TheASCA National Model brings school counselors to-gether with one vision and one voice, which createsunity and focus toward improving student achieve-ment.

A comprehensive school counseling program is an inte-gral component of the school’s academic mission.Comprehensive school counseling programs, driven bystudent data and based on standards in academic, ca-reer and personal/social development, promote and en-hance the learning process for all students. The ASCANational Model:� ensures equitable access to a rigorous education for

all students� identifies the knowledge and skills all students will

acquire as a result of the K-12 comprehensive schoolcounseling program

� is delivered to all students in a systematic fashion

Executive Summary

� is based on data-driven decision making� is provided by a state-credentialed school counselor

Effective school counseling programs are a collaborativeeffort between the school counselor, parents and other ed-ucators to create an environment that promotes studentachievement. Staff and school counselors value and re-spond to the diversity and individual differences in oursocieties and communities. Comprehensive school coun-seling programs ensure equitable access to opportunitiesand rigorous curriculum for all students to participatefully in the educational process.

School counselors focus their skills, time and energy on di-rect and indirect services to students. To achieve maximumprogram effectiveness, the American School Counselor As-sociation recommends a school counselor to student ratioof 1:250 and that school counselors spend 80 percent ormore of their time in direct and indirect services to stu-dents. School counselors participate as members of the ed-ucational team and use the skills of leadership, advocacyand collaboration to promote systemic change as appro-priate. The framework of a comprehensive school counsel-ing program consists of four components: foundation,management, delivery and accountability.

ASCA National ModelA Framework For School Counseling Programs

Delivery is80% or

more of theactivity inthe ASCANationalModel

or more of the school counselor’s time to direct andindirect services with students

� Annual agreements developed with and approvedby administrators at the beginning of the school yearaddressing how the school counseling program isorganized and what goals will be accomplished

� Advisory councils made up of students, parents,teachers, school counselors, administrators andcommunity members to review and makerecommendations about school counseling programactivities and results

� Use of data to measure the results of the programas well as to promote systemic change within theschool system so every student graduates college-and career-ready

� Curriculum, small-group and closing-the-gapaction plans including developmental, preventionand intervention activities and services that measurethe desired student competencies and the impact onachievement, behavior and attendance

FOUNDATION

School counselors create comprehensive school coun-seling programs that focus on student outcomes, teachstudent competencies and are delivered with identifiedprofessional competencies.

Program Focus: To establish program focus, schoolcounselors identify personal beliefs that address howall students benefit from the school counseling pro-gram. Building on these beliefs, school counselors cre-ate a vision statement defining what the future willlook like in terms of student outcomes. In addition,school counselors create a mission statement alignedwith their school’s mission and develop program goalsdefining how the vision and mission will be measured.

Student Competencies: Enhancing the learningprocess for all students, the ASCA Mindsets & Behav-iors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness for Every Student guide the development ofeffective school counseling programs around three do-mains: academic, career and social/emotional develop-ment. School counselors also consider how otherstudent standards important to state and district initia-tives complement and inform their school counselingprogram.

Professional Competencies: The ASCA School Coun-selor Competencies outline the knowledge, attitudesand skills that ensure school counselors are equipped tomeet the rigorous demands of the profession. TheASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors specifythe principles of ethical behavior necessary to maintainthe highest standard of integrity, leadership and profes-sionalism. They guide school counselors’ decision-mak-ing and help to standardize professional practice toprotect both students and school counselors.

MANAGEMENT

School counselors incorporate organizational assess-ments and tools that are concrete, clearly delineatedand reflective of the school’s needs. Assessments andtools include:� School counselor competency and school

counseling program assessments to self-evaluateareas of strength and improvement for individualskills and program activities

� Use-of-time assessment to determine the amountof time spent toward the recommended 80 percent

APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS� individual student academic program planning

� interpreting cognitive, aptitude and achievement tests

� providing counseling to students who are tardy or absent

� providing counseling to students who have disciplinary problems

� providing counseling to students as to appropriate school dress

� collaborating with teachers to present school counseling core curriculum lessons

� analyzing grade-point averages in relationship to achievement

� interpreting student records

� providing teachers with suggestions for effective classroom management

� ensuring student records are maintained as per state and federal regulations

� helping the school principal identify and resolve student issues, needs and problems

� providing individual and small-group counseling services to students

� advocating for students at individual education plan meetings, student study teams and school attendance review boards

� analyzing disaggregated data

� Annual and weekly calendars to keep students,parents, teachers and administrators informed andto encourage active participation in the schoolcounseling program

DELIVERY

School counselors provide services to students, parents,school staff and the community in the following areas:

Direct Student ServicesDirect services are in-person interactions betweenschool counselors and students and include the following: � School counseling core curriculum: This

curriculum consists of structured lessons designed tohelp students attain the desired competencies and toprovide all students with the knowledge, attitudesand skills appropriate for their developmental level.The school counseling core curriculum is delivered

INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS� coordinating paperwork and data entry ofall new students

� coordinating cognitive, aptitude andachievement testing programs

� signing excuses for students who are tardy or absent

� performing disciplinary actions or assigningdiscipline consequences

� sending students home who are notappropriately dressed

� teaching classes when teachers are absent

� computing grade-point averages

� maintaining student records

� supervising classrooms or common areas

� keeping clerical records

� assisting with duties in the principal’s office

� providing therapy or long-term counseling inschools to address psychological disorders

� coordinating schoolwide individualeducation plans, student study teams andschool attendance review boards

� serving as a data entry clerk

throughout the school’s overall curriculum and issystematically presented by school counselors incollaboration with other professional educators inK-12 classroom and group activities.

� Individual student planning: School counselorscoordinate ongoing systemic activities designed toassist students in establishing personal goals anddeveloping future plans.

� Responsive services: Responsive services areactivities designed to meet students’ immediate needsand concerns. Responsive services may includecounseling in individual or small-group settings orcrisis response.

Indirect Student ServicesIndirect services are provided on behalf of students as aresult of the school counselors’ interactions with othersincluding referrals for additional assistance, consulta-

tion and collaboration with parents, teachers, other edu-cators and community organizations.

ACCOUNTABILITY

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the school counselingprogram in measurable terms, school counselors analyzeschool and school counseling program data to determinehow students are different as a result of the school counsel-ing program. School counselors use data to show the im-pact of the school counseling program on studentachievement, attendance and behavior and analyze schoolcounseling program assessments to guide future action andimprove future results for all students. The performance ofthe school counselor is evaluated on basic standards ofpractice expected of school counselors implementing acomprehensive school counseling program.

ORDERING INFORMATION

“The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs (thirdedition)” is $34.95 for ASCA members or$44.95 for nonmembers. Bulk pricing of$29.95 is available for 10 copies or more. Order no. 289325.

Four easy ways to order:Online: www.schoolcounselor.orgPhone: (800) 401-2404Fax: (703) 661-1501Mail: ASCA Publications,

P.O. Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172

ASCA National Model

A Framework for School Counseling Programs

ONE VISION ONE VOICE

THIRD EDITION

1101 King St., Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314 � Phone: 703 683 ASCA � www.schoolcounselor.org