Introduction
Comprehensive school counseling programs, both local and state, are developed based on the guideline of the ASCA.
Task
Compare the local and state school counseling plans alongside the ASCA plan.
Process
Review the documents provided by the local educational institution's along with the state and compare to the guidelines set forth by the ASCA.
Evaluation
Local Program findings:
Monmouth County Vocational School District School Counseling
The Monmouth County Vocational School District’s school counseling program supports all students by providing academic, career, and personal/social guidance and services in both individual and small group formats. MCVSD school counselors act as a student advocate and liaison between teachers, administrators, and external resources.
1. Counseling Services
The purpose of guidance and counseling services is to assist students in self-examination, self-evaluation, and analysis of alternatives so that each student can benefit most fully from her/his education and life experiences.
2. Counseling services will include:
a. Career awareness and exploration, and academic planning through consideration of personal interests, past and potential performance, and present opportunities,
b. Personal/social development including adjustment to situational problems, understanding of the consequences of personal behavior, and referral to assistance where appropriate, and
c. Crisis counseling to assist students undergoing extreme emotional reactions that disrupt immediate functioning, including post crisis planning and referral for treatment as necessary.
State Findings:
A developmental approach In order to successfully meet the challenges of each stage of development, students need to develop the building blocks necessary for steady progress toward successful adult life. Drawing from the work of Erickson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Super, Ginzberg, Ginsburg, Azelrad, and Herma, Havighurst, Gottfredson, Myrick, Johnson and Johnson, and Gysbers and Henderson,
the New Jersey model uses a developmental approach that anticipates students’ needs and integrates them into a planned program of learning activities. A developmental school counseling program has several characteristics: • developmental milestones are addressed by program activities • competencies reflect emerging personal, social, academic/career capabilities • activities are appropriate to students’ developmental needs program activities form a continuum of awareness, understanding, and application of life skills.
When writing your program, remember that the New Jersey Administrative Code NJAC 6A: 8-3.2; III (1-3) states that districts: …shall implement a developmental career guidance and career awareness program, linked to the Core Curriculum Content Standards, which: I. Is infused throughout the K-12 curriculum as appropriate for all students; II. Is supported by professional development programs; III. Takes into consideration the Career Development Standards of the National Standards for School Counseling Programs of the American School Counselor Association in the following three areas of student development (1) academic development (2) career development (3) personal/social development
ASCA Findings:
SCHOOL COUNSELOR’S ROLE School counselors play an essential role in creating an equitable, inclusive school culture promoting success for all.
Help all students: • apply academic achievement strategies • manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills • plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force) Appropriate duties include providing: • individual student academic planning and goal setting • school counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards • short-term counseling to students • referrals for long-term support • collaboration with families/teachers/ administrators/community for student success • advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings • data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges
Conclusion
It was found that both the local and state plans followed the guidelines set forth by the ASCA.
Credits
American School Counselor Association, www.schoolcounselor.org
Monmouth County Vocational School District. Comprehensive School Counseling program with School Counselor Roles and Responsibilities.
New Jersey School Counselors Association. Nj Framework for School Counseling Porgrams.