Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program

Overview

The purpose of the school counseling program is to impart specific skills and learning opportunities in a proactive, preventive manner, ensuring all students can achieve school success through academic, career and personal/social development experiences.  The comprehensive school guidance and counseling program targets four main areas of development:

1. Academic – learning to learn
2. Career – learning to work 
3. Personal/Social – learning to live
4. Community Involvement – learning to contribute

 

The Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling program will:

1. Address the needs of all students.
2. Be an integral part of the instructional program and total educational experience.
3. Include structured activities based upon the needs of each student, including preventative, developmental, and remedial services.
4. Provide accountability and continuous improvement through annual review of student progress and program and staff evaluation.
5. Include appropriate professional development for all staff to maintain a quality program.
6. Depend upon the support and collaboration of administrators, teachers and other school personnel, student and the community.
7. Be coordinated by licensed school counselors.

 

There are many benefits of a Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program for the entire community including students, parents, teachers, counselors, administrators and businesses and industry.

The benefits to students include:

1. Students are taught the skills for a lifetime of learning, career self management and social interaction.
2. Students educational programs are related to next steps and future success.
3. Students knowledge of our changing world is broadened.
4. Students career exploration and planning is facilitated.
5. Students are assured equitable access.
6. Each individual student receives advocacy.

1. Their children are prepared for the challenges of the future.
2. Their child’s long range planning and learning is a developed system.
3. Their child’s academics are tied to the next step.
4. Parents are provided with support in advocating for their child’s academic, career, and personal development.
5. There are increased opportunities for parent/school interaction.
6. Parent access to school and community is facilitated.

 

The benefits to teachers include:

1. The academic success of each student is supported.
2. Teachers guidance role is clearly defined.
3. An interdisciplinary team effort is provided to address student needs and educational goals.
4. Consultation is provided to assist teachers in their guidance role.

 

The benefit to school counselors include:

1. Provision of program content to each student is ensured.
2. The role of the school counselor as a student advocate is enhanced.
3. A clearly defined role and function is provided.
4. Critical counseling functions are focused on.
5. A tool for program management and accountability is provided.
6. The academic mission of the school is ensured.

 

The benefits to administrators include:

1. School counseling is integrated with the academic mission of the school.
2. Program structure is provided with specific content.
3. The school counselors role is defined through enhancing learning and development for each student.
4. A means of evaluating school guidance and counseling programs is provided. 

 

Benefits to the community include:

1. Community awareness of student support systems necessary for success is created.
2. Economic development is enhanced through quality preparation of students for the world of work.
3. An increased opportunity for collaboration and participation of community members with the school program is provided.
4. The community is educated to the needs of the school and vice versa.

 

Benefits for business and industry include:

1. A future workforce with decision-making skills, pre-employment skills, increased worker maturity, and a career self-management skill is provided.
2. There are increased opportunities for business and industry to participate actively in the total school program.
3. An increased opportunity for collaboration among counselors, business and industry, and communities is provided.