Comprehensive K–12 School Counseling Programs

excerpts from the Rhode Island Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling (2006)

A milestone in professional school counseling was achieved with the publication of the
American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs (ASCA, 2003).

The model provides a national vision for comprehensive school counseling programs and builds upon The National Standards for School Counseling Programs (ASCA, 1997) that established goals, competencies, expectations, experiences and support systems for all students. The standards focus on what all students, from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, should know, understand, and be able to do to enhance their individual development. They clarify the relationship of school counseling to the educational system, and address the contributions of school counseling to student success.

Comprehensive school counseling is an essential component of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (RIDE) school improvement efforts, particularly high school restructuring and personalization. The Rhode Island Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling ( 959KB) presents school counseling as an integral component of every school’s mission and of every student’s education.

School counselors are critical players in systemic change. Their role as leaders, advocates, and collaborators allows them to be important contributors to positive educational change and to the success of students in three developmental domains: academic, personal/social and career.  Rhode Island school counselors realize the ASCA vision by implementing school counseling programs throughout the state that are results-based, standards-based, data-driven, developmental and comprehensive.

A school counseling program based on The RI Framework helps young people understand the link between academics and future plans, develop skills in career exploration, acquire and maintain positive personal/social relationships, and ultimately become responsible and productive citizens. Since the purpose of the counseling program is to help students succeed in school and in life, school counselors engage in activities with and for students that help them achieve the student competencies identified in the ASCA National Standards. Student competencies define the knowledge, attitudes, and skills students should obtain and demonstrate in academic, career, and personal/social success as a result of participating in a standards-based school counseling program.

Twenty-first century comprehensive K–12 school counseling in Rhode Island ensures:

• equitable access to educational and career exploration opportunities for all students
• promotes a rigorous academic curriculum for all students
• provides strategies for closing equity gaps
• supports the development of skills to increase student success
• fosters advocacy for all students

The Rhode Island Statewide Curriculum offers a variety of resources for school counselors and their collaborators to assist students in achieving their individual goals in the academic, career and personal/social domains.

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