School Counselor Competencies
The ASCA National Model was created to guide school counselors in creating systemic changes among their schools and within the profession. School counselor's also emphasize the use of student data to develop data driven programs and ask the question "how are students different as a result of the school counseling program." This key question is made plausible by the competencies developed by ASCA to address integral elements and procedures that lead to a successful and beneficial school counseling program. The ASCA National Model has redefined the role of the school counselor as an educational leader, collaborator, advocate, and agent of change working to help all students achieve in three domain areas: academic, career and personal/social.
The model acts as a guide for school counselors and has four competency areas outlined to help the counselor to implement an effective school counseling program: Foundation, Delivery, Management and Accountability. Foundation provides the basis for which all other aspects of the school counseling program can develop, the foundation piece is crucial and consists of the school counselors mission statement, the programs needed, goals of the program, and a master schedule to outline the programs that will be implemented. Management includes the use-of time assessment to identify how much time is dedicated to each task, use of data is used to identify the results of the comprehensive school counseling program and make changes accordingly. Additionally, school counselors collaborate with teachers, parents, administrators, students and community members through utilizing advisory councils and annual agreements to address school counseling goals and review suggestions for changes in the future. The delivery competency includes the provision of services including responsive services that meet students needs though direct and indirect guidance services. The model identifies that the school counselor should dedicate 80 percent of their time to direct and indirect services to students. The last competency is the accountability piece, this aspect is imperative in determining the effectiveness of the program. Accountability is implemented by the school counselor by obtaining program results and determining the difference in students. School cousenlors are evaluated based on the effectiveness of the school counseling program they implement at their school.
American School Counselor Association (2012). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (3rd. ed.) Alexandria, VA: Author.
The model acts as a guide for school counselors and has four competency areas outlined to help the counselor to implement an effective school counseling program: Foundation, Delivery, Management and Accountability. Foundation provides the basis for which all other aspects of the school counseling program can develop, the foundation piece is crucial and consists of the school counselors mission statement, the programs needed, goals of the program, and a master schedule to outline the programs that will be implemented. Management includes the use-of time assessment to identify how much time is dedicated to each task, use of data is used to identify the results of the comprehensive school counseling program and make changes accordingly. Additionally, school counselors collaborate with teachers, parents, administrators, students and community members through utilizing advisory councils and annual agreements to address school counseling goals and review suggestions for changes in the future. The delivery competency includes the provision of services including responsive services that meet students needs though direct and indirect guidance services. The model identifies that the school counselor should dedicate 80 percent of their time to direct and indirect services to students. The last competency is the accountability piece, this aspect is imperative in determining the effectiveness of the program. Accountability is implemented by the school counselor by obtaining program results and determining the difference in students. School cousenlors are evaluated based on the effectiveness of the school counseling program they implement at their school.
American School Counselor Association (2012). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (3rd. ed.) Alexandria, VA: Author.