The American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model. The ASCA National Model provides a framework for school counseling programs that are comprehensive in scope, preventative in design, and developmental in nature. ASCA encourages school counseling programs to enhance and promote all students' success. School counselors participate as members of the educational team and use the skills of leadership, advocacy and collaboration to promote systemic change as appropriate. The framework of a comprehensive school counseling program consists of the following four components: Foundation, Management, Delivery and Accountability.
Foundation
This aspect of the ASCA model is the basis for a comprehensive school counseling program. The foundation incorporates and includes a Program Focus, Student Standards, and Professional Competencies. Educational goals are established via a Mission Statement and Vision Statement as a way to track and evaluate outcomes using data supported communications.
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Management
This aspect requires that school counselors apply specific assessments and tools to their work. Plans about Curriculum, Closing-the-gap Action help to address academic work, attendance, etc. that measure the achievement of students. School Counselors must self-evaluate and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the school counseling program. This can be done by completing a School Counseling Needs Assessment and Program Assessment to determine the performance of the school counselor and to evaluate the school counseling program overall to make sure it is effective. Use of data, advisory councils, annual agreements with school administrators and use of time assessments are important steps in assessing the management side of a comprehensive school counseling program.
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Delivery
This aspect requires Direct and Indirect services that are rendered to students and provided by the school counselors. School counselors deliver a comprehensive school counseling program in collaboration with students, families, school staff and community stakeholders. Pro-active planning and responsive services to ensure student success for all is at the forefront of the delivery. This is where consultation and collaboration with families, teachers, other educators and community organizations help to facilitate appropriate school counseling professional responsibilities. Program delivery maps can help organize goals for High School grade levels and can implement lesson plans that encompass education, social/emotional, career and college access for students.
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Accountability
This aspect demonstrates the effectiveness of the school counseling program in measurable terms. Analyzing school counseling program assessments to guide future action and improve future results for all students is very important here. School counselors are now able to analyze school and school counseling program results to determine if program goals have met or exceeded expectations. This can be done by way of the school counseling closing the gap action reports. Annual reports and suggestions can also use data to show the impact of the school counseling program on student achievement, attendance, behavior, etc. Sample post lessons assessments can be evaluated in real time throughout the school year as well. The school counselor’s performance is evaluated on basic standards of practice expected of school counselors implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. Evaluation of the school counselor’s performance by administration using the school counselor performance appraisal is important in accountability practices. Review of the program goals created at the beginning of the school year is also reviewed.
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The following artifacts are organized into the four components of the National Model. Click on the links to view examples how this work is being delivered and measured in High School settings.
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