The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has released the results of a first-of-its-kind survey of school and district administrators to gauge their understanding of school counseling and the counselor role. A number of national associations participated in distributing the survey, including AMLE.
The research indicated that while administrators generally understand the role of the school counselors, significant percentages of school counselors are assigned duties inappropriate to their roles, including managing student 504 plans and coordinating testing programs. Positively, administrators largely reported alignment with model counseling programs. More than 70% reporting that their counseling program included at least 9 of the 16 specific functions of an ASCA National Model-aligned school counseling program.
Amid a shortage of counselors, the study also indicated that administrators may be hiring other personnel to fill school counselor roles (including social workers and college advisors, among others). ASCA notes that there is an opportunity here for districts and states to strengthen the pipeline of counselors through innovative solutions like Grow Your Own programs, tuition grants, and paid internships.
The report concludes that a collaborative relationship between school counselors and administrators is essential to supporting both student success and school goals. From the middle grades perspective, we know that a successful middle school is one where comprehensive counseling and support services meet the needs of young adolescents. AMLE commends administrators who recognize they key role counselors play in establishing environments where all students feel safe and included.
You can now access the full Research Report on ASCA’s website.