Strengthening K 12 School Counseling Programs PDF Download

This book was written to assist counselors in developing comprehensive developmental counseling programs for kindergarten through grade 12. It is intended to serve as a planning, implementation, and evaluation guide for a comprehensive program. Chapter I discusses why it is important to plan the development of a school counseling program. Chapter II notes that the first step in planning a comprehensive developmental counseling program requires securing a commitment from the counseling staff. The formation and tasks of an advisory committee is the focus of the chapter. Chapter III presents the first three components of a comprehensive plan: philosophy, rationale, and needs assessment. Chapter IV asserts that the counseling program is planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated in a systematic way by establishing goals and objectives. These goals and objectives are the focus of chapter IV. Chapter V, concerned with improving the counseling program, focuses on program evaluation. Useful sample materials are provided throughout the book. Chapter VI provides a discussion of elements necessary if counselors are to participate fully in meeting the demands of excellent education for all students. Essential elements discussed in the chapter include continuing education for counselors; in-service training of teachers by counselors; improving interpersonal communication skills; guided classroom activities; classroom climate; working effectively with the administration; and public relations. The document concludes with a brief summary chapter and list of references. (NB)