Policy 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services

Guidance/Counseling Services

1. Engaging with, advocating for, and providing all students with direct services, such as: individual counseling, group counseling, risk assessment, crisis response, and instructional services; including mental health and behavioral, academic, and postsecondary educational services. Also, indirect services, including but not limited to; positive school climate strategies, teacher and parent consultations, and referrals to public and private community services.
    
2. Planning, implementing, and evaluating school counseling programs
    
3. Working within a MTMDSS that uses multiple data sources to monitor and improve student behavior, attendance, engagement, and achievement
    
4. Developing, coordinating, and supervising comprehensive student support systems in collaboration with teachers, administrators, other pupil personnel services professionals, families, community partners, and community agencies, including county mental health agencies
    
5. Promoting and maintaining a safe learning environment for all students by providing restorative practices, positive behavior interventions and support services, and by developing a variety of intervention strategies, and using those strategies, to meet individual, group, and school community needs before, during, and after a crisis
    
6. Intervening to ameliorate school-related problems, including problems related to chronic absences and retention
    
7. Using research-based strategies to promote mental wellness, reduce mental health stigma, and to identify characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of students who develop, or are at risk of developing, mental health and behavioral disorders and who experience, or are at risk of experiencing, mistreatment, including mistreatment related to any form of conflict or bullying
    
8. Improving school climate and student well-being by addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of students during a period of transition, separation, heightened stress, and critical changes, accessing community programs and services to meet those needs, and providing other appropriate services
    
9. Enhancing students’ social and emotional competence, character, health, civic engagement, cultural literacy, and commitment to lifelong learning, and the pursuit of high-quality educational programs
    
10. Providing counseling services for unduplicated students who are classified as English learners, eligible for free and reduced-priced meals, or foster youth, and children experiencing homelessness including interventions and support services that enhance equity and access to appropriate education systems and public and private services
     
11. Engaging in continued development as a professional school counselor

1. Development and implementation, with parent/guardian involvement, of the student’s immediate and long-range educational plan
2. Optimizing progress towards achievement of proficiency standards and competencies
3. Completion of the required curriculum in accordance with the student’s needs, abilities, interests and aptitudes
4. Academic planning for access and success in higher education programs, including advisement on courses needed for admission to colleges and universities, standardized admission tests, and financial aid
5. High-quality career programs at all grade levels in which students are assisted in doing all of the following:     
   
   a. Planning for the future, including, but not limited to identifying personal interests, skills, and abilities, career planning, course selection, and career transition       
   
   b. Becoming aware of personal preferences and interests that influence educational and occupational exploration, career choice, and career success     
   
   c. Developing work self-efficacy, for the ever-changing work environment, the changing needs of the workforce, and the effect of work on quality of life     
   
   d. Understanding the relationship between academic achievement and career success, and the importance of maximizing career options     
   
   e. Understanding the value of participating in career technical education pathways, programs and certifications, including, but not limited to, those related to regional occupational programs and centers, the federal program administered by the United States Department of Labor offering free education and vocational training to students, known as "Job Corps," the California Conservation Corps, work-based learning, industry certifications, college preparation and credit, and employment opportunities     
   
   f. Understanding the need to develop essential skills and work habits     
   
   g. Understanding entrance requirements to the Armed Forces of the United States, including the benefits of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test