Policy 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services

Guidance/Counseling Services

The Governing Board recognizes that a comprehensive counseling program promotes academic achievement and serves the diverse needs of all district students. Counseling staff shall be available to meet with students regarding their educational progress toward academic and/or career goals and, as appropriate, may discuss social, personal, or other issues that may impact student learning.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all persons employed to provide school counseling, school psychology, and/or school social work services shall possess the appropriate credential from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing authorizing their employment in such positions. Responsibilities of each position shall be clearly defined in a job description.

Responsibilities of school counselors include, but are not limited to:

1. Engaging with, advocating for, and providing support for all students with respect to learning and achievement
2. Planning, implementing, and evaluating programs to promote the academic, career, personal, and social development of all students, including students from low-income families, foster youth, undocumented youth, and students at all levels of academic, social and emotional abilities
3. Using multiple sources of information to monitor and improve student behavior and achievement
4. Collaborating and coordinating with school and community resources
5. Promoting and maintaining a safe learning environment for all students by providing restorative justice practices, positive behavior interventions and support services
6. Intervening to ameliorate school-related problems, including issues related to chronic absences
7. Using research-based strategies to reduce stigma, conflict, and student-to-student mistreatment and bullying
8. Improving school climate and student well-being
9. Enhancing students’ social and emotional competence, character, health, civic engagement, cultural legacy, and commitment to lifelong learning and the pursuit of high-quality educational programs
10. Providing counseling interventions and support services for students classified as English learners, eligible for free and reduced-priced meals, or foster youth, including enhancing equity and access to the education system and community services
11. Engaging in continues development as a professional school counselor

Educational Counseling

Beginning in grade 7, parents/guardians shall receive a general notice at least once before career counseling and course selection so that they may participate in the counseling sessions and decisions.

The educational counseling program shall include academic counseling in the following areas:

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
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 public colleges and universities, standardized admission tests, and financial aid
5. Career and vocational counseling, 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 realistic perceptions of work, the changing work environment, and the effect of work on lifestyle
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 and work-based learning activities and programs, partnership programs, job shadowing, and mentoring experiences
f. Understanding the need to develop essential skills and work habits
g. Understanding the variety of four-year colleges and universities and community college vocational and technical preparation programs, as well as admission criteria and enrollment procedures

The district’s educational counseling program also may include, but is not limited to, identification of students who are at risk of not graduating with the rest of their class; development of a list of coursework and experience necessary to assist students to satisfy the curricular requirements for college admission and successfully transition to postsecondary education or employment; and counseling regarding available options for a student to continue his/her education if he/she fails to meet graduation requirements.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish and maintain a program of guidance, placement, and follow-up for all high school students subject to compulsory continuation education.

No counselor shall unlawfully discriminate against any student. Guidance counseling regarding school programs and career, vocational, or higher education opportunities shall not be differentiated on the basis of any protected category specified in Board Policy 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities.

In addition, counselors shall affirmatively explore with students the possibility of careers, or courses leading to careers, that are nontraditional for that student's sex.

For assessing or counseling students, the district shall not use testing or other materials that permit or require impermissible or unlawful differential treatment of students.

Colleges and prospective employers, including military recruiters, shall have the same access to students for recruiting purposes.

Personal or Mental Health Counseling

A school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker may provide individualized personal, mental health, or family counseling to students in accordance with the specialization(s) authorized by his/her credential. Such services may include, but are not limited to, support related to the student's social and emotional development, behavior, substance abuse, mental health assessment, depression, or mental illness. As appropriate, students and their parents/guardians shall be informed about community agencies, organizations, or health care providers that offer qualified professional assistance.

Written parent/guardian consent shall be obtained before mental health counseling or treatment services are provided to a student, except when the student is authorized to consent to the service pursuant to Family Code 6920-6929, Health and Safety Code 124260, or other applicable law.

Any information of a personal nature disclosed to a school counselor by a student age 12 years or older or by his/her parent/guardian is confidential and shall not become part of the student record without the written consent of the person who disclosed the confidential information. The information shall not be revealed, released, discussed, or referred to except under the limited circumstances specified in Education Code 49602. (Education Code 49602)

A counselor shall consult with the Superintendent or designee and, as appropriate, with the district's legal counsel whenever unsure of how to respond to a student's personal problem or when questions arise regarding the possible release of confidential information regarding a student.

Crisis Counseling

The Board of Education recognizes the need for a prompt and effective response when students are confronted with a traumatic incident. School counselors shall assist in the development of the comprehensive school safety plan, emergency and disaster preparedness plan, and other prevention and intervention practices designed to assist students and parents/guardians before, during, and after a crisis.

In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall identify crisis-counseling resources to train district staff in effective threat assessment, appropriate response techniques and/or methods to directly help students cope with a crises if it occurs.

Early identification and intervention plans shall be developed to help identify those students who may be at-risk for violence so that support may be provided before they engage in violent or disruptive behavior.

Teacher-Based Advisory Program

The Board recognizes that a supportive, ongoing relationship with a caring adult can provide a student with valuable advice, enhance student-teacher relationships, and build the student's feelings of connectedness with the school. The Board authorizes the development of a teacher-based advisory program in which teachers advise students in such areas as academic planning, character development, conflict resolution, and selfesteem. Any teacher participating in this program shall be under the supervision of a credentialed school counselor as appropriate, receive related information and training, and be subject to this Board policy and law, including requirements pertaining to student confidentiality and nondiscrimination.