An Information Brief For Parents
Strengthening School Counseling Programs in
New York for the 21st Century
What is School Counseling?
School counseling is an integral part of each school district’s total education program. It
is a comprehensive program that includes sequential activities provided in pre-Kindergarten
through grade 12. These activities are organized and implemented by certified professional
school counselors with the active support of parents, students, teachers, and administrators.
The program is designed to address the needs of all students by helping them to acquire
competencies in career planning and exploration, knowledge of self and others, and educational
and vocational development. A primary goal of the program is to provide students with the skills
necessary to meet New York State’s Learning Standards.

The Need
In the 21st Century, the United States and the State of New York will continue to undergo
major changes in the areas of industry, occupations, society, and economics. The labor force and
the world of work are changing rapidly. Violence is increasing in homes, schools, and
communities. Divorce, substance abuse, teen suicide, and sexual experimentation are growing
challenges families must face. These challenges are real and they are making a continual impact
on the overall development of students. They also serve as primary impediments to students
meeting the New York State Learning Standards.

A Response
Comprehensive school counseling programs in New York, implemented by certified,
professional school counselors working closely with parents, teachers, and administrators, are
effective in assisting students in responding to a variety of challenges. Research conducted in
other states during recent years has shown that when certified, professional school counselors
have the time, the resources, and the structure of a comprehensive school counseling program to
work in, they contribute to positive student academic and career development as well as the
development of positive and safe learning climates in schools.
*  Students in high schools with more fully implemented guidance and counseling programs
(as judged by school counselors) reported that:
*they had earned higher grades.
* their education was better preparing them for the future.
* their schools had a more positive climate (Lapan, Gysbers, & Sun, 1997).
*  When middle school classroom teachers rated guidance and counseling programs in their
schools when fully implemented, seventh graders in these schools reported that:
- they earned higher grades.
-school was more relevant for them.
- they had positive relationships with teachers.
- they were more satisfied with their education.
- they felt safer in school (Lapan, Gysbers, & Petroski, in press).
*  Schools counselors who rated their programs as more fully implemented indicated that
they spend more time with students, parents, and teachers; that they are more visible to
the public; and that they spend more time in classrooms (Gysbers, Lapan, & Blair, 1999).

The Keys to Success
The keys to the successful development and implementation of effective school
counseling programs in New York State include:
-   the full support of all district administrators.
-   a written district-wide pre-k-12 comprehensive school counseling program and a districtwide
policy for school counseling that have been adopted by the Board of Education.
-   a written district-wide comprehensive school counseling program that is fully
implemented by certified, professional school counselors pre-K-12, spending 100 percent
of their time working with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to carry out the
program.
-   strong state school counseling leadership that provides regular, ongoing training,
resources, and technical support.
-   a strong statewide professional association such as the New York State School Counselor
Association.
Your Support is Needed
*Talk to your school’s counselors to learn about your school district’s school counseling
program.
* Serve on the community school counseling advisory committee.
* Learn about your children’s strengths and how they can build upon them to maximize
academic and career opportunities.
* Be actively involved in working with school counselors to integrate school counseling
competencies into your classroom curriculum.
* Observe in the classroom when a school counseling lesson is being presented and carry it
over into other classroom activities whenever possible.
References
Gysbers, N.C., Lapan, R. T., & Blair, M. (1999). Closing in on the statewide
implementation of a comprehensive guidance program model. Professional School Counseling
2(5), 357-366.
Lapan, R.T., Gysbers, N.C., & Petroski, G. (in press). Helping 7th graders to be safe and
academically successful: A statewide study of the impact of comprehensive guidance programs.
Journal of Counseling and Development.
Lapan, R.T., Gysbers, N.C., & Sun, Y. (1997). The impact of more fully implemented
guidance programs on the school experience of high school students: A statewide evaluation
study. Journal of Counseling and Development 75, 292-302.
Document adapted from one originally presented by the Missouri School Counselor Association.
New York State School Counselor Association
A Division of the American School Counselor Association
PO Box 217
Leicester, New York 14481
1-800-NYSSCA1
www.NYSSCA.org
NYSSCA1@aol.com