The
National Model states that school counseling programs:
• Are focused on improving academic achievement and eliminating the
achievement gap;
• Operate from a mission that is connected with the school district’s mission
and state and national educational reform agendas;
• Operate from a formal set of student learning objectives that are connected
to the ASCA National Standards, aligned with state curriculum frameworks,
aligned with district standards, and based on measurable student learning
outcomes;
• Are data-driven and accountable for student outcomes (ASCA, 2003).
The National Model encourages counselors to complete yearly results reports
with data about student change, to develop school counselor performance standards
for constructing job descriptions and annual performance evaluations, and to
conduct periodic program audits to ensure that the school counseling program is
targeted at the right goals and implementing interventions effectively. Because
many states have already adopted some variation of a CDG model, it will not be a
significant transition for those states to adopt the National Model. However, for
states or districts operating from a student services model, the transition may be
significant and time-consuming (Carey, Dimmitt, & Harrity, 2004). Unless these
changes occur in the field, however, school counselors risk being left out of the
picture of school reform and risk losing their jobs.