Skip To Main Content

The Role of the School Counselor

CSD School Counselors design and implement counseling programs that improve academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for students. School counseling programming for each school is data-driven, based on needs, and aligned with the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) model for school counseling. Below is an example of the tiered supports that may be offered by school counselors. 

Tier 1: Whole School Counselor Services: specific interventions for all students

  • School-wide programming including assessments, screeners, and classroom lessons
  • General responsive services available to all students
  • Grade level transition support
  • Social & emotional learning
  • Prevention programming: child lures, suicide, bullying, substance use/abuse, absenteeism, etc.
  • Student appraisal & advisement
  • Career knowledge development & exposure

Tier 2: Group/Targeted Counseling Services: specific interventions for students who have not responded to Tier 1 services.

  • Student check-ins/drop-in support
  • Small group counseling (informed consent needed)
  • Restorative circles
  • Short-term counseling support
  • Solution-focused individual counseling (informed consent needed)
  • Classroom support
  • 504, IEP, MTSS and other plan support services
  • Consultation/collaboration with colleagues, internal or external resources/agencies
  • Individual crisis response/acute care
  • Suicide rating scale (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale)

Tier 3: Individual Counseling Support Services: specific interventions for individual students who have not responded to Tier 1 and Tier 2 services

  • Safety plans
  • Restorative conferences
  • Individualized interventions (informed consent needed): Ongoing counseling for suicide response or individual ongoing therapy with student center counselor

For more information on the role of the school counselor, please click here.

  • RAMP Schools - The Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation, awarded for aligning with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-informed school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment.   There are 1300 schools nationwide who hold a  RAMP designation, 5 CSD schools currently have the honor of being a RAMP school. Congratulations to Glennwood, Oakhurst, Westchester, Talley Street, and Beacon Hill Middle School.