A Model Comprehensive, Developmental

Guidance and Counseling Program

for

Texas Public Schools

A Guide for Program Development
Pre-K-12th Grade
Revised 2004

After the original free distribution to authorized institutions, additional copies may be purchased from the
Texas Counseling Association, 316 West 12th Street, Suite 402, Austin, Texas 78701. To purchase additional copies
please use the order form found in the back of this publication. Please remit $10.00 each if you are a nonprot
institution and $11.00 for all others. With the increasing demand for educational material, however, the supply
may be exhausted at times.

Texas Education Agency

1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701

iii

Foreword

A Model Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program for

Texas Public Schools, A Guide for Program Development Pre-K -12th Grade has
been developed to help ensure that all students in Texas might benet from high quality
comprehensive, developmental school guidance and counseling programs. The guide
provides a model for such programs and a process for tailoring the model to meet the
varying needs of students in a wide array of school districts.
The Guide has been written as a model for educators to develop, validate, or improve
their school districts guidance program. Counselors, principals, other district
administrators, board of education members, teachers and parents are all recognized
as active participants in this broad-based process for determining the guidance and
counseling needs of all students and for planning how best to meet those needs.
School counselors have long been recognized and appreciated for their efforts
in facilitating student learning. The guide provides needed exibility in program
implementation and enhances their efforts in contributing to increased student
achievement and success.

Shirley J. Neeley, Ed.D.

Commissioner of Education

Copyright Notice The Materials are copyrighted and trademarked as the property of the Texas Education
Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas Education Agency, except
under the following conditions: 1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers
may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts and schools educational use
without obtaining permission from the Texas Education Agency; 2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce
and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written
permission of the Texas Education Agency; 3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and
remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way; 4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced
materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction
and distribution may be charged.
Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts, Texas Education Service
Centers, or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located
outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from the Texas Education Agency and will be required to
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For information contact: Ofce of Copyrights, Trademarks, License Agreements, and Royalties, Texas Education
Agency, 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701-1494; phone 512-463-7004; email:[email protected]

Texas Education Agency Staff

Shirley J. Neeley
Commissioner of Education
Robert Scott
Chief Deputy Commissioner
Susan Barnes
Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Greg Travillion
Director, High School Completion and Student Support
John Lucas
Manager II, Guidance and Counseling
Virginia Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant III, Guidance and Counseling

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A Students Story. . .
Im in seventh grade now, but I was once a boy who always made bad choices and always bullied kids around. My
teachers would send me to the ofce to see the principal. While I was in rst grade, I played soccer for our school.
I was chosen by the counselor to be on this team. The reason she picked me was because she saw potential in
me. I stayed on this team for four years until my 4th grade year. I became involved in other opportunities that my
counselor thought would help me feel like I belonged.
If fth grade, I went to Middle School. I met my former counselor. When I found out she was at my school, I was
very happy because she was my favorite counselor. She always helped me through problems and tough times. She
introduced me to the new counselor. She also signed me up for the mentor program. My mentor visited every
Wednesday. We worked on homework, projects, worked on computers or just talked. Since my mentor was the
Chief of Police, he would always tell me that if I continued behaving like I was, I would end up in jail. He also
told me that if I carried weapons, I would get in trouble, have a police record and not be able to play sports. He
would always ask me what it was that I wanted to do. I told him I was interested in sports. He helped me realize
that I couldnt play sports if I kept acting up and didnt work on my grades. Having a mentor helped me realize
that sometimes you can get good things out of life if you make the right decisions not the wrong ones like I had
been doing. Right before the year was over, we met for the last time. He told me that we were going to go over my
behavior records and try to see if I could do better next year in sixth grade. He also told me that he and his son were
going to be in a contest. They had to canoe to the Gulf in the Texas Water Safari. About one week later, my counselor
visited me at home and notied me that his canoe ipped in the rapids and he went under. His son made it to shore
but he could not nd his dad. They searched for him for 3 or 4 days. They nally found him tangled up in a bunch
of seaweed. I could not believe this. I really did not want to believe this. I did not want to go back to school.
The next year, I tried my hardest not to get suspended or in as much trouble. I knew that my mentor would like for
me to stay out of trouble. He would also want me to do better.
During sixth grade, my counselor worked with me on a behavior contract. This helped me stay out of trouble. My
counselor would always check up on me. I liked knowing that she cared about me. My counselor would always
help me with my problems. She was not only a counselor to me, she was a best friend. Someone I could sit down
and talk to about things, laugh, and have fun with. It meant a lot to have someone outside my family who cared
about me and who I could talk to about anything.
My Assistant Principal was sort of like a mentor during my sixth grade year. He kept me out of trouble by talking to
me, expecting me to do better, and helping me to be a leader among my classmates.
I would like to be a mentor to someone someday and help them turn their lives around like the mentors and
counselors have helped me. When I become a mentor, I will be able to repay what they did for me.
Having counselors and a mentor is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

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A Parents Story. . .
My children are 18 and 21 now and are in college. They are responsible and self-motivated people now, too. But
there was a day that they were struggling along just to get out of bed and go to school everyday. However, all along
this journey, they were privileged to have outstanding counselors. For you see, as a parent and former school
teacher myself, I worked closely with them as my children grew up in the early years of the resource program and
were diagnosed with attention decit disorder in kindergarten.
I always loved to go into the childrens elementary counselors ofce. I so appreciated the space; it was lled with
stuffed animals, bean bag chairs, jars lled with treats, artwork done by the students. One immediately had the
feelings of warmth and trust.
Because of their needs, there was extensive record keeping and paperwork which may have at the time seemed
cumbersome and redundant but later served to pave the way to access needed resources.
As they progressed through school and began high school, the counselor became the liaison for my child between
me and the teacher.
My sons high school counselor was one of those very special people. He felt so close to her. She informed and
assisted me in helping him in a way which probably would have never been possible had she not cared enough
and been trained well enough to handle a situation in a very professional way. She was able to keep his trust while
working with me. I will be forever grateful.
I have personally learned so much from my childrens counselors. Because of their care and commitment, I feel
like I made a difference in my childrens educational lives. And, after all, isnt that the biggest purpose of education:
to make a difference in a childs life? I know the premise for the needs counselors address nowadays is largely due
to the breakup of the family and parents expect counselors and teachers to ll that void. Although one cannot take
the place of the other, I do believe schools have a place of opportunity and are accountable in some respect to put
the heartbeat of the family back into education through the counseling and guidance departments. This is more
than a duty; it is a privilege requiring the gifts counselors hold to make a difference in a childs or familys life. As
time goes by, I have even more respect and gratitude for the loving touch they placed on each of us in this family.

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A Counselors Story. . .
She was eight years old and in the 3rd grade when I met her. Rosie was transferring from another school where she
had been seeing the counselor due to the fact that she was hearing impaired and didnt want to wear her hearing
aids because she was afraid students would make fun of her. What I remember most about her was the way her
eyes crinkled up when she smiled and the dimples on either side of her mouth.
When she was in the 4th grade her infant brother only days old died of a heart defect. When she was in the 5th her
mother decided to move with her 3 daughters to Michigan so they could all work as migrant laborers as she had
done when she was young. The move proved to be very traumatic for Rosie and she would write letters and call in
tears telling me how she wanted to move back to Texas and how badly she missed her friends.
When she was thirteen I received a call from her mother telling me that Rosie was in the hospital and that she would
speak to no one. She said that she would only speak to me. It was at that time that we discussed her future, goals,
and dreams. She wanted to graduate from high school and become a writer. I told her to hang in there and that I
would be at her high school graduation when the day came.
This summer my husband and I traveled to Michigan to see Rosie graduate. When we saw each other her eyes
crinkled as we both laughed and cried at the same time. Her mother, sisters, and grandmother were all beaming.
After the ceremony we went to her home and she showed me albums full of school pictures, certicates, awards
and ribbons given to her in elementary school. I was struck by how very important these positive notes were and
how they motivated her to strive on. Rosie said shes going to college and I believe her. She said shes going to write
and I believe that also.
Rosie and her family thanked me for all Id done for Rosie. Yet it was I who needed to thank Rosie for showing me
that with love, support and determination a child can defy the odds and make their dreams become reality.

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Contents
Section I: The Basis for the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program. . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Purpose of the Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
For Whom the Guide is Intended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What is Included in the Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Rationale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Denition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section II: The Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program Model . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Program Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Guidance Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Responsive Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Individual Planning System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
System Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Program Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section III: Responsibilities of School Counselors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
and Other Staff Members
Counselors Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Counselors Background and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Counselors Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Responsibility Domains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Responsibility Domains/Program Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Counselor Job Description and Performance Evaluation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Staff Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Counselor-to-Student Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section IV: The Scope and Sequence of a Guidance Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
The Scope of the Guidance Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Implementing a Guidance Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
The Sequence of a Guidance Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Content Areas and Competency Indicators for Each Grade Span . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Grades Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Grades 1 - 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Grades 4 - 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Grades 7 - 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Grades 10 - 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Section V: A Process for Implementing a Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
and Counseling Program

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The Program Development Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

1. Organizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
2. Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
3. Designing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
4. Implementing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5. Evaluating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Section VI: A Process for Evaluating a Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Counseling Program
Guidelines for Evaluating the Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program . . . . . . . . . . 107
Rationale and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Basis of the Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Questions to Be Answered Through Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l08
Methods of Data Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Audiences/Uses for the Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Appendix A: Texas Education Code Chapter 33, Subchapter A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Appendix B: Subchapter GG. Commissioners Rules Concerning Counseling Public School Students . . . . . . . . . 120
List of Figures
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14

Characteristics of High and Low Performing Counseling Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Four Components of a Comprehensive, Developmental School Guidance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
and Counseling Program
Guidance Content Areas and Skill Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Program Development Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Organizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Denition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Designing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Sample Quantied Program Designs--High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Sample Quantied Program Designs--Middle School/Junior High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Sample Quantied Program Designs--Elementary School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Implementing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Evaluating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Implementation Checklist
List of Graphs

Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3

Program Balance Time Distribution Form Elementary Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Program Balance Time Distribution Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Middle School/Jr. High Level
Program Balance Time Distribution Form High School Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

xv

SECTION I
The Basis for the
Texas Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling Program

Introduction
The ever increasing needs of children and the expectations of todays society are on a collision course with the
growing demands on our educational system. Educators and parents are challenged to educate all students at an
ever-higher level of literacy to meet the demands of an internationally competitive, technological marketplace,
even though societal and other factors cause some of our children to attend school ill-equipped emotionally,
physically, and/ or socially to learn. Schools must respond by providing support for all students to learn effectively.
As educators continue to seek equity for students through quality programming in all facets of the educational
program, this guide describes what constitutes a quality school guidance program--a developmental guidance
program which provides equal opportunities for all students to receive guidance and counseling. This
developmental guidance and counseling program plays a vital role in assisting teachers and other staff in the
integration of guidance objectives with other instructional goals.
The implementation of a high quality comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program benets
the various populations involved in the program.
Parents have a fuller understanding of the guidance program and access to guidance services in order to have
increased involvement in childrens education and educational and career planning.
Students increase their knowledge and skills in decision-making, goal-setting, planning, problem-solving,
communicating, interpersonal effectiveness, and cross-cultural effectiveness. All students will have access to
counselors for assistance with personal-social concerns, as well as academic and career planning.
Teachers collaborate with counselors to enhance the cognitive and affective development of students and will
have a fuller understanding of the guidance program.
Administrators have a fuller understanding of the guidance program, a basis for determining staff and funding
allocations, and a means for evaluating the program and expanding the program to the community.
Boards of Education have a fuller understanding of the developmental guidance program and will gain a more
dened rationale for inclusion of guidance in the school system.
Counselors benet from clearly dened responsibilities, elimination of non-guidance functions, and a
framework to provide developmental guidance through a balanced, developmental program for all students.
The Purpose of the Guide
The purpose of this guide is to describe the Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program
model and to outline a process for tailoring the program model to meet the needs of the vast array of Texas public
schools. It provides quality program standards designed to enhance district and campus efforts to improve the
guidance programs. During the 1989-90 school year, the Guidance Advisory Committee reached consensus about
the denition of and the goals for guidance programs in Texas public schools. This provided the guidance that
school counselors will need to respond to the challenges they will face in the complex schools of the future. It is,
thus, the nucleus of a training effort for counselors, administrators, and others.

In 1998, a second Guidance Advisory Committee examined the current needs of Texas students
and made recommendations to update the work of the 1989-90 Guidance Advisory Committee. The
guide presents a model for all schools, regardless of size, the maturity of the guidance program, or
characteristics of communities. Districts continue to have the exibility to modify it to meet local
needs and to match local resources. A basic premise of this guide and the programmatic approach to
guidance follows:
A guidance program must be designed to use resources that are available, or the campus or
district must make available resources that are needed to implement the program as designed.
The design includes the establishment of priorities; the resources include all school staff in a team
approach to the delivery of the program.
Both Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Counseling Association (TCA) recommend this
guide for use by Texas public schools, the information provided in this guide may be used to assist
districts in complying with TEC 33.005-33.007. The responsibilities of the counselor are dened
in the TEA Counselor Job Description and Evaluation Form, developed by TEA in cooperation with
TCA and the Texas School Counselors Association (TSCA) revised 2004. The responsibility statements
are based on the 2004 Texas Evaluation Model for Professional School Counselors (TEMPSC II). The
TEMPSC II is a publication of the Texas Counseling Association (TCA) and is available from TCA at
www.txca.org. This evaluation form is congruent with the TEA Developmental Model. Districts are
required to evaluate counselors performance; use of the state form is recommended.
For Whom the Guide is Intended
The guide is intended for all educators and parents seeking to validate or improve the effectiveness
and efciency of the guidance program in their districts and on their campuses.
Parents: to help them understand, contribute and support a quality guidance and counseling program
in order to effectively guide their childrens development.
Teachers: to help them understand the goals of the guidance program so the teacher-counselor
partnership can work to the maximum benet of students.
Counselors: to help them establish, implement, and manage programs which will benet all of their
students.
Principals: to help them collaborate with counselors to design and deliver a quality guidance
program.

District Administrators such as Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents, as well as Guidance Directors,
and Curriculum Directors: to help them provide appropriate support for guidance program development efforts,
to establish procedures which enhance the effectiveness of the guidance program, and to provide guidance for
site-based committees.
Boards of Education: to help them set policies which cause the modernization of the guidance programs in their
schools.
What is Included in the Guide
Section I includes background and contextual information about guidance programs and describes the
philosophical foundation for guidance programs in Texas. It details the resources needed to support effective
guidance programs.
Section II denes the structure of the model and presents recommendations for designing for appropriately
balanced programs.
Section III denes the Responsibilities of the School Counselors, including statements about their training,
specialized competencies, appropriate assignments and suggests considerations regarding counselor-to-student
ratios.
Section IV further details The Scope and Sequence of a Guidance Curriculum component.
Section V outlines a process for implementing the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling
Program at both district and campus levels. Suggestions are included for program development and for steps to
take in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating the program.
Section VI provides some guidelines for evaluating the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and
Counseling Program, including the program as a whole, program improvements, and student growth due to
program participation.
Rationale
Educational Reform. The educational reform movement with the ensuing laws, policies, and regulations has
renewed interest in quality education for all students including students with special needs. Educational program
and staff performance standards and accountability requirements have been established that improve education
for all students. Alternative programs and special services that are responsive to the special needs of some students
also have been created.
In the late 1990s increases in societal problems are being seen in indicators such as school drop-outs, adolescent
and youth suicides, substance abuse by youth, harassment issues, gang involvement, racial tension and turmoil,
and violence on school campuses.
In their efforts to reduce and eliminate these indicators, parents and educators have helped students to set high
goals, hold high expectations for themselves, envision valuable futures, and strive to fully develop their potential.
5

Recognizing that the status quo is not good enough and that many challenges face the schools and school
counselors, the College Boards Commission on PreCollege Guidance and Counseling recommended that local
schools accomplish the following:

establish school guidance improvement plans,

dene a broader role for school counselors,
involve parents more fully in the learning and educational / career planning of their children, and
provide fuller guidance and counseling support for children and young adolescents.

The Commission also recommended that collaboration with or the support of the following agencies is essential
to the program:

collaboration of schools and community groups to enhance student services,

support of state education agencies through increased support for local initiatives,
support of the federal government through continued programs that increase equity of opportunity for
disadvantaged students, and
support of higher education institutions through updated training programs to better prepare counselors for
their new roles.

State Law and Policy. The Texas Education Agency 2001-2006 Long Range Plan of the State Board of Education
for Public School Education (p. 3) We live in an age of transformation. It is illustrated by changing demographic
and social patterns, made manifest by changing work force needs, and based upon changing ideas of education
and what it means to be educated. Full participation in our society and economy now requires all of our citizens to
achieve their full potential through learning. It means that high school diplomas and post-secondary degrees must
be seen as steps, rather than end points, in a lifetime of continuous learning.
Certication Required. The law (TEC 21.003) requires counselors to hold certication from the State Board of
Educator Certcation (SBEC) or the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The law (TEC 33.003-33.007) species the duties of counselors and outlines components of the guidance
program. The language describing guidance and counseling programs and the role of the counselor were updated
when the new code was adopted in 1995. Specically the legislation states:
The counselor shall work with the school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement,
and evaluate a developmental guidance and counseling program. The counselor shall design the program to
include:
a guidance curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential;
a responsive services component to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal
concerns or problems put the students continued educational, career, personal, or social development
at risk;

 an individual planning system to guide a student as the student plans, monitors, and manages the students
own educational, career, personal, and social development; and
system support to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the community in
promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students.
The primary responsibility of a school counselor is to counsel students to fully develop each students academic,
career, personal, and social abilities. Additionally, the counselor shall:
participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, developmental guidance program
to serve all students and to address the special needs of students who are:

at risk of dropping out of school, becoming substance abusers, participating in gang activity, or
committing suicide; or

in need of modied instructional strategies;

consult with a students parent or guardian and make referrals as appropriate in consultation with the
students parent or guardian;
consult with school staff, parents, and other community members to help them increase the effectiveness
of student education and promote student success;
coordinate people and resources in the school, home, and community;
with the assistance of school staff, interpret standardized test results and other assessment data that help
a student make educational and career plans; and
deliver classroom guidance activities or serve as a consultant to teachers conducting lessons based on the
schools guidance curriculum.
In 1995, the Commissioner of Education was directed by TEC 21.356 to develop and periodically update a
counselor job description and evaluation form. The law further directed the Commissioner of Education to
consult state guidance education associations in the development and updating of a counselor job description and
evaluation form. Evaluation must be based on job related performance. Counselors are to be evaluated annually.
To appropriately update school guidance and counseling, services must be integrated into programs and the
programs must have a developmental basis that helps all students develop and practice specic competencies.
Programs also must be systematically planned and delivered, and include a component that is responsive to
students with special needs.
TEC Chapter 37 requires that a disciplinary alternative education program provide for student behavioral needs
and requires that a disciplinary alternative education program provide supervision and counseling. Additionally,
the law states that a program of educational and support services may be provided to a student and the students
parents when the offense involves drugs or alcohol.
State and Federal law concerning Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students receive
services as determined by the ARD and IEP which may include counseling.

The comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program model described in this document differs
from historical models as compared in the following:
Historical

Developmental

Reactive

Planned, based on priorities

Crisis counseling only

Preventive and crisis counseling

Individual guidance & counseling only

Group guidance & counseling

Uneven service to students

Consistent service to all students

Emphasis on services

Emphasis on program

Information dissemination

Developmental curriculum

Clerical/administrative task oriented

Student goal attainment oriented

Unstructured program

Designed program

Unmeasurable

Evaluated and improved, based on

evaluation results

Counselors only

Counselors + all school staff

The Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program Model outlined in this guide reects the
characteristics of High Performing Counseling Programs.
FIGURE 1
Characteristics of High and Low Performing Counseling Programs
Recommendation #1: Establish a School Plan
Low Performing Programs

High Performing Programs

A set of loosely related services performed

almost exclusively by counselors

A well-dened planning process that leads to

well-coordinated services for all students

Students fall through the cracks

An ongoing monitoring system is set up to constantly assess

student performance and provide services where needed

Counselors operate in isolation from the

school, community, and district

Counselors are part of planning teams

No coordinated planning process to provide for the needs Planning process involves everyone in the
of students; plans are viewed as a bureaucratic requirement school, community: students, parents,
teachers, administrators, and counselors
Little district support

District provides services and support to schools by:

providing technical assistance in their
assessment of needs and evaluation
providing special allocation of resources to schools
serving large numbers of at-risk students
periodically reviewing school plans
identifying elements that should be
coordinated across and among schools

Do not use data on a regular basis to analyze

and improve students learning

Use data regularly to analyze and

improve students learning

Recommendation #2: Clarify the Role of the Counselor

Low Performing Programs

High Performing Programs

School principals view counselors as quasi-administrators School principals emphasize the importance of the
whose primary function is to schedule students into classes counselor as a monitor and promoter of student
potential as well as a coordinator of schools guidance plan
Counselors spend most of their time doing
technical tasks, paperwork, and seemingly unrelated
jobs as assigned (bus duty, supervision)

Counselors develop close alliances with teachers and

link their work with students in the classroom

Counselors work with students exclusively

on an individual basis

Counselors use group counseling, classroom presentations,

and computer technology as well as individual counseling

Counselors operate in isolation

Schools create conditions for collaboration of

counselors, teachers, and administrators-particularly
for high-risk populations-to devise strategies for:
improving student performance and interest in school
understanding and addressing the needs
of a changing student population
encouraging minority and poor students
to continue their education
involving parents in the educational process
forging partnerships with community agencies,
businesses, and universities to better serve
the needs and interests of all students
9

FIGURE 1 (continued)
Counselors act as gatekeepers to limit access
by performing screening functions

Counselors serve as advocates for all students,

encouraging them to maximize their potential

Counselors sphere of inuence is limited to

working with students and other counselors

Counselors are viewed as having a central

role in schoolwide change to improve
student achievement and services

Recommendation #3: Involve Parents

Low Performing Programs

High Performing Programs

Parent involvement is minimal and usually limited

to PTA, fundraising, or attending open houses

Parent and family involvement means ensuring their

participation in students academic planning, course
selections, and options regarding postsecondary choices

Regular day schedule prevails regardless of the

needs of the community; parents are expected
to adjust their schedules to the schools

Information for parents is provided at a time and

in places that are convenient for family work
schedules; this may mean exible scheduling for
counselors, teachers, and administrators

Recommendation #4: Provide Guidance and Support for Children and Young Adolescents
Low Performing Programs

High Performing Programs

Too many excuses for why poor kids cant learn

All students are viewed as potential high achievers

Students separated by perceived ability into

homogeneous groups

Most/all instruction in heterogeneous groups

Only high-ability students taught advanced-level material or All students get same rigorous core curriculum and are
given college information
offered the full range of postsecondary opportunities
Low achievement and poor school functioning blamed on Staff views improving achievement and school
others
functioning as its responsibility
Few support services for students

Ample support services closely integrated with

instructional program

Little college information given to students and parents until Extra efforts are made at elementary and middle school to
high school and usually not until 11th and 12th grades
work with students and parents in understanding college
options and nancial aid opportunities

Recommendation #5: Provide Better Services Through Collaborationh Collaboration

Low Performing Programs

High Performing Programs

Few students get served-schools try to do it all

Schools build a support system with human service

agencies, colleges, and other community organizations

School services focus on students who are

academically successful or potential dropouts;
the students in the middle get ignored

Average students get the needed extra attention by

collaboration with colleges and businesses through:
mentorships
grants
employment
college transition programs

Source: Selected from table in Making the Vision a Reality

(College Entrance Examination Board, CEEB 1996), pp. 10-17

10

Student Needs. The contributions of school counselors and guidance programs to the educational mission and to
the individual students development are many and varied. Although the basic goal of school guidance is to enhance
the students educational development, studies show that through guidance and/ or counseling, some students
achieve identied results in a range of related areas:

academic achievement,
improved school attendance,
improved school attitudes,
improved school behavior,
social skills,
information to assist in choosing potential careers,
self-condence development,
interpersonal relationships, and
life satisfaction.

Counseling issues that have been identied by students are wide-ranging:

school attitudes and behaviors,

test anxiety,
peer relationships,
study skills,
career planning,
suicide,
school safety,
harassment issues,
bullying & victimization,
gang pressures,
conict resolution,
college choice,
death of a family member,
family divorce,
substance abuse,
family abuse,
scholarships, and
nancial aid.
Denition

Comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling programs are vital to the achievement of excellence in
education for all students. The Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program is an
integral part of each schools total educational program. In order to preserve the academic day, team planning is
necessary when delivering the developmental guidance and counseling program. The counselors primary focus is
to facilitate instruction by removing impediments to student learning. It is developmental by design and includes
sequential activities organized and implemented by certied school counselors with the support of teachers,
administrators, students, and parents.

11

Comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling programs organize resources to meet the priority needs
of students through four delivery system components. The identied needs of all students in prekindergarten
through grade twelve provide the basis for the developmental guidance program, delivered through the Guidance
Curriculum and Individual Planning System components. The identied special needs of some students provide the
basis for the Responsive Services component. The identied needs of the school system itself are met through the
System Support component.
Assumptions
For effective implementation of the comprehensive, developmental guidance program to occur, certain programmatic
conditions must exist and resources must be allocated as outlined below.
Conditions Required. The Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program model is
based on the following assumptions regarding conditions:
The minimum level program provides for each of the four delivery system components and employs a professionally certied school
counselor.
All students, parents, teachers, and other recipients of the guidance program have equal access to the program regardless of gender,
race, ethnicity, cultural background, disability, socioeconomic status, learning ability level, or language.
Parents will be full partners with educators in the education of their children. (TEC Chapter 26)
Counselors who are employed in a setting that is characterized by adequate physical and attitudinal resources are able to make their
unique contributions to the educational program and to the healthy growth and development of the students. The conditions required
for effective program implementation include being in a positive work environment (one with favorable interpersonal relations
among the school staff); administrative commitment to and support of the guidance and counseling program; and an adequate budget
and guidance materials.
School administrators understand and support the programs priorities and its demands. Administrators make decisions and establish
policies and procedures in light of this understanding. For example, since counselors must have access to students and vice versa,
schedules will be developed which allow student accessibility. The Texas Education Agency will continue to provide, through the
Guidance Unit, leadership and technical assistance as the schools implement the Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and
Counseling Program.

Resources Needed. The more resources a program has to support it, the bigger the contribution that can be
made to students education and development.
Staff:
Staff responsibilities: All staff members accept responsibility for guidance program goals and objectives.
Counselors qualications: School counselors should be fully certied either by the Texas Education Agency or
by the State Board of Educator Certication and have the special training needed to carry out specialized job
assignments.
Stafng Patterns: For appropriate implementation of the guidance program, the roles of each of the staff
members and their organizational relationships must be clearly dened.
Professional relationships are characterized by respect, collaboration, and cooperation.
Ratios: The counselor-to-student ratio has to be adequate to implement the designed program, or the program
has to be designed within the parameters of the ratio.

12

Parent Awareness and Support. Parents have access to preview guidance program and materials that may be
used with their children in the delivery of the comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.
Parent and family involvement in education is essential to the intellectual growth and academic achievement of
their children.

Program and Staff Development: Time and opportunity need to be provided for guidance programs to be
designed and evaluated and for implementation plans and products (e.g., program component resource guides)
to be developed. Inservice training to facilitate counselors achievement of professional growth goals should be
provided.
Budget: An adequate guidance department budget should be established to support program needs and goals.
Budget sources should include:
Campus budgets: similar to those of other departments;
District budgets: for categories of items that are centrally managed; for example, program materials, audiovisual,
computer or other capital outlay equipment;
State and Federal appropriations where applicable; for example, the following funded programs are allowed
to spend money for guidance and counseling:
Bilingual Education
Compensatory Education
Drop-Out Prevention
Safe and Drug-Free Schools
Gifted and Talented Students Education
Migrant Education
Special Education
Career and Technology Education
Communities In Schools
Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: These should be easily accessible to support the program. Materials should
be relevant to the program, appropriate for the community, and of sufcient quantity to be useful. The counselor
should have locked les and private lines on telephones.
Facilities: All facilities must be easily accessible and adequate to allow for implementation of the developmental
program; specically, the counselor must have the following:
a private ofce, properly equipped and soundproofed, built with consideration of the students right to privacy
and condentiality,
access to facilities for conducting small group counseling and large group guidance,
adequate space to organize and display guidance materials, and
storage space.

13

SECTION II
The Texas Comprehensive,
Developmental Guidance and Counseling
Program Model

Four Components of a Comprehensive, Developmental School Guidance and

Guidance Curriculum
Responsive Services
Individual Planning
Provides guidance content in a
Addresses the immediate
Assists students in
systematic way to all students.
concerns of students.
monitoring and understanding
their own development.
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Awareness, skill development,
Prevention, Intervention
Student Planning and Goal Setting
and application of the skills
needed in everyday life.
Areas Addressed:
Areas Address:
Academic concerns
EDUCATIONAL
Areas Addressed:
School-related concerns
Acquisition of student skills
Self-condence development
tardiness
Awareness of educational
Motivation to achieve
absences & truancy
opportunities
Decision-making,
misbehavior
Appropriate course selection
Goal-setting, Planning, and
school-avoidance
Lifelong learning
Problem-solving skills
drop-out prevention
Utilization of test scores
Interpersonal effectiveness
Relationship concerns
CAREER
(including social skills)
Physical/sexual/emotional abuse
Knowledge of potential
Communication Skills
as described in Texas Family Code
career opportunities
Cross-cultural effectiveness
Grief/loss
Knowledge of career and
Responsible Behavior
Substance abuse
technical training
Family issues
Knowledge of positive
Harassment issues
work habits
Coping with stress
PERSONAL-SOCIAL
Suicide prevention
Development of healthy
self-concepts
Development of adaptive and
adjustive social behavior
Counselor Responsibilities
Counselor Responsibilities
Counselor Responsibilities
Guidance
Guidance
Counseling
Consultation
Consultation
Consultation
Assessment
Program implementation
Coordination
Professional Standards
and facilitation
Referral
Professional Standards
Professional Standards

17

Counselor Responsibilities
Program Management
Consultation
Professional Standards

Areas Addressed:
Guidance program development
Parent education
Teacher/administrator
consultation
Staff development for educators
School improvement planning
Counselors professional
development
Research and publishing
Community outreach
Public Relations

Purpose:
Program Delivery and Support

Counseling Program
System Support
Includes program and staff
support activities and services.

Figure 2

The comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program in Texas public schools is an integral part
of the total educational program. It provides a systematic, planned approach for helping all students acquire
and apply basic life skills by making optimal use of the special knowledge and skills of school counselors. The
foundation of the program is to provide developmentally appropriate assistance for all students, and at the same
time provide special assistance to those who need it.
Program Structure
As summarized in Figure 2, the Program Structure includes four components:
Guidance Curriculum
Responsive Services
Individual Planning
System Support
To fulll the basic mission of the guidance program in local schools, program balance must be established to guide
the allocation of resources to each component.
Guidance Curriculum
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop basic life skills. It is the
foundation of a developmental guidance program. In Texas, seven areas have been identied for the guidance
curriculum:

Self-condence Development
Motivation to Achieve
Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, and Problem-solving Skills
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Communication Skills
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Responsible Behavior

The developmental guidance curriculum has a scope and sequence for student competency development. The
curriculum is taught in units with planned lessons for small or classroom-sized groups of students. The curriculum
is designed for the use of materials and other resources, and requires evaluation strategies.
Parents and the Guidance Curriculum
The guidance curriculum reects knowledge and skills that parents also help their children learn. Indeed,
historically, parents have accepted primary responsibility for teaching these life skills. It is critical, then, that
parents be invited to provide input to the curriculum that is taught at the school their children attend, that they be
aware what is taught and that they be encouraged to reinforce these skills at home.

18

Instruction in the guidance curriculum begins with childrens rst experiences in school, with the levels of mastery
expanding each year in accordance with the students ages and developmental levels. Section IV (pages 49-75)
species an age-appropriate sequence for students acquisition of these skills by stating competency indicators for
the following grade spans:
Grades Pre-Kindergarten-Kindergarten
Grades 1 - 3
Grades 4 - 6
Grades 7 - 9
Grades 10 - 12
Local educators should strive to present a well-balanced guidance curriculum, including teachings from all seven
strands of the guidance curriculum. Local needs and priorities will dictate the specic competencies, results,
and objectives to be taught, and the most effective activities and materials to be used. Full implementation of the
guidance curriculum requires partnerships between counselors and teachers.
As members of instructional teams, school counselors may teach all or some of the curriculum through direct
instruction. They also may consult with teachers who integrate the curriculum with other curricula.
Responsive Services
The purpose of the responsive services component is to intervene on behalf of those students whose immediate
personal concerns or problems put their continued personal-social, career, and/or educational development at
risk. Although counselors respond to any concerns presented by students, some topics have been identied as
having high priority and/or relevance within the school setting. Topics of priority in Texas include:
academic success
adolescent and child suicide
child abuse and neglect
school drop-outs
severe stress
substance abuse
school-age pregnancy
gang pressures/involvement
harassment issues
In addition to the topics identied at the state level, school districts have identied some recurrent topics presented
for responsive services, including:
School-based issues, such as
attendance
school attitudes and behaviors
peer relationships
study skills
being new to the school
emergent issues in intervention or postvention of a traumatic event; and
violence on campus (school safety)

19

 Personal issues, such as

career indecision
nancial aid
college choice
death of a family member or friend
family divorce
family abuse
harassment issues, and
suicide prevention
Parents Role in the Responsive Services
Parent involvement with and participation in activities of this component are essential to helping children overcome
barriers to their educational process. They refer their children for help, work with school staff to specify their
childrens issues and give permission for needed special services including on-going counseling.
Some responses are preventive: interventions with students who are on the brink of choosing an unhealthy or
inappropriate solution to their problems or being unable to cope with a situation. Some responses are remedial:
interventions with students who have already made unwise choices or have not coped well with problem
situations.
In this component as in the others, locally identied needs will dictate the priorities for problem topics and for
the groups of students to be served. A comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program includes
supplemental guidance and counseling services for students targeted by special funding sources such as students
in compensatory, gifted, migrant, special, or career and technology education programs.
The school counselors counsel individuals or small groups of students, appraise individuals for the purpose of
problem identication, consult with teachers and parents, refer students and/or their parents and teachers to
other specialists or special programs, coordinate programs and services with other specialists, and follow-up with
students to monitor their progress toward resolution of their problems. If applicable, they train and supervise
peer facilitators. Often they conduct guidance sessions in response to teachers requests to address problems of
particular groups, such as competitiveness or stress with classroom groups of gifted students.
Family Code 32.004 authorizes counseling without parental consent for: suicide prevention, chemical addiction
or dependency, or sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
Individual Planning System
The purpose of the individual planning system is to guide all students as they plan, monitor, and manage their own
educational, career, and personal-social development. Schools can systematically use a variety of resources-staff,
information, and activities-and to focus resources toward the students and to assist individual students to develop
and implement personalized plans. Through the individual planning system, students can:
Set challenging educational, career, and personal-social goals that are based on self-knowledge and information
about school, the world of work, and their society;
Make plans for achieving short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals;
Analyze how their strengths and weaknesses enhance or hinder the achievement of their goals;
20

 Assess their current progress toward their goals; and

Make decisions that reect their plans.
As part of the developmental guidance program, the individual planning system includes:
age-appropriate, objective-based activities;
relevant, accurate, and unbiased information; and
coordinated advisement procedures to facilitate appropriate placement decisions by students and their parents.
Parent involvement is essential.
Parents Role in Individual Planning
Educational and career decision-making, planning and goal setting are primarily the responsibility of the students
and their parents. Thus, parent involvement in the individual planning system is essential to students successful
development and implementation of educational and career plans. Parents are provided accurate and meaningful
information in a timely manner as school-based activities are implemented.
In accordance with TEC 33.007, counselors must provide information about higher education to students and
parents during the rst year a student is enrolled in a high school and again during the students senior year. See
Commissioners Rules in Appendix.
Local educators must establish priorities for helping students make and implement individualized plans which
focus on students educational and career plans.
Examples of typical systematic opportunities for providing individual planning assistance include the interpretation
of standardized test results, career development activities (e.g., Career Days), strategies provided to facilitate
students transition from one school level to the next (e.g., High School Educational Plan), pre-registration for
courses for the subsequent school year, and assisting students to research and secure nancial aid for post-secondary
education and/or training.
The school counselors may conduct the group guidance sessions and/or consult with students advisors and
parents. They have responsibility for assuring accurate and meaningful interpretation of test and other appraisal
results information to students, teachers, and parents. They may coordinate or consult with those who are
responsible for providing other career and educational information and the procedures whereby teachers make
placement recommendations. They refer or consult regarding the procedures for referral of students with needs
for special/targeted educational programs such as gifted, bilingual, students in at-risk situations, special education,
and compensatory education.
System Support
Whereas the three components previously described serve students directly, the system support component
describes services and management activities which indirectly benet students. The services include:
consultation with teachers;
support for the parent education program and community relations efforts;
participation in the campus-based school improvement plans and goals;
implementation of the state and local standardized testing program;

21

 cooperation with relevant research projects; and

provision of input from the students perspective to policy-makers and instructional/curriculum planners.
Management activities are required to assure the delivery of a high quality guidance program. These activities
include:
program development and management;
counselor staff development;
community outreach; and
development of appropriate written policies, procedures and guidelines.
Parents Role in System Support
System Support is dened as work within the system. Thus direct parent roles and responsibilities are
not specied.
The school counselors consult with teachers and administrators on behalf of students, parents, and the guidance
program and staff. They often collect, summarize, and interpret data generated by the testing program. Additionally,
they manage the guidance program, pursue professional development, cooperate in the implementation of
school-wide, district-wide or state-wide activities, and coordinate guidance related activities which are assigned
to them.
Program Balance
Program balance refers to the allocation of resources to each of the developmental guidance and counseling
program components during an entire year, including all of the resources a campus applies to the guidance
program. As with other educational programs, the basic resources are the time and talent of the primary staff
members, as in this case, the school counselors. Other resources include the time and talent of other professional
and paraprofessional staff and materials and equipment.
A developmental guidance and counseling program includes all four components, but the relative emphasis of each
component will vary from district to district, perhaps from campus to campus, depending on the developmental
and special needs of the students served. Each district/campus should design its program-ie., make conscious
decisions as to resource allocations. (A process for doing this is more thoroughly described in Section V.)
Some general recommendations can be made, however, about appropriate program balance. Although each
campus and district needs to establish its own balance reecting its own local priorities, the developmental ages
of students dictate different program designs at different school levels. History has shown some consistencies in
decisions regarding program balance:
The balance between the developmental guidance components shifts as students mature and accept more
responsibility for their own growth and development.
The guidance curriculum is a larger program component at the elementary level than at the secondary level.
The individual planning system is larger at the secondary level than at the elementary level.
The needs for responsive services and system support stay fairly constant; thus, these two program components
maintain a similar share of the program throughout.
The system support component, representing indirect services to students, is consistently the smallest of the
four components.

22

As discussed more in Section V, to identify the right program design and to assess whether change in their current
program is needed, campus and district personnel must:
(1) quantify the balance of the current guidance program;
(2) consider the recommendations that are provided on the following pages; and
(3) decide on the balance that ts their students and communitys needs.
Graph worksheets for displaying each of these program designs for each level-elementary, middle/junior high, and
high schools-are on the following pages. The center circle on each worksheet displays the states recommended
program balance for that school level. These are generalizations; as stated above, an appropriate local design
should be based on local rationale.

23

GRAPH 1

Program Balance Time

Distribution Form Elementary Level
Current District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support
_______________ non-guidance

Current District Program Percentages

System
Support
10%-15%

Recommended Percentages
35%-45%
guidance curriculum
30%-40%
responsive services
5%-10%
individual planning
10%-15%
system support
0%
non-guidance

Responsive
Services
30%-40%

Curriculum
35%-45%

Individual
Planning
5%-10%

Recommended Percentages

Desired District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support

Desired District Program Percentages

24

GRAPH 2

Program Balance Time Distribution

Form Middle School/Jr. High Level
Current District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support
_______________ non-guidance

Current District Program Percentages

System
Support
10%-15%

Recommended Percentages
35%-40%
guidance curriculum
30%-40%
responsive services
15%-25%
individual planning
10%-15%
system support
0%
non-guidance

Responsive
Services
30%-40%

Curriculum
35%-40%

Individual
Planning
15%-25%

Recommended Percentages

Desired District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support

Desired District Program Percentages

25

GRAPH 3

Program Balance Time Distribution

Form High School Level

Current District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support
_______________ non-guidance

Current District Program Percentages

System
Support
15%-20%

Recommended Percentages
15%-25%
guidance curriculum
25%-35%
responsive services
25%-35%
individual planning
15%-20%
system support
0%
non-guidance

Responsive
Services
25%-35%

Curriculum
15%-25%
Individual
Planning
25%-35%

Recommended Percentages

Desired District
Program Percentages
_______________ guidance curriculum
_______________ responsive services
_______________ individual planning
_______________ system support

Desired District Program Percentages

26

SECTION III
The Responsibilities
of School Counselors
And Other Staff Members

Counselors Orientation
Professional school counselors accept the responsibility to help all students through a systematically delivered
developmental guidance and counseling program. At the same time, they respect each student, strive to understand
each students background and the factors which are inuencing his/her present circumstances, and maintain
optimism about each students future.
Professional school counselors approach students, parents, teachers, and others with warmth and understanding,
an accepting and optimistic attitude about the potentialities of people, and the belief that people can change in
positive ways. They are committed to personal change and growth, not only in others, but also in themselves. They
have the ability to relate to and effectively communicate with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. When
counselors are selected who demonstrate these personal characteristics and the competencies described and
reect the ethnic makeup of the school community, the probability for having an effective guidance and counseling
program is increased.
Counselors Background and Training
Professional school counselors were teachers rst. Thus, they have demonstrated competence as instructors and
understand the dynamics of the classroom and the school setting. This initial experience provides the background
for their understanding of school-related situations and problems and an understanding of the opportunities
available in the school system.
Through coursework leading them to school counselor certication and, typically, the masters degree,
professional educators learn and apply, through practicum and research experiences, knowledge and skills
regarding the guidance program, pupils served, and counseling and development services. Specically, they study:

history, legal and ethical issues,

processes for implementing a developmental guidance program,
normal growth and development of children and youth,
cross-cultural foundations,
motivation and learning in the exceptional child,
counseling theory and methods,
group procedures,
consultation,
student appraisal,
career development,
counseling special populations,
societal and environmental factors affecting learners, and
coordination of resources.

Professional school counselors are committed to continuous professional growth and development; therefore, they
develop annual professional growth plans. School districts have a responsibility to provide in-service training for
school counselors and to support counselors participation in other professional development activities.

29

Counselors Responsibilities
When a fully certied school counselor is employed, the administration, faculty, parents, and community should
expect the counselor to carry out eight basic responsibilities competently and in a professional and accountable
manner. The eight responsibilities are:
Program Management
Guidance
Counseling
Consultation
Coordination
Student Assessment
Professional Behavior
Professional Standards
Responsibility Domains
The following eight domains constitute the responsibilities of the professional school counselor. These domains
form the basis of the Performance Evaluation Form that is included in the TEMPSC-II.
Program Management Domain - Counselors collaboratively plan, implement, evaluate and advocate for a
comprehensive, developmental guidance program that includes the four components (1) Guidance Curriculum,
(2) Responsive Services, (3) Individual Planning, and (4) System Support specied in the Texas Education Code
(33.005). Counselors collaborate with others to determine the relevant balance among the four components to
meet student and community needs. Program management requires organizing personnel, physical resources, and
activities in relation to dened needs, priorities, and objectives in order to maintain the programs contribution
to the total educational program. Counselors use program management competencies in the System Support
component of a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.
Guidance Domain - In providing guidance, counselors proactively assist all students to develop and apply skills
for maximum educational, career, personal, and social growth during school years and beyond. Counselors use
guidance competencies to provide developmentally appropriate activities through the Guidance Curriculum and
Individual Planning components of a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.
Counseling Domain - Counseling is an intervention made available to all students and applying to those whose
developmental needs, personal concerns, or problems affect their continued educational, career, personal or social
development. Counselors use counseling competencies in the Responsive Services component of a comprehensive,
developmental guidance and counseling program.

30

Consultation Domain - Counselors, functioning as consultants, advocate for students and provide professional
expertise to help faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and other community members understand individual
behavior and human relationships. Counselors interpret relevant information to these persons concerning the
development and needs of students. The counselor consults with others to increase the effectiveness of student
education and promote student success. Counselors may use consultation competencies in any of the four
components of a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.
Coordination Domain - Counselors as coordinators bring together people and resources in the home, school,
district, and community to support students optimal academic, career, personal, and social development. Working
with students parents or guardians, and/or school personnel, counselors coordinate referrals to other resources as
appropriate. Counselors may apply coordination competencies in any of the four components of a comprehensive,
developmental guidance and counseling program.
Student Assessment Domain - In student assessment, counselors interpret standardized test results and
other available student data to promote sound decision making among students and others involved in students
development. Counselors also promote understanding of ethical and legal uses and limitations of assessment.
Counselors apply student assessment competencies in the Individual Planning, Responsive Services, and System
Support components of a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.
Professional Behavior Domain - Professional school counselors accept responsibility for self-directed
professional development through continuous efforts to improve their competence in meeting and exceeding
standards in performing their jobs. Professional behavior also entails the expectation that counselors have
responsibility to improve the inclusivity of the school environment and to maintain collaborative inter-professional
relationships. Professional school counselors demonstrate professional behavior in all components of a
comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program; however, accountability for time dedicated to
these activities applies to the System Support component.
Professional Standards Domain - Professional school counselors adhere to professional standards in all
components of a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program. Time dedicated to activities that
promote understanding and application of professional rules, policies, regulations, and guidelines is accounted for
in the System Support component of a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program.

31

Responsibility Domains/Program Components

The competencies used by school counselors to carry out these responsibilities and the developmental guidance
and counseling program components which call upon them are listed below.
Responsibility Domains

Program Components

Program Management

System Support

Guidance

Guidance Curriculum
Individual Planning

Counseling

Responsive Services

Consultation

Guidance Curriculum
Individual Planning
Responsive Services
System Support

Coordination

Guidance Curriculum
Individual Planning
Responsive Services

Student Assessment

Individual Planning
Responsive Services

Professional Behavior

System Support

Professional Standards

System Support

Counselor Job Description and Performance Evaluation

Job Description - A counselors job description reects the specic application of the domains and standards
appropriate to his or her job assignment within the local comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling
program.
It is important to note that counselors specic job descriptions vary depending on their work setting and the
counselor-to-student ratio. Although every school counselor generally has responsibilities in all eight domains, not
all domains are necessarily equally balanced for all counselors. Occasionally a standard listed under a domain in
the Counselor Job Description and Performance Evaluation Form may not be applicable to a particular counselor.
Hence, an individual counselors specic responsibilities should be dened collaboratively by the counselor and
the administrator in response to the schools and districts needs and priorities. The school counselor is required
to be evaluated annually as per Texas Education Code (TEC 21.352 & 21.356).

32

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COUNSELOR JOB

DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION
AS CONTAINED IN TEC 33.002-33.007
The counselor evaluation form may be used by the counselor as a self-audit. It may also be used by supervisors
to annually evaluate the counselors performance. This TEA Job Description and Performance Evaluation were
developed in cooperation with the Texas Counseling Association and Texas School Counselors Association and is
the recommended evaluation form as directed by TEC 21.356. The recommended version includes a system for
weighting the ratings. Weighting reects the relative importance of each domain within an individual counselors
job assignment. A weight is assigned to each domain to reect how much of a counselors resources are expected
to be appropriated to that domain. Rating reects the evaluators judgment about the quality of a counselors
performance on a standard. Details about the rating scale and the application of weights are presented later under
Directions for Completion of the Performance Evaluation Form. A district or campus may choose not to use the
weighting system. For additional information, contact TEA Guidance and Counseling at (512) 463-9498.
DOMAIN I: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Standard 1:

Standard 2:

Standard 3:

Standard 4:

Standard 5:
Standard 6:

Standard 7:

Plans a balanced comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program that

includes Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, Individual Planning, and System
Support components. (Texas Education Code, 33.005)
Implements a balanced comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling
program that includes Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, Individual Planning,
and System Support components. (Texas Education Code, 33.005)
Evaluates and promotes continuous improvement of a balanced comprehensive,
developmental guidance and counseling program that includes Guidance Curriculum,
Responsive Services, Individual Planning, and System Support components. (Texas
Education Code, 33.005)
Promotes the balanced provision of program content areas (self-condence development;
motivation to achieve; decision-making, goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving
skills; interpersonal effectiveness, communication skills, cross-cultural effectiveness;
and responsible behavior).
Manages program personnel and/or other program resources.
Collaborates with school personnel, students, parents, and the community to plan,
implement, evaluate, and promote continuous improvement of a developmental
guidance and counseling program. (Texas Education Code, 33.005)
Advocates the school developmental guidance and counseling program and counselors
ethical and professional standards with school personnel, parents, students, and the
community.

33

DOMAIN II: GUIDANCE

Standard 1:
Standard 2:
Standard 3:
Standard 4:

Standard 5.

Standard 6:

Standard 7:

Plans structured group lessons to deliver the Guidance Curriculum effectively and in
accordance with students developmental needs.
Conducts structured group lessons to deliver the Guidance Curriculum effectively.
Involves students, teachers, parents and others to promote effective implementation of
the Guidance Curriculum.
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of students and parents
to plan, monitor, and manage the students own educational development including
provision of information regarding post-secondary opportunities.
(Texas Education Code, 33.007)
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of students and parents to
plan, monitor, and manage the students own career development. (Texas Education
Code, 33.007)
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of students and parents to
plan, monitor, and manage a students own personal and social development. (Texas
Education Code, 33.006)
Uses accepted theories and effective techniques of developmental guidance to promote
the career, educational, personal, and social development of students.
DOMAIN III: COUNSELING

Standard 1:
Standard 2:

Uses accepted theories and effective techniques to provide individual developmental,

preventive, remedial, and/or crisis counseling.
Uses accepted theories and effective techniques to provide group developmental,
preventive, remedial, and/or crisis counseling.
DOMAIN IV: CONSULTATION

Standard 1:

Consults with parents, school personnel, and other community members to help them
increase the effectiveness of student education and promote student success. (Texas
Education Code, 33.006)

Standard 2:

Consults with school personnel, parents, and other community members to promote
understanding of student development, individual behavior, the students environment,
and human relationships.

Standard 3:

Collaboratively provides professional expertise to advocate for individual students and

specic groups of students.

34

DOMAIN V: COORDINATION
Standard 1:
Standard 2:

Coordinates people and other resources in the school, home, and community to promote
student success.
Uses an effective process when referring students, parents, and/or others to special
programs and services.
DOMAIN VI: STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Standard 1:
Standard 2:
Standard 3:

Adheres to legal, ethical, and professional standards related to assessment.

With the assistance of school personnel, interprets standardized tests results and other
assessment data to guide students in individual goal setting and planning.
Enhances the work of school personnel and parents in guiding student goal setting and
planning by promoting understanding of standardized test results and other assessment
data.
DOMAIN VII: PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

Standard 1:
Standard 2:
Standard 3:

Demonstrates professionalism, including a commitment to professional development.

Advocates for a school environment that acknowledges and respects diversity.
Establishes and maintains professional relationships with administrators, teacher, other
school personnel, parents, and community members.
DOMAIN VIII: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Standard 1:
Standard 2:
Standard 3:
Standard 4:
Standard 5:
Standard 6:

Adheres to legal standards including school board policies.

Adheres to state, district, and campus standards, regulations, and procedures.
Is committed to current professional standards of competence and practice. (Texas
Administrative Code, Rule 239.25)
Promotes and follows ethical standards for school counselors.
Demonstrates professional and responsible work habits.
Uses professional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

35

DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FORM:

I.

Complete the background information on the rst page of the Performance Evaluation Form

II.

Assign weights to each domain: The individual is to be evaluated in light of his/her responsibilities within
the overall guidance program. Therefore, weights for each of the domains should be agreed upon by the
counselor and the evaluator at the beginning of the evaluation period and recorded on the rst page of the
Performance Evaluation Form (as percentages appropriate to the counselors responsibilities). This page
should be signed at the beginning of the evaluation period to conrm the weights and other information
thereon. A district or campus may choose not to use the weighted system.

III. Compute the average (mean) for each domain: Determine the domain average by adding the ratings of
the standards in the domain and then dividing by the number of standards rated. If a standard is not applicable,
NA is recorded on the form, and a value for that standard is not gured as part of the domains average.
Spaces for comments, strengths, and areas to address are provided on the Performance Evaluation Form
for each domain. It is not necessary for the evaluator to comment on each standard or domain; however,
comments are encouraged for areas where exceptional strength is indicated or for areas that require
improvement.
IV. Calculate the Summary Evaluation Score: To obtain the overall rating, multiply the domain average for
each domain by its pre-determined weight (%) and then add these weighted domain values to arrive at a total
of weighted values. Record this total of weighted domain values in the space for the Summary Evaluation
Score on the last page (Summary Sheet) of the Performance Evaluation Form.
V.

Sign the Summary Sheet of the Performance Evaluation Form: Signatures of the evaluator and the
counselor are required at the end of the Performance Evaluation Form to acknowledge that the evaluation
has been discussed with and presented to the counselor. The counselors signature does not necessarily
indicate agreement with the evaluators ratings.

36

COUNSELOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FORM

NAME OF COUNSELOR: _____________________________________________________________
SCHOOL AND DISTRICT: ____________________________________________________________
EVALUATION PERIOD: ________________ through ____________________
month/day/year
month/day/year
YEARS OF COUNSELING EXPERIENCE:
Present counseling position
__________
Total in current district
__________

Total in other districts

Other counseling experience

__________
__________

ASSIGNMENT (check applicable): Elementary ___ Middle/Junior High ___ High ___ Post-secondary___
STUDENT LOAD:
Assignment ______________________________________________ Number ________________
EVALUATOR (name printed): _______________________ Title ______________________________
WEIGHTS (%) for each domain agreed upon by the counselor and evaluator at the beginning of the evaluation
cycle:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
100

Program Management
Guidance
Counseling
Consultation
Coordination
Student Assessment
Professional Behavior
Professional Standards
TOTAL

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: This section is to be used by the counselor to update his/her professional le with
current professional activities and organizational memberships.

_____________________________________
Evaluator signature
date

______________________________________
Counselor signature
date

37

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN I: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Standard 1:
Plans a balanced comprehensive developmental guidance and
counseling program that includes Guidance Curriculum, Responsive
Services, Individual Planning, and System Support components. (Texas
Education Code, 33.005)
Standard 2:
Implements a balanced comprehensive developmental guidance and
counseling program that includes Guidance Curriculum, Responsive
Services, Individual Planning, and System Support components. (Texas
Education Code, 33.005)
Standard 3:
Evaluates and promotes continuous improvement of a balanced
comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program
that includes Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, Individual
Planning, and System Support components. (Texas Education Code,
33.005)
Standard 4:
Promotes the balanced provision of program content areas
(self-condence development; motivation to achieve; decision-making,
goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving skills; interpersonal
effectiveness, communication skills, cross-cultural effectiveness; and
responsible behavior).
Standard 5:
Manages program personnel and/or other program resources.
Standard 6:
Collaborates with school personnel, students, parents, and the
community to plan, implement, evaluate, and promote continuous
improvement of a developmental guidance and counseling program.
(Texas Education Code, 33.005)
Standard 7:
Advocates the school developmental guidance and counseling program
and counselors ethical and professional standards with school
personnel, parents, students, and the community.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
38

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN II: GUIDANCE
Standard 1:
Plans structured group lessons to deliver the Guidance Curriculum
effectively and in accordance with students developmental needs.
Standard 2:
Conducts structured group lessons to deliver the Guidance Curriculum
effectively.
Standard 3:
Involves students, teachers, parents and others to promote effective
implementation of the Guidance Curriculum.
Standard 4:
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of
students and parents to plan, monitor, and manage the students own
educational development including provision of information regarding
post-secondary opportunities. (Texas Education Code, 33.007)
Standard 5.
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of students
and parents to plan, monitor, and manage the students own career
development. (Texas Education Code, 33.007)
Standard 6:
Accurately and without bias guides individuals and groups of students
and parents to plan, monitor, and manage a students own personal and
social development. (Texas Education Code, 33.006)
Standard 7:
Uses accepted theories and effective techniques of developmental
guidance to promote the career, educational, personal, and social
development of students.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

39

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN III: COUNSELING
Standard 1:
Uses accepted theories and effective techniques to provide individual
developmental, preventive, remedial, and/or crisis counseling.
Standard 2:
Uses accepted theories and effective techniques to provide group
developmental, preventive, remedial, and/or crisis counseling.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
DOMAIN IV: CONSULTATION
Standard 1:
Consults with parents, school personnel, and other community
members to help them increase the effectiveness of student education
and promote student success. (Texas Education Code, 33.006)
Standard 2:
Consults with school personnel, parents, and other community members
to promote understanding of student development, individual behavior,
the students environment, and human relationships.
Standard 3:
Collaboratively provides professional expertise to advocate for
individual students and specic groups of students.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
40

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN V: COORDINATION
Standard 1:
Coordinates people and other resources in the school, home, and
community to promote student success.
Standard 2:
Uses an effective process when referring students, parents, and/or
others to special programs and services.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
DOMAIN VI: STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Standard 1:
Adheres to legal, ethical, and professional standards related to
assessment.
Standard 2:
With the assistance of school personnel, interprets standardized tests
results and other assessment data to guide students in individual goal
setting and planning.
Standard 3:
Enhances the work of school personnel and parents in guiding student
goal setting and planning by promoting understanding of standardized
test results and other assessment data.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =
Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
41

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN VII: PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
Standard 1:
Demonstrates professionalism, including a commitment to professional
development.
Standard 2:
Advocates for a school environment that acknowledges and respects
diversity.
Standard 3:
Establishes and maintains professional relationships with administrators,
teacher, other school personnel, parents, and community members.

Rating

TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

42

RATING SCALE FOR EACH STANDARD:

5=Clearly outstanding, 4=Exceeds standard, 3=Meets standard, 2=Below expectation, 1=Unsatisfactory,
NA=Not applicable
DOMAIN VIII: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Standard 1:
Adheres to legal standards including school board policies.
Standard 2:
Standard 3:
Standard 4:
Standard 5:
Standard 6:

Rating

Adheres to state, district, and campus standards, regulations, and

procedures.
Is committed to current professional standards of competence and
practice. (Texas Administrative Code, Rule 239.25)
Promotes and follows ethical standards for school counselors.
Demonstrates professional and responsible work habits.
Uses professional written and oral communication and interpersonal
skills.
TOTAL =
DOMAIN AVERAGE =

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Areas to Address: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

43

Performance Evaluation Form

SUMMARY SHEET
Average
Domain

Domain 1: Program Management

Domain 2: Guidance
Domain 3: Counseling
Domain 4: Consultation
Domain 5: Coordination
Domain 6: Student Assessment
Domain 7: Professional Behavior
Domain 8: Professional Standards

Domain Weight
(add to 100%)

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%

Weighted
Domain
Value

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Summary Evaluation Score (Total of Weighted Values)=

A district or campus may choose not to use the weighted system
For this evaluation period, the overall evaluation of this counselors performance is represented
by the Summary Evaluating Rating in the box above. Copy the Summary Evaluation Score to the
appropriate blank below:
_____
_____
_____
_____

4.5-5.00
3.5-4.49
2.5-3.49
1.5-2.49

=
=
=
=

_____ 1.0-1.49 =

Performance is clearly outstanding

Performance consistently exceeds standards
Performance consistently meets standards
Performance is below expectations; consultation is required, and improvement is
needed in specied areas
Performance is unsatisfactory, and little or no improvement has resulted
from consultation

______________________________________________________________________________
Evaluator signature
Title
Date
I have discussed this evaluation with the evaluator and have received a copy. If I do not agree with
this evaluation, I understand that I may submit a letter in duplicate stating my position A copy is to
be retained by the evaluator and the original is to be placed in my personnel le.

______________________________________________________________________________
Counselor signature
Date

44

Staff Assignments
While the program must be dened and organized to meet the identied needs of students and the established goals
of the program, the assignments of the program staff also must be appropriately dened and organized. Although
school counselors have the primary responsibility for delivery of the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance
and Counseling Program, full program implementation calls for employing a wide range of categories of staff and
distinguishing between their roles. Organizing the stafng patterns and dening their organizational relationships
are also required.
Staff categories. The personnel resources available to a campus or district guidance program vary with the size
of the district and the school/districts commitment to the guidance program. Professional, paraprofessional, and
volunteers from the school guidance department, the school staff, and the district and community are used.
Guidance Department:
Counselors may be assigned to conduct their responsibilities comprehensively (i.e., to fulll all responsibilities
for the counselees in their group assignments). Specialist counselors may be assigned to carry out special
program assignments or to serve special student groups. Special program assignments include guidance
department leadership, crisis team, and building test coordination. Special group assignments include students in
compensatory education, special education, career and technology education, and substance abuse/prevention
programs.
Paraprofessional support personnel are needed to fully implement the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling Program and include secretaries, registrars, career center technicians, and scheduling
clerks.
School Staff:
Administrators responsibilities may relate to the guidance program: provision of responsive services to students
who are having behavior or other problems; referral of students for counseling; provision of system support
to the program and the counseling staff; administration of functions which link to guidance activities (e.g.,
scheduling, testing program coordination).
Teachers may perform such guidance functions as the teaching guidance curriculum, advising in the individual
planning system, and referring students for counseling.
District staff:
Guidance department administrators and supervisors lead and assist in developmental guidance and counseling
program planning, design, implementation, and evaluation. They provide staff development activities through
supervision, evaluation, and in-service training of campus guidance staff. They are responsible for materials and
resources.
Psychological services personnel coordinate and collaborate with counselors to ensure continuity of services
for students with special, psychological needs.
Social Workers and other related mental health specialists augment the guidance program staff. In general, their
services are extensions of Responsive Services.

45

Competence. The responsibilities that various people carry out in comprehensive, developmental guidance and
counseling program implementation must be specically dened. Responsibilities should be appropriate to the
individuals background, training, and competence; for example, guidance department heads should be trained in
supervision of school counselors.
Personnel without school counselor certication should be trained to carry out their responsibilities in the
guidance and counseling program, e.g., teachers trained to be advisors, community representatives trained to be
school speakers, and parent volunteers trained in tasks and parameters of their jobs. They should also be schooled
regarding the needs of students.
Personnel without school counselor certication cannot legally be used in place of certied professional school
counselors, but rather to augment the program. All personnel assisting in the delivery of the guidance program
should adhere to the ethical and legal standards of the counseling profession. Key standards are those regarding
students and parents rights and condentiality.
Stafng patterns. Staff load and/or special program assignments for individual staff members need to be:
supported by a rationale appropriate to student and community needs, and to campus guidance program goals
and objectives;
appropriate to each counselors or staff members program responsibilities;
appropriate to each counselors or staff members training, background, and area of specialization.
Organizational relationships. The guidance department has primary responsibility to implement the Texas
Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program the local board of education adopts as policy.
Personnel without school counselor certication who are active in the program should be supervised by the
professional school counselors.
Within the professional school counseling staff, organizational relationships should be clearly dened. Those
counselors with special responsibilities should be clearly identied. The guidance department head should be
delegated the authority needed to supervise the counseling and guidance department staff.
Mechanisms which facilitate communications between the various members of the guidance program staff need to
be employed; for example, regular staff meetings should be held.

46

Counselor-to-Student Ratios

The effectiveness of the developmental guidance and counseling program is directly related to the
counselor-to-student ratio within the program. The number of counselors needed to staff the program
is dependent on the students and communitys needs and on the goals and design of the local program.
Conversely, the program should be designed to make optimal use of the personnel available, but it cannot
be expected to do more than that. The ratios should be sufciently low to meet the identied, high priority
needs of the students and the school community.
It is clear that the larger the counselors student load, the less individual attention students receive;
the smaller the student load, the more individual attention is allowed for. If the district or campus staff
identies high priority needs of students who require individual or small group attention, the adopted
ratio must reect that. For example, if a high school program deems it necessary to hold individual
conferences to facilitate students individual planning, a ratio of 1:300 might be necessary. The number of
students in a counselors student load who have intensied needs for responsive services dictates lower
ratios. Special needs populations include students who are educationally/economically disadvantaged,
physically/emotionally disabled or abused, highly mobile, dropout prone, and/or migrant.
Ratio recommendations are wide ranging. The American School Counselor Association recommends a
maximum ratio of 1:250. The Texas School Counselor Association, Texas Association of Secondary School
Principals, and the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association have recommended ratios of
1:350. In Section V of this guide, a process for determining legitimate program expectations from a given
ratio is provided.

47

48

SECTION IV
The Scope and Sequence
of a Guidance Curriculm

The Scope of the Guidance Curriculum

As dened in the comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program model (Section II), the
purpose of the guidance curriculum is to systematically assist students develop the skills they need to enhance
their personal, social, educational, and career development. The local guidance curriculum should be designed to
help students acquire age-appropriate knowledge and skills within the scope of the following content areas:

Self-condence development
Motivation to achieve
Decision-making, goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving skills
Interpersonal effectiveness
Communication skills
Cross-cultural effectiveness
Responsible behavior
Implementing a Guidance Curriculum

Full implementation of a guidance curriculum requires a partnership between counselors and teachers. Guidance
may be implemented as a separate subject area as in a specic course, such as Career Investigation at the
middle/junior high school level or be infused throughout the rest of the instructional disciplines. Many guidance
curriculum objectives relate to those already expressed in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS),
outlined in Chapters 110-128 of the Texas Administrative Code.
The Sequence of a Guidance Curriculum
Development of a curriculum sequence entails specifying age-appropriate learnings within each of the content
areas by identifying the following:
1. learning GOALS within each content area;
2. indicators of age-appropriate COMPETENCY development within each goal for grade-spans or for school levels;
3. EXPECTED RESULTS for student attainment for each grade level; and
4. OBJECTIVES for each guidance instructional activity.
While this section focuses on the guidance curriculum component, each activity in any of the four program
components should draw its objective(s) from these content areas.

51

An illustrative example:
CONTENT AREA:
Responsible behavior.
GOAL:
Students will take responsibility for their own behaviors.
COMPETENCY INDICATOR:
In grades 10-12, students will analyze the consequences of unacceptable/irresponsible behavior.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
Students in grade 10 will identify recurrent irresponsible behaviors prevalent on their campus and the consequences
associated with each.
OBJECTIVE:
Each student will list the ve irresponsible behaviors that he/ she is most prone to and the specic school-related
consequences of each.

For the content areas of the Texas Guidance Curriculum, goals and competency indicators are presented for each
of the following grade spans:
Grades Pre-Kindergarten-Kindergarten
Grades 1 - 3
Grades 4 - 6
Grades 7 - 9
Grades 10 - 12
The competency indicators are based on developmental theory and counselors experience, and are geared
toward helping students in the grade spans move through various continuum: from knowledge through analysis or
evaluation, from awareness through application, from interest to appreciation. If, however, students have mastered
a competency prior to the grade span or do not master it during that time, adjustments in the curriculum should
be made.
Appropriate grade level EXPECTED RESULTS for campus or district curricula will vary depending on the needs and
resources of each setting, as will the OBJECTIVES for specic activities. It is imperative that activities are designed
and materials are used that are relevant within the school community served.

52

FIGURE 3
Guidance Content Areas and Skill Levels
Self-condence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
Value their uniqueness
Manage their feelings
Awareness:
With information and
knowledge provided from the
educational, career, and social
environments, students form
perceptions of their relationship
to the environments.

Skills Development:
From the information and
knowledge acquired through
the awareness phase, students
develop the skills to identify
the responsibilities and
behaviors appropriate to
functioning effectively in
each of the environments.

Application:
With their developed skills,
students demonstrate the
ability to handle the demands
of the three environments
and achieve success toward
reaching their goals.

Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
Take advantage of educational opportunities
Identify career opportunities that will allow them to fulll
their potential
Development of leadership skills
Decision-making, Goal-setting,
Planning, Problem-solving Skills
Make decisions
Develop a plan of action
Set goals
Gather information
Solve problems
Manage change
Manage transition
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
Relate well with others
Participate effectively in groups
Develop healthy friendships
Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
Express themselves
Listen to others
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
Respect others as individuals and accept
them for their cultural membership
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation
for differences/similarities
Evaluate how stereotyping affects them
and their relationships with others
Responsible Behavior
Behave responsibly
Take responsibility for own behaviors
Be self-disciplined

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Content Areas and Competency

Indicators For Each Grade Span
Grades Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Self-confidence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
become aware of some of their personal traits
describe themselves physically
Appreciate their uniqueness
identify likenesses/differences between themselves and others
describe what makes them feel good about themselves
Manage their feelings
identify their feelings
become aware of why managing their feelings is important
Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
become aware of what learning is and that they are learners
become aware of what benets are derived from learning
become aware of their learning interests; describe learning that they enjoy most
participate in the school setting in a positive/active way
Take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in elementary and secondary school
become aware of the skills and attitudes needed to achieve in school
describe the school and the adults who are there to help them
participate in school activities
Recognize careers that will allow them to fulll their potential
describe a job they might want to do when they grow up
Develop their leadership skills
take turns as class leaders
Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, Problem-solving Skills
Make decisions
become aware of the choices they make
realize the difculty of choosing between two desirable alternatives
Develop a plan of action
participate in daily planning
become aware of the need to use time effectively
54

 Set goals
become aware that people set goals
Gather information
become aware of different jobs/workers and their contributions to society
Solve problems
dene problem
identify problems
Manage change
describe how they are different this year
Manage the transitions from one school level to the next
describe how their present school environment differs from the one they were in previously
describe how the people who are available can help them when needed
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
become aware that others have feelings
become aware of how others are similar to/different from themselves
demonstrate caring for others
Relate well with others
become aware of their own responsibilities in working with others
become aware of how they can demonstrate respect and/or caring for others
describe their work and play relationships with others
Maintain their personal integrity while participating in groups
express their wants and needs
identify when they are part of a group
Develop healthy friendships
describe characteristics in themselves that enable them to be a good friend
describe characteristics of others they enjoy being with
Function effectively as group members
become aware of how people in a group work together
take part in making group rules
become aware of their responsibilities in the family, school, and community

55

Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
recognize that they listen to and speak with a variety of people
Express themselves
verbalize ideas, thoughts and feelings
express their feelings appropriately
make positive statements to/about others
Listen to others
become aware of the need to be a good listener
recognize that others may communicate differently than they do
listen to others and repeat their ideas
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
express pride in their families
Respect others as individuals and accept them for their cultural membership
recognize that there are different languages
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation for differences/similarities in cultural membership
become aware of the meaning of cultural backgrounds
become aware that friends may have different/ similar cultural backgrounds
Realize how stereotyping affects them and their relationships with others
become aware of the meaning of stereotyping
Responsible Behavior
Behave responsibly
behave appropriately in the various school settings
become aware of school/classroom rules
be able to follow rules and directions and complete tasks
describe areas in school in which they are self-sufcient and in which they are not
Take responsibility for their own behaviors
identify their own behaviors
accept rewards and consequences for their behavior
Be self-disciplined
know and follow the rules

56

Grades 1-3
Self-confidence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
become aware of the importance of liking themselves
describe themselves physically, emotionally and intellectually
identify some of their strengths and limitations
become aware of their personal traits and characteristics that contribute to the uniqueness
of each individual
identify their beliefs
Appreciate their uniqueness
analyze how they feel about their own personal characteristics
demonstrate a positive attitude about themselves
discuss individual rights and privileges
Manage their feelings
recognize their feelings while they experience them
describe why it is important to take care of their emotions
become aware of how they manage their feelings
Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
explain the benets they derive from learning
become aware of the relationship between learning and effort
identify the subject they like/dislike and in which they do well/do poorly
become aware of how their interests and beliefs help motivate them in the school setting
describe what is important/not important to them in school
become aware of the various kinds of tests they take and how the test results can help them set
educational goals
become aware that success and disappointment are a normal part of life and learning (and that we can
learn from our mistakes)
Take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in elementary and secondary school
explain their likes and dislikes about school
become aware of the inuence of school on all aspects of their lives
feel satisfaction from their school achievement
become aware of the school as both a work setting and a place of academic learning and of the
relationship between education and work
become aware that performance in school related to performance in adult roles
Recognize careers that will allow them to fulll their potential
recognize a variety of jobs that people do in their school/community
describe their responsibilities at home and which tasks they prefer

57

 Develop their leadership skills

describe the responsibilities of identied school/community leaders
identify group rules
Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, Problem-solving Skills
Make decisions
describe the steps in a decision making process
describe the ways they make decisions
become aware that some decisions are changeable, some are not
become aware that some choices are made for them and some they make for themselves
Develop a plan of action
describe the steps in a planning process
describe some of the planning they do
develop plans for specic activities
explain that achieving goals requires planning
understand the importance of planning and preparing for their future careers in the world of work
become aware of different methods for using time effectively
Set goals
describe the steps in a goal-setting process
state some personal goals
identify ways they contribute to class goals
Gather information
become aware of the world of work and its components
become aware of the relationship between their personal attributes and the process of choosing a career
become aware of quality of life and its components; identify the quality of life components most important
to them
Solve problems
identify a problem in an uncomfortable situation and describe how they can contribute possible solutions
become aware that to solve problems effectively a systematic process is used/can be used
demonstrate understanding of stress and conict and ways of managing these feelings/ situations
Manage change
summarize what they can/cannot control in their lives
identify changes that have occurred in themselves
Manage the transitions from one school level to the next
nd strategies for feeling secure in a new class or school group
become aware of changes that will occur as they continue through school

58

Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
identify traits and behaviors admired in others
describe how they demonstrate respect for others
identify benets from diversity among people
Relate well with others
acquire skills needed to cooperate, compete, and compromise with others
consider and respect others
understand fair play
express positive attitudes toward social involvement
become aware of how people help each other feel good about themselves
Maintain their personal integrity while participating in groups
identify sources and effects of peer pressure
describe some things that are important to their peers
Develop healthy friendships
describe the processes involved in making and keeping friends
identify persons they care about
analyze what is important to persons they care about and why it is important to them
Function effectively as group members
become aware of the groups to which they belong and other groups that are available to them
become aware that groups have norms / expectations of their members
identify characteristics of different groups
become aware of their abilities and motivations as members of groups
become aware of the skills needed for effective participation in a group
Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
describe listening and speaking skills that allow them to understand others and others to understand them
become aware that good communication skills help people work well together
Express themselves
identify ways individuals express feelings
describe ways to express the need for help
become aware that independent views can be expressed in an acceptable manner
speak appropriately
Listen to others
become aware of and accept/tolerate opinions of others in group discussions
listen attentively

59

Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
become aware that happiness can come from feeling secure in their own family and cultural group
feel pride in their own culture
recognize the traditions/beliefs of their culture
Respect others as individuals and accept them for their cultural membership
respects others as unique individuals
demonstrate awareness of others cultural membership
become aware that others are both individuals and members of cultural groups
become aware of customs and expectations of others cultures
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation for differences/similarities in cultural membership
be aware of the differences/similarities between their own culture and that of others
demonstrate appreciation for the culture of others
Evaluate how stereotyping affects them and their relationships with others
become aware of the meaning of stereotypes
describe prejudicial actions that they have seen
Responsible Behavior
Behave responsibly
know the school rules
understand that school rules are to provide order to enhance the learning environment for everyone
become aware of the differences between acceptable and unacceptable social behaviors in the various
school settings
become aware of their responsibilities in school
become aware of their feelings concerning the school rules
use knowledge of school rules and expectations when faced with choices which could interfere with
learning
Take responsibility for their own behaviors
explain the relationship between rules of conduct and their responsibilities to themselves and others
use behaviors which demonstrate respect for the feelings, property, and interests of others
describe the relationship between behaviors and good/bad consequences
Be self-disciplined
describe situations where they have no control, some control, or almost total control over themselves

60

Grades 4-6
Self-confidence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
demonstrate awareness of what contributes to an accurate self-concept
describe their strengths and limitations
describe the information they receive about themselves from standardized measures of achievement,
ability, and/or interest
review information and their feelings about themselves and determine whether they think their concept
of themselves is accurate
demonstrate understanding of how their school performance contributes to their self-concept
analyze how their relationships with others have affected/affect their self-concept
become aware of some of their beliefs and describe how they contribute to their self-concept
Appreciate their uniqueness
demonstrate understanding that having positive feelings of their self-worth is valuable
demonstrate a positive attitude toward themselves as unique and worthy people
demonstrate awareness of what contributes to their feelings of self worth
describe some of their personal standards
demonstrate understanding of how their personal uniqueness is affected by the educational environment
Manage their feelings
demonstrate awareness of their feelings in various situations
demonstrate skills for handling emotions
express anger appropriately
identify the experiences that create strong feelings
become aware of the need to have time for themselves
understand ways they manage their feelings
identify the situations where managing their feelings is difcult
Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
explain the benets they derive from learning
relate their learning abilities to the subjects they are studying
assume responsibility for their own learning
demonstrate understanding of the importance of giving maximum effort in school
become aware that success and failure are parts of life and learning
identify the subject matter which they like/dislike and in which they do well/do poorly
apply methods for using motivation and interest for the purpose of modifying weaknesses and
limitations while maintaining and improving strengths
express pride in their intellectual accomplishments
apply learned study skills successfully
understand how using a variety of learning styles can improve their school performance
61

 Take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in elementary and secondary school
describe good study skills/habits which contribute to success in school
identify ways they may handle sources of school frustration
demonstrate awareness of the importance of educational achievement to career opportunities
identify educational opportunities available to them in middle/junior high school
identify school subject matter as related to potential careers
Recognize careers that will allow them to fulll their potential
become aware that school is part of the preparation for a potential career
identify the importance of all work that contributes to society
demonstrate understanding of the traditional work ethic
demonstrate awareness of the relationship of leisure time activities, work, and education
describe their quality of life and factors that inuence those qualities of life
Develop their leadership skills
describe the qualities of people they perceive to be effective leaders
recognize their leadership skills and qualities and those of others
describe the consequences of taking responsibility
Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, Problem-solving Skills
Make decisions
dene and explain the importance of each of the steps in the decision-making process
analyze their own skills for making personal and educational decisions
describe how their beliefs contribute to their decisions
describe the skills necessary for making decisions and choosing alternatives in planning for and
pursuing educational and tentative career goals
Develop a plan of action
dene and explain the importance of each of the steps in the planning process
describe how their beliefs contribute to their planning
describe how planning enhances their lives
identify the need for organization and time management skills
understand the importance of planning and preparing for potential careers in the world of work
Set goals
dene and explain the importance of each of the steps in the goal-setting process
demonstrate understanding of the skills needed for goal-setting; construct some personal goals
describe how their beliefs contribute to their goals
distinguish between short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals
Gather information
demonstrate understanding of the purpose and nature of work
apply relevant information they have about themselves

62

 Solve problems
demonstrate understanding of the use of a problem-solving process
demonstrate understanding of their own strategies for problem-solving
describe appropriate methods for managing stress
Manage change
analyze ways they have/do not have control over their environment
identify ways they have control over themselves and their quality of life
demonstrate understanding of changes that have occurred in themselves and in their peers
demonstrate understanding of changes that have occurred in their environment
Manage the transitions from one school level to the next
analyze their thoughts and feelings about the transition to middle school/junior high
analyze the changes they make in adapting to the makeup of the new educational environment
describe how the people who are available can help them when needed
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
become aware that each individual is unique
demonstrate understanding that similarities and differences among people are valuable
evaluate traits and behaviors admired in others
demonstrate understanding of a variety of ways to solve conicts with others
speak respectfully to adults and peers
respect others ideas/opinions/feelings
Relate well with others
specify characteristics in others they like/dislike, appreciate/do not appreciate
recognize how their actions affect others feelings
analyze the importance of helping others/being helped by others
become aware of the skills needed for effective functioning in the home, community, and school
demonstrate understanding of the importance of cooperation
demonstrate understanding of the different ways they interact with peers and adults in different settings
analyze the advantages and disadvantages of working together with others in school and at work
analyze the similarities and differences between cooperation and competition
offer/accept helpful criticism
Maintain their personal integrity while participating in groups
demonstrate the ability to function effectively in groups without loss of personal integrity
demonstrate understanding that peer pressure inuences them positively/negatively

63

 Develop healthy friendships

choose friends consistent with personal belief standards
distinguish between the characteristics of close friends and those persons who are not close friends
demonstrate understanding that, as they meet more people, they develop new friendships
analyze the skills needed to make and keep friends while maintaining their own standards
Function effectively as group members
describe how people depend on each other to fulll their needs
identify their own needs for group afliation
differentiate between the types of groups of which they are members
become aware of the independence and interdependence of the groups of which they are members
become aware of their contributions to their groups
Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
list and dene/describe the basic communication skills
analyze how communication skills affect their relationships with others
be aware of non-verbal communication
Express themselves
use effective communications skills to manage peer pressure
express their feelings clearly and appropriately
demonstrate understanding that independent views can be expressed in an acceptable way
analyze how what they say affects others actions and feelings
express themselves honestly
speak clearly and to the point
express feelings and opinions without offending others
Listen to others
become aware of the differences in the way one listens to and speaks with friends as contrasted with
those who are not close friends
demonstrate concern and respect for the feelings, interests and opinions of others
distinguish between thoughts and feelings of others
analyze how what others say affects their actions and feelings
respect others opinions
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
identify the groups to which they belong because of their background, their family, and their heritage
identify the cultural practices their families appreciate and how they affect their feelings of self-worth
discuss their own culture openly and honestly with others
describe their own cultures customs and expectations

64

 Respect others as individuals and accept them for their cultural membership
become aware that cultural heritages and traditions differ
respect others cultures by referring to their culture appropriately
become aware that others are both individuals and members of cultural groups
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation for differences/similarities in cultural membership
discuss similarities/differences among various cultural groups
be aware of conicts resulting from culture-related beliefs and biases
become aware of how understanding/appreciating differences of heritage help their and others
self-concepts and social relationships
discuss how cultural differences among people relate to the uniqueness of individuals and the
enrichment of the total group
Evaluate how stereotyping affects them and their relationships with others
be aware that they should develop criteria for when to generalize and when not to
become aware of reasons why stereotypes are attached to groups and why this represents faulty logic
understand how prejudicial actions that they have seen are hurtful to individuals
become aware of stereotypes that are prevalent in society
Responsible Behavior
Behave responsibly
adhere to class and school behavioral expectations
Take responsibility for their own behaviors
demonstrate consideration and respect for the feelings, property, and physical well-being of others
become aware that their beliefs affect their behaviors
identify personal behavioral beliefs and those of their basic groups
identify behaviors that illustrate respect for themselves and for others
identify and demonstrate social behaviors which encourage acceptance by others
describe how emotions affect their behavior
recognize that judgments are made on their behaviors and attitudes
Be self-disciplined
maintain control over themselves
demonstrate personal behavior that recognizes human worth and dignity in relating to others
become aware of situations that produce a variety of behaviors

65

Grades 7-9
Self-confidence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
evaluate their progress toward the development of an accurate self-concept
use self-appraisal skills
describe how the way they manage school/learning is an expression of self concept
identify personal learning style
Appreciate their uniqueness
acknowledge, accept, and appreciate uniqueness in themselves
analyze what contributes to their feelings of self-worth
analyze their personal standards
identify their work beliefs
describe methods they use in caring for their physical, intellectual, and emotional health
distinguish between things that are helpful and those that are harmful to their physical, intellectual,
and emotional health
Manage their feelings
describe the benets of expressing their feelings to an adult
describe the benets they derive from taking time for themselves
analyze how they manage their feelings
Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
analyze what contributes to their feelings of competence and condence
analyze the impact on their school performance of their preferred learning style, their study
skills, and habits
analyze the benets they derive from learning
analyze how their current educational performance will enhance/hinder their achieving desired goals
express the importance of developing their academic potential
understand the attitudes necessary for success in work and learning
Take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in elementary and secondary school
identify the schools graduation requirements
describe which of the opportunities available to them in the high school is important to them
describe the variety of opportunities available to them in the school setting
analyze the relationship between educational achievement to potential career opportunities
predict how they will use knowledge from certain subjects in future life and work experiences

66

 Recognize careers that will allow them to fulll their potential

describe the importance of basic skills for achieving desired lifestyle, standard of living,
and occupational choices
analyze past achievements in relation to possible career choices
describe the process of career exploration and planning
identify how their personal interests match with/are expressed through hobbies, extracurricular
activities, initial work experiences, and career choices
analyze societys attitudes and beliefs toward work and their own attitudes and beliefs toward work
Develop their leadership skills
analyze their leadership skills and qualities
analyze when they take/do not take responsibility
Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, Problem-solving Skills
Make decisions
analyze the importance of each of the steps in the decision-making process
evaluate their skills for making decisions
analyze how past decisions inuence present decisions and project how present decisions will inuence
future decisions
accept responsibility for decisions they have made and analyze the consequences
demonstrate understanding of the concept of risk and risk-taking
demonstrate having the skills necessary for making decisions and choosing alternatives in planning for
and pursuing educational and tentative career goals
Develop a plan of action
analyze the importance of the steps in the planning process
evaluate their skills in using a planning process
analyze the impact planning/lack of planning has had on their lives
assess the results of some previously implemented plans
analyze their time management skills and ways to improve them
Set goals
demonstrate the ability to set priorities
analyze goals they have previously set
analyze the consequences of consistently setting realistic/unrealistic goals
describe what they envision as their preferred quality of life
set some personal short- and long-term goals
describe the importance of integrating their belief system into the goal-setting process

67

 Gather information
analyze the information they have about themselves that is relevant to educational
and career decision-making and planning
demonstrate having skills for locating, understanding, and using career information
research potential careers
demonstrate conceptual understanding of the work world
demonstrate understanding of factors which constitute the work world
identify various education/training routes which lead to the work world
Solve problems
analyze the importance of each of the steps in a problem-solving process
expand their capacity to generate alternatives for solving problems
analyze how they manage stress
Manage change
analyze how lifes roles, settings, and events impact their quality of life
identify internal/external factors which have caused their beliefs, interests and capabilities to change
explain the interrelatedness of personal and environmental changes
demonstrate understanding that the future work world may be much different than the present one
demonstrate understanding that a changing world demands life-long learning
Manage the transitions from one school level to the next
analyze/evaluate how changes in the school environment have affected them
describe how the people who are available can help them when needed
explain how they have adjusted/adapted to the high school without giving up their belief standards
analyze how they are managing the transition to high school
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
appreciate uniqueness in others
analyze how differences among people contribute to a richer environment
Relate well with others
understand how to assess relationships
demonstrate the ability to get along with a variety of people
analyze how people help each other feel good about themselves
analyze situations in which they have helped/been helped by others and those in which they have
not helped/been helped
demonstrate social skills with peers

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 Maintain their personal integrity while participating in groups

analyze their ability to handle responsibility and conicts arising from peer group involvement
analyze the importance of their participation in various groups
develop personal criteria for group afliation
analyze the positive and negative effects of group participation
Develop healthy friendships
distinguish between the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy friendships
evaluate the importance of having friendships with peers and adults
analyze the skills they have for maintaining friendships
Function effectively as group members
evaluate how and why people organize to satisfy basic social and economic needs
analyze their strengths/limitations in functioning in groups
identify/list behaviors which help /hinder group cooperation and effectiveness
describe the benets of working with a team to get a job done
Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
analyze their use of the basic communication skills
use listening and expression skills to manage peer pressure
evaluate how listening and expression skills help them to make decisions, set goals, and solve problems
analyze how use of communication skills contribute/hinder a groups progress toward task completion
Express themselves
understand the theory behind assertion
evaluate the effect of expressing appreciation
analyze their skills at interpreting their feelings to others
develop skills needed for appropriate expression of opinions, attitudes and beliefs in groups
Listen to others
appreciate the importance of listening in order for communication to occur
analyze their own ability to listen
manage the emotional reactions of others
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
identify characteristics of the groups to which they belong because of their background, their family,
and their heritage
analyze the cultural practices their families appreciate and how they affect their feelings of self-worth

69

 Respect others as individuals and accept them for their cultural membership
respect the rights of others regardless of their heritage
analyze what respecting others as individuals and as members of cultural groups means to them
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation for differences/similarities in cultural membership
analyze similarities/differences among various cultural groups
analyze conicts resulting from culture-related beliefs and biases
analyze how understanding/appreciating differences of heritage help their and others self-concepts
and social relationships
analyze how cultural differences among people enrich the peoples individuality and the total group
analyze their own comfort in associating with people from cultures different than their own
demonstrate consideration and respect for cultural differences
Evaluate how stereotyping affects them and their relationships with others
know criteria for when to generalize and when not to
distinguish between valid generalizations and stereotyping
analyze how prejudicial actions that they have seen are hurtful to individuals
Responsible Behavior
Behave responsibly
demonstrate understanding that the environment they are in inuences their behavior
discuss the policies and procedures regarding appropriate behavior in the new environment
of the high school
demonstrate understanding that the purpose of school rules is to guide their behavior
evaluate the ways they contribute to the educational environment
Take responsibility for their own behaviors
analyze the consequences of using appropriate/inappropriate behaviors in various environments
analyze how their behaviors affect others behaviors, emotions and decisions
identify how their beliefs affect their attitudes and behaviors
behave so as to demonstrate respect for others
Be self-disciplined
analyze when they do/do not control themselves
analyze their behaviors that express recognition of human worth and dignity in relating to others
analyze how they behave in a variety of situations
compare/contrast the consequences that occur when they are/are not self-disciplined

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Grades 10-12
Self-confidence Development
Have accurate self-concepts
demonstrate acceptance of themselves, including strengths and limitations; analyze/evaluate their
strengths and limitations
describe how the way they manage school/career is an expression of self concept
Appreciate their uniqueness
analyze when they take responsibility for themselves and when they do not
make decisions and plans based on understanding of their unique qualities
evaluate their personal standards
respect their rights
evaluate the benets to them of taking time for themselves
identify their personal limits and boundaries needed for good self-care
Manage their feelings
evaluate how they manage their feelings
Motivation to Achieve
Develop their own academic potential
evaluate the benets they derive from learning
evaluate ways they presently learn and predict how learning may continue in the future
explain what motivates individuals
analyze/evaluate what motivates them
express positive attitudes toward work and learning
evaluate how the use of various learning styles improves their school performance
predict how their feelings of competence and condence will help them in the future
Take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in elementary and secondary school
assume responsibility for meeting schools graduation requirements
predict how they will use knowledge from school in future life and work
explain the relationship between educational achievement and career planning, training, and placement
evaluate how they have used the educational opportunities available in school
Recognize careers that will allow them to fulll their potential
analyze the relationship between career choices and quality of life
understand and appreciate the rewarding aspects of their work
identify personal reasons for their selection of a career
describe how societal needs and functions inuence the nature and structure of work
Develop their leadership skills
recognize leadership qualities in others and in themselves
demonstrate their ability to handle responsibility
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Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, Problem-solving Skills

Make decisions
evaluate how well they use the decision-making process when making real-life decisions
accept responsibility for decisions they have made
evaluate some personal decisions that they have made
demonstrate having the skills necessary for making decisions and choosing alternatives in planning
for and pursuing educational and career goals
Develop a plan of action
base future education/training/employment plans on analysis of their academic experiences
evaluate how well they use a planning process in making real-life plans
describe the steps they need to take in order to attain their post-high school education/training/
employment goals
predict the inuence planning will have on their future
evaluate their use of time management skills
Set goals
assess their ability to achieve past goals and integrate this knowledge for the future
describe the importance of re-using a systematic goal-setting process when revising goals
evaluate how well they use a goal-setting process in setting real-life goals
evaluate the importance of setting realistic goals and striving toward them
evaluate the relationship between goal-setting and planning
evaluate the importance of setting high standards and expectations
Gather information
demonstrate skills for locating, evaluating, and interpreting information about career opportunities
explain how occupations relate to the needs and functions of society as well as their personal needs
analyze the various factors which constitute the work world
analyze the multiple career/educational options available to them upon completion of high school
summarize the relevant knowledge about themselves
Solve problems
formulate their own process for solving personal, interpersonal, and/or situational problems
evaluate their use of a problem-solving process when faced with actual problems
evaluate their ability to manage stress
Manage change
analyze their feelings when wanted/unwanted changes occur
analyze how their beliefs, interests, and capabilities have changed and are changing
analyze how career concerns change as situations and roles change
assess the interactive effects of life roles, settings, and events and how these make-up their quality of life
assess the effects of important events, both those that can and cannot be controlled, upon quality of life
demonstrate understanding of the need for personal and occupational exibility in an ever changing
world
explain how a changing world demands life-long learning

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 Manage the transitions from one school level to the next

predict how they will manage the change in their lives that will occur after leaving high school
anticipate the changes they will experience as they enter post-high school education/ training/
employment
summarize how planning will help them make the transition
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Respect others
relate experiences that demonstrate their ability to empathize with others
evaluate their ability to respect others uniqueness
respect others individual rights
respect others rights in group interactions
evaluate how individual differences contribute to a richer environment
Relate well with others
evaluate how people help each other feel good about themselves
identify their social behaviors which allow them to function effectively with others
analyze cooperative and competitive relationships/situations
evaluate their behaviors toward others and decide which are effective in interpersonal relationships
and which need improvement
predict the role(s) of relationships in their adult lives
Maintain their personal integrity while participating in groups
demonstrate their ability to manage conicts arising from peer group involvement
Develop healthy friendships
evaluate the effectiveness of their friendships
explain (1) why they appreciate friendships, (2) how effective friendships are maintained
predict how friendships will contribute to their life in the future
Function effectively as group members
evaluate their basic group afliations
analyze the role(s) they play in various groups
evaluate group dynamics
Communication Skills
Understand basic communication skills
analyze how beliefs affect interpersonal communication
develop the communication skills needed for participating effectively within group settings
analyze how they use communication skills to improve their mental health
evaluate their and others use of communication skills in problem situations

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 Express themselves
have a variety of ways to express themselves
interpret their feelings
use assertion skills
Listen to others
understand and communicate their understanding of what another person has said
use reective listening skills
interpret feelings shared by friends
Cross-cultural Effectiveness
Appreciate their own culture
evaluate their participation in groups to which they belong because of their background, their family,
and their heritage
evaluate their cultures practices and how they affect their feelings of self worth
Respect others as individuals and accept them for their cultural membership
assess their beliefs regarding the rights of others regardless of their heritage
evaluate how respecting others as individuals and as members of cultural groups enhances
interpersonal relationships
Relate effectively with others based on appreciation for differences/similarities in cultural membership
manage conicts resulting from culture-related beliefs and biases
evaluate their own role in conicts resulting from culture-related beliefs and biases
evaluate how appreciating their own heritage enhances their self-concept and social relationships
analyze their own comfort in associating with people from cultures different than their own
Evaluate how stereotyping affects them and their relationships with others
evaluate their own culture-descriptive generalizations about themselves and others
evaluate the impact of stereotyping
evaluate stereotypes they still hold; describe former stereotypes and how they have changed
evaluate how prejudicial actions that they have seen are hurtful to individuals

74

Responsible Behavior
Take responsibility for their own behaviors
assess how taking responsibility for their own actions enhances their lives
analyze the consequences of unacceptable/irresponsible behavior
understand the tendency toward reciprocity of behavior between individuals
articulate a personal theory of why people behave the way they do
accept responsibility for adhering to the goals of the basic group
Be self-disciplined
evaluate the benets of being self-disciplined
maintain self-discipline and rational behavior in dealing with emotional conicts and stress

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76

SECTION V
A Process for Implementing a
Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance
and Counseling Program

FIGURE 4

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

79

A Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program Model in a district or school must be
designed to meet locally identied needs and goals and to make optimal use of available resources. Implementing a
developmental guidance and counseling program means different things depending on situations at the local level;
it might mean developing a new program, strengthening an existing program, or redirecting existing resources
into a revamped program. A process for tailoring the program model to suit a local situation is outlined in this
section. The process is presented as a Program Development Cycle which requires ve separate steps organizing,
planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating. These steps are illustrated and highlighted.
Each of the suggested steps is important and should be taken; however, varying the order or taking some steps
simultaneously may better suit a districts or schools needs. An outline of the steps is presented rst followed by a
brief description of each step.
The Program Development Cycle
1. ORGANIZING
a. Commit to action
b. Identify leadership for the program improvement efforts
2. PLANNING
a. Adopt the developmental guidance and counseling program model and the program development
process to be used
b. Assess the current program
3. DESIGNING
a. Establish the desired program design
b. Publish the program framework
c. Plan the transition to the desired program
d. Develop and implement a master plan for changed implementation
4. IMPLEMENTING
a. Make program improvements
b. Make appropriate use of the school counselors competencies
5. EVALUATING
a. Evaluate the developmental guidance and counseling program

80

FIGURE 5

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

Figure Summary
1. ORGANIZING
a. Commit to action
b. Identify leadership for the program improvement efforts

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1. Organizing
a. Commit to action
For change to occur, a commitment to action must be made by both administrative and counselor leaders.
If district-wide changes are sought, the school board, the school districts top-level management, and the
guidance staff must support the efforts and decisions that will cause changes. If building-level changes are
sought, the principal and the counselors must concur that improvement is desirable. In order to implement
the process the outline follows, counselors and their administrators must have made a decision to study and
improve the guidance program.
If there are as yet no counselors at a local site, the administrator may be forced to lead the efforts alone. It
may be advisable for the school/district to invite an available guidance and counseling resource person to
assist: counselor educators from universities or guidance consultants from the educational service centers
or the Texas Education Agency.
b. Identify leadership for the program improvement efforts
Those who will be most affected by the potential changes and those who have an investment in the guidance
program should lead the program improvement process.
A steering committee must be formed , as directed by TEC 33.005, to guide the guidance program development process, to make recommendations about the program that would be best for the district/school, and
to lead implementation of the suggested program improvements.
At the district level, the steering committee should include central ofce administrators of instruction and
guidance, the superintendent or a designee, and administrators of special programs who use or support
the guidance program (e.g., career and technology, special and/or compensatory programs). At the district
level, campus counselors and principals should be represented as well. All of the counselors and some of
the other administrators should be involved in task groups as the program development process unfolds. At
the building level the site-based committee should include the principal, the counselor(s), teacher-leaders,
other specialists, parents and students.

82

FIGURE 6

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

Figure Summary
2. PLANNING
a. Adopt the developmental guidance and counseling program model and the program development
process to be used
Study the program model, including the content areas
Select locally appropriate content areas and goals
Develop locally appropriate statements of
denition
rationale
underlying assumptions
Understand the four components which comprise the delivery system:
guidance curriculum
responsive services
individual planning
system support
Plan the program development process
b. Assess the current program
Conduct a thorough assessment of the current program
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2. Planning
a. Adopt the developmental guidance and counseling program model and the program development process
to be used.
The program model described in Section II needs to be well understood by those charged with the
responsibility of designing its implementation in the local setting.
1) Study the program model, including the content areas
Steering committee members should study the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and
Counseling Program Model; its philosophical basis and the model for organization of the delivery system
(the 4 components).
2) Select locally appropriate content areas and goals
This step begins the process of specifying locally relevant content for the local guidance program. The
Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program model suggests seven content
areas as the foundation for the program. These provide a baseline for specifying local guidance program
content.

Self-condence
Motivation to achieve
Decision-making, goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving skills
Interpersonal effectiveness
Communication skills
Cross-cultural effectiveness
Responsible behavior

Some suggested related goals and competency indicators for each grade span are presented in
Section IV. As guidance program development efforts get underway, a thorough understanding of
the broad scope of the program goals, competencies and outcomes for student achievement is needed.
Adoption or adaptation of the Scope and Sequence presented in Section IV or creation of a new one is
appropriate. In this process, specic outcomes and objectives will be determined, based on the priorities
established for the program.
3) Develop locally appropriate statements of
denition
rationale
underlying assumptions
The program denition includes identication of the populations to be served through the program
(students, parents, teachers, administrators), the basic content of the program (content areas and goals),
and the organization of the program delivery system (guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual
planning system, and system support).

84

FIGURE 7

Rationale

Assumptions

Definition

Guidance
Curriculum

Responsive
Services

Individual
Planning

85

System
Support

The rationale for the program results from understanding the students and communitys needs. At the district
level these may be generalized; at the campus level, they will be more specic. At this point, assessments of needs
may be made by professional judgment, by opinions provided by representatives of the school community, and by
the priorities of the current program.
The rationale for enhancing the guidance program may also be included. Statements about the problems with the
current approach to guidance and counseling and the anticipated benets of a different approach can be made.
The assumptions which undergird the operation of the program need to be made clear. These might include
recognition of the school counselors professional training, background, and competencies, in addition to their
teaching experience. A statement should be included as to the basic contributions that the guidance program and
the school counselors make to students growth and development.
The conditions required for effective implementation should be spelled out. The resources required for effective
program implementation should be outlined. In planning to implement a developmental guidance and counseling
program for a campus or district, the parameters for appropriations of resources should be stated. Knowing the
resources currently available makes the design process more realistic; it also provides the baseline from which to
seek expanded resources, if needed. Resources include:

guidance department staff

administrative commitment
parents
program and staff development opportunities
business partners
community resources
budget
materials, supplies, and equipment
facilities

The rationale and assumptions behind the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling
Program model are provided in Section I: The Basis for the Texas Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance
and Counseling Program.
Understand the four components which comprise the delivery system:
guidance curriculum
responsive services
individual planning
system support
In order to design a locally relevant program, it is imperative that the program development leaders understand
the denitions of the components, as described in Section II, The Texas Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling Program model. The program components also need to be understood by the groups
represented by the steering committee so that their input may be solicited at critical points in the program
improvement process. One of the responsibilities of the program development leaders is to educate their
constituents regarding the program model and, ultimately, the implementation plans.
Anticipate the process and timeline that program renovation will entail

86

Although they will be committed to working to ensure that the right design is established, that the needed
changes are made, planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating an improved program requires time and
hard work. The committee members need to be aware of the process from the outset. To design or re-design
a developmental guidance and counseling program, the timeframe should be anticipated in the four phases as
follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Organizing and Planning

Designing
Begin Improved Implementation
Begin Evaluation

The actual length of time it will take to complete each of the phases depends on the size of the program being
developed and the resources available to do the program development work. In large districts, the process has
taken as much as a year per phase; in small units (e.g., one campus or a small district), less time is required if
the resources are committed to the process.
b. Assess the current program
Conduct a thorough study of the current program
Whether the program development effort is being conducted to create a new program or to strengthen
or redirect an existing program, this step must be taken. Even in schools or districts without counselors,
guidance is provided for students.
This step entails determining the actual design of, the established priorities in, and the resources available to the
current guidance program. Begin with a study of the written guidance plan and of the actual implementation of
the program. Data should be gathered in light of the developmental guidance and counseling program model
to facilitate comparison with data describing the desired program design. That is, identify the allocation of
resources to each of the four program components and the priorities established within each component.
These data also facilitate the identication of resources currently allocated to the program, and are also useful
as improvement decisions are made.
This can be accomplished with a needs assessment given to survey the needs and attitudes of parents, students,
teachers, administrators, business partners and the community. Through this data, the input is gathered and
utilized to design an appropriate program.
Examples of useful data to be gathered and analyzed.
Useful Data

Data Collection Method

Results attained
Activities conducted
Populations served (e.g., students, parents, teachers, other school staff)
Use of counselors time and talent
Responsibilities of other personnel
Budget
Materials & Equipment
Facilities

Activity review
Activity review
Survey
Time/task study
Job descriptions
Budget study
Inventory
Inventory

87

FIGURE 8

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

Figure Summary
3. DESIGNING
a. Establish the desired program design
Assess student and community needs
Dene the program specically and set priorities
Quantify the desired program balance
b. Publish the program framework
c. Plan the transition to the desired program.
Compare/contrast the current program with the desired program both quantitatively and qualitatively
Establish goals for change
d. Develop and implement a master plan for changed implementation

88

3. Designing
a. Establish the desired program design
Assess student and community needs
This step is the center of the local program development process
The design for the local program should be based on a knowledge of the students and communitys needs
and in consideration of the current and potential resources available for program implementation. Data
that are useful here are those gathered in the campus and district improvement planning process. Student
data to be gathered in the development of campus improvement plans include:
Demographic data:
ethnicity, language, socioeconomic scale, economic disadvantage, mobility rate, special program
enrollments, parental levels of education, single parents, neighborhood makeup, immigration patterns,
homelessness
Student achievement data:
test scores, mastery of essential elements, dropout rate, promotions/retentions, patterns of student
grades
Student conduct data:
discipline, attendance, participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities, follow-up studies
Dene the program specically and set priorities
Quantitative and qualitative design decisions need to be made. The quantitative design states numerically
what the shape of the program should be. It depicts the quantity of resources that should be allocated to
each component, to each content area, to each subset of populations served; it typically speaks to the use
of the counselors time.
The qualitative design describes the substance of each of the program factors; specically, to design the
program qualitatively, the following must be stated:
Component:
descriptive denition for each; statement of priorities within each
Content:
competencies, outcomes and objectives; priorities established for each grade level
Populations:
students/category (e.g., developmental, prevention, intervention), adults (e.g., teachers,
parents, administrators, other specialists); priorities for service established

89

Staff Responsibilities:
staff/category and competencies; priorities established for use of competencies
Activities:
list of specic activities/components that represent the minimum level of service
Preliminary activities are essential to establishing program priorities. A suggested format for determining
priorities is presented.
Preliminary Activities
Student Competency Development
List needed student competencies.
Specify expected student results

Program Priorities
Establish priorities for content domains and
student goals, expected results by grade span,
outcomes by grade level

Program Balance
Dene the student and adult populations
served

Establish priorities for populations served:

students and adults

Determine the desired balance

between program components

Establish priorities for program delivery

Specify minimum expectations for

activities done within each component

Establish priorities within each component:

curriculum: most needed
results by grade level
responsive services: most
relevant, recurrent topics
individual planning: most timely
results/activities at priority grade levels

Counselors Responsibilities
Re-dene/reafrm counselors job descriptions

system support: most

needed activities and programs
making best use of counselors
professional skills
Establish priorities for best use
of the counselors skill time
Establish priorities for others skill time

Re-dene/reafrm job descriptions of other

guidance program personnel

90

 Quantify the desired program balance

Philosophical priorities are implemented through the allocation of resources. Resources are nite and
it seems that students, parents, teachers, and others needs for the services are innite. Thus, it is
important to establish a concrete and measurable guide for the allocation of often scant guidance program
resources. Graphs in Section II of this guide provide the recommendations regarding program balance
and a worksheet for displaying decisions made at the local level.
The quantitative design provides the program parameters. This design brings together the
counselor-to-student ratio and the allocation of program resources. At the end of this subsection samples are
provided which exemplify the impact of ratio and program resource allocation on program implementation.
Examples illustrate what can be expected at the elementary, middle/junior high, and high school levels
from counselors with student loads of 1:350, 1:500 and 1:1000, in implementation of the recommended
program balance.
b. Publish the program framework
The district-wide program description provides a framework for the development of individual campus
programs. The campus program should be designed to meet identied local needs within the district
framework. At the building level, the local program description and design should be in written form. Sections
II, III, and IV of this guide provide the framework for the State program. The document should include the
rationale, assumptions, and denition of the program, describe the qualitative and quantitative designs of the
program, and the job descriptions for the various guidance program staff members. The more concrete it is,
the more useful it is to all staff involved in the guidance program. It replaces its predecessor, the guidance
program plan. The substeps in this step are self-explanatory:

Write
Print
Get administrative/Board approval
Distribute*

c. Plan the transition to the desired program

Compare/contrast the current program with the desired program both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Through the data collected regarding the current program, quantitative information is available about
the program balance and about the use of counselors time. Qualitative information is available about the
students served, the outcomes attained, and about the use of counselors talent. Through the designing
process, comparative information has become available. The gaps between the two programs (the actual
and the envisioned) need to be identied. The graphs in Section II provide a means for displaying the
quantitative designs of both the current program and the desired program designs. Comparing and
contrasting the qualitative designs should be done also.
* Distribute to counselors, teachers, parents, principals, others with an interest/investment in the
guidance program.
91

 Establish goals for change.

It is in the areas where there are contrasts between the current and the desired program designs that goals
for change are needed. The goals will emerge in both the quantitative and the qualitative comparisons.
These goals, when met, should mean the program has become the envisioned program.
d. Develop and implement a master plan for changed implementation
List tasks to be done to attain implementation.
Identify allocated or additional human, nancial and/or political resources needed to effect changes, for
example, improvements in:
Human Resources
Counselor-to-student ratios
Clerical assistance
Other professional personnel
Financial Resources
Supplies, materials, and equipment budgets
Facilities development
Extended contracts; improved salaries
Funding for special emphases
Political Resources
Advisory committee
Updated policies and procedures
Develop a realistic time line for accomplishing the tasks and meeting the resource needs.
This time frame may entail short- and long-term goals, e.g.,
1-Year Plan
3- Year Plan
5-Year Plan

92

FIGURE 9

Sample Quantied Program

Designs High School (Grades 9 - 12)
Bringing Together Program Balance Percentages
+ Counselor: Student Ratios
ASSUMPTIONS:
Average class size: 1:25
Average teacher: student ratio = 1:20
55-minute periods
7 periods/day (activity slots)
35 slots/week = 100 percent of student access time
DESIRED PROGRAM BALANCE:
Guidance Curriculum
Responsive Services
Individual Planning
System Support

20 percent
31.4 percent
31.4 percent
17.1 percent

STUDENT LOAD RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 350 STUDENTS

Guidance Curriculum:
350/25 = 14 classes of students in student load
14 classes/8 activity slots = .6 lessons per week
1.75 weeks for 1 lesson @
3 + lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
6 slots for groups of 9
= 54
5 slots for individuals Total = 5
= 59 students =16.8 percent/350
Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):
10 slots/week x 36 weeks = 360 slots/year (19800 minutes)
19800/350
= 56 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio

= 1:17.5

ANY STUDENT LOAD:

Individual Planning:
10 activity slots/week x 36 weeks = 360 slots/year
360/4 grade levels = 90 activity slots grade level/year
90/6 6-weeks = 15 activity slots/grade level/6 weeks
System Support:
6 activity slots/week = 330 minutes/week = 66 minutes/day
93

7 Activity Slots
11 Activity Slots
11 Activity Slots
6 Activity Slots

Figure 9 (Continued)
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 500 STUDENTS
Guidance Curriculum:
500/25 = 20 classes of students in student load
20 classes 8 activity slots =
.4 lessons per week
2.5 weeks for 1 lesson @
2 + lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
6 slots for groups of 9
5 slots for individuals
Total

= 54
= 5
= 59 students=1l.8 percent/500

Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):

10 slots/week x 36 weeks
= 360 slots/year (19800 minutes)
19800/500
= 39 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:25
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 1000 STUDENTS
Guidance Curriculum:
1000/25 = 40 classes of students in student load
40 classes/8 activity slots
= .2 lessons per week
5 weeks for 1 lesson @
1 + lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
6 slots for groups of 9
5 slots for individuals
Total

= 54
= 5
= 59 students = 5.9 percent/lOOO

Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):

10 slots/week x 36 weeks = 360 slots/year (19800 minutes)
19800/1000
= 19.8 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:50

94

FIGURE 10

Sample Quantied Program Designs

Middle School/Junior High (Grades 6 - 8)
Bringing Together Program Balance Percentages
+ Counselor: Student Ratios
ASSUMPTIONS:
Average class size: 1:25
Average teacher: student ratio = 1:20
45 minute periods
8 periods/day (activity slots)
40 slots/week = 100 percent of student-access time
DESIRED PROGRAM BALANCE:
Guidance Curriculum
Responsive Services
Individual Planning
System Support

35 percent
35 percent
20 percent
10 percent

COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 350 STUDENTS

Guidance Curriculum:
350/25 = 14 classes of students in student load
14 classes/14 activity slots = 1 lesson per week
1 week for 1 lesson @
6 lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
7 slots for groups of 8
7 slots for individuals
Total

= 56
= 7
= 63 students = 18 percent/350

Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):

8 slots/week x 36 weeks = 288 slots/year (12960 minutes)
12960/350
= 37 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:17.5
ANY STUDENT LOAD:
Individual Planning:
8 activity slots/week x 36 weeks = 288 slots/year
288/3 grade levels = 96 activity slots/grade level/year
96/6 6-weeks = 16 activity slots/grade level/6 week
System Support:
4 activity slots/week = 180 minutes/week = 36 minutes/day
95

14 Activity Slots
14 Activity Slots
8 Activity Slots
4 Activity Slots

FIGURE 10 (continued)
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 500 STUDENTS
Guidance Curriculum:
500/25 = 20 classes of students in student load
20 classes/14 activity slots = .7 lessons per week
1.5 weeks for 1 lesson @
4 lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
7 slots for groups of 8
7 slots for individuals
Total

= 56
= 7
= 63 students=12.6 percent/500

Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):

8 slots/week x 36 weeks = 288 slots/year (12960 minutes)
12960/500
= 25 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:25
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 1000 STUDENTS
Guidance Curriculum:
1000/25 = 40 classes of students in student load
40 classes/14 activity slots =
.35 lessons per week
3 weeks for 1 lesson @
2 lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
7 slots for groups of 8
7 slots for individuals
Total

= 63
= 7
= 63 students = 6.3 percent/1000

Individual Planning (-traditional 1:1 model):

8 slots/week x 36 weeks = 288 slots/year (12960 minutes)
12960/1000
= 12 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:50

96

FIGURE 11

Sample Quantied Program Designs

Elementary School (Grades Pre-K - 5)
Bringing Together Program Balance Percentages
+ Counselor: Student Ratios
ASSUMPTIONS:
Average class size: 1:22
Average teacher: student ratio = 1:20
30 minute activity slots
14 activity slots/day
70 slots/week = 100 percent of student access time
DESIRED PROGRAM BALANCE:
Guidance Curriculum
Responsive Services
Individual Planning
System Support

40 percent
40 percent
10 percent
10 percent

COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 350 STUDENTS

Guidance Curriculum:
350/22 = 16 classes of students in student load
16 classes/28 activity slots = 1.75 lessons per week
Responsive Services:
14 slots for groups of 7 or 8
14 slots for individuals
Total

= 108
= 14
= 122 students = 35 percent/350

Individual Planning:
7 slots/week x 36 weeks = 252 slots/year (7560 minutes)
7560/350
= 21 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:17.5
ANY STUDENT LOAD:
Individual Planning:
7 activity slots/week x 36 weeks = 252 slots/year
252/5 grade levels (1-5) = 50 activity slots/grade level/year
50/6 6-weeks = 8 activity slots/grade level/6 weeks
System Support:
7 activity slots/week = 210 minutes/week = 42 minutes/day

97

28 Activity Slots
28 Activity Slots
7 Activity Slots
7 Activity Slots

FIGURE 11 (continued)
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 500 STUDENT
Guidance Curriculum:
500/22 = 23 classes of students in student load
23 classes/28 activity slots = 1.2 lessons per week
Responsive Services:
14 slots for Groups of 7 or 8
14 slots for individuals
Total

= 108
= 14
= 122 students = 24 percent/500

Individual Planning:
7 slots/week x 36 weeks = 252 slots/year (7560 minutes)
7560/500
= 15 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:25
COUNSELOR-STUDENT RATIO: 1 COUNSELOR: 1000 STUDENTS
Guidance Curriculum:
1000/22 = 45 classes of students in student load
45 classes/28 activity slots = .6 lessons per week
1 + weeks for 1 lesson @
3+ lessons per 6 weeks
Responsive Services:
14 slots for groups of 7 or 8
14 slots for individuals
Total

= 108
= 14
= 122 students =12 percent/1000

Individual Planning:
7 slots/week x 36 weeks = 252 slots/year (7560 minutes)
7560/1000
= 7.6 minutes/student/year
System Support:
Counselor-Teacher ratio = 1:50

98

FIGURE 12

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

Figure Summary
4. IMPLEMENTING
a. Make program improvements
Systematize the improvement process
Design high priority activities
b. Make appropriate use of the school counselors competencies
Emphasize the appropriate job description
Provide staff development for counselors, teachers, parents, administrators and others
Evaluate counselors based on their performance
Encourage professional growth

99

4. Implementing
a. Make program improvements
Systematize the improvement process.
An annual planning process is a useful way to keep energies focused on program improvement and to assist
in monitoring changed program implementation.
Guidance Program Improvement Plans which address the established goals, can stand alone or be
included as part of the school improvement plans.
Annual Program Plans should be established for the implementation of the guidance and counseling
program. Yearly, monthly, and weekly calendars provide for the delivery of the developmental guidance
program as well as counseling services and help to ensure proper program balance.
Design-needed, high-priority activities.
With newly established priorities and evidenced gaps in program delivery, activities will need to be developed
and conducted in improvement/expansion of the guidance program. These new activities should be:

carefully planned,
based on the needs assessment information and the program goals, and
have clearly stated objectives which guide students toward desired outcomes.

b. Make appropriate use of the school counselors competencies

Emphasize the appropriate job description necessary to conduct the developmental guidance and counseling
program (Step 5; & Section III).
Provide staff development for counselors.
Include other guidance program personnel to enhance their ability to deliver the developmental guidance and
counseling program. Some demands on school counselors expertise are emphasized in the developmental
guidance and counseling program. Opportunities should be provided to assist counselors and others to
renew/upgrade their knowledge and skills in the following areas, for example:

group counseling with adolescents

career development assistance
systematic consultation with parents and teachers
curriculum development
evaluation
special populations: substance abusers, potential and recovered dropouts, adolescent parents
gang pressures/involvement
harassment issues
0
10

 Evaluate counselors based on their performance within the developmental guidance and counseling program
and according to their specic job assignment (Section VI). Administrators should also be held accountable
for their management of the developmental guidance and counseling program and evaluation of the
performance of the guidance staff.
Encourage professional growth.

1
10

FIGURE 13

Organizing

Evaluating

Program
Development
Cycle
Implementing

Planning

Designing

Figure Summary
5. EVALUATING
a. Evaluate the developmental guidance and counseling program
Evaluate the changes made
Evaluate the program design
Evaluate the implementation
Evaluate the professional school counseling staff
b. Evaluate the developmental guidance and counseling program
Evaluation begins the program renewal cycle. Evaluation will suggest modications that need to be made
and highlight items which should not be changed. Approaches for evaluating the changes made, the design
and implementation of the developmental guidance and counseling program, and the professional school
counseling staff are suggested in Section VI.

2
10

FIGURE 14

Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling
Program Implementation Checklist
Organizing and Planning
Organizing
_________ 1. Administrators, counselors and the school staff commit to action
_________ 2. Form and convene the steering committee
Planning
_________ 3. Adopt the Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program model and the
program development process to be used
Study the program model, including the content areas
Develop locally appropriate statements of
denition
rationale
underlying assumptions
Understand the four components which comprise the delivery system:
guidance curriculum
responsive services
individual planning
system support
Plan the program development process
_________ 4. Conduct a thorough assessment of the current program

3
10

Designing
Designing
_________ 5. Establish the desired program design
Assess student and community needs
Dene the program specically and set priorities
Quantify the desired program balance
_________ 6. Publish the program framework
_________ 7. Plan the transition to the desired program
Compare/contrast the current program with the desired program both quantitatively
and qualitatively
Establish goals for change
_________ 8. Develop and implement a master plan for changed implementation
Implementing
Implementing
_________ 9. Make program improvements
Systematize the improvement process
Specify the design needed, noting high priority activities
_________ 10. Make appropriate use of the school counselors competencies
Emphasize the appropriate job description
Provide staff development for counselors
Evaluate the counselors based on their performance
Encourage professional growth
Evaluating
Evaluating
_________ 11. Evaluate the program
Evaluate the changes made
Evaluate the program design
Evaluate implementation
Evaluate the professional school counseling staff

4
10

SECTION VI
A Process for Evaluating
a Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling Program

Guidelines for Evaluating the

Comprehensive, Developmental
Guidance and Counseling Program
Rationale and Purpose
Evaluation is a critical component of a developmental guidance and counseling program and ensures accountability.
The purpose of evaluation is to determine the value of the program, its activities, and staff in order to make
decisions or to take actions regarding the future. The evaluation will measure the delivery of services (the process
evaluation) and outcomes (product evaluation). This ongoing process provides information to ensure continuous
improvement of the guidance program and gives direction to necessary changes.
Evaluation is a process that includes eight steps:
1. Stating the evaluation questions,
2. Determining the audiences/uses for the evaluation,
3. Gathering data to answer the questions,
4. Applying the predetermined standards,
5. Drawing conclusions,
6. Considering the context,
7. Making recommendations, and
8. Acting on the recommendations.
Counselors and the counseling program play a vital role in assisting teachers and other staff in the integration
of school guidance objectives with other instructional goals and objectives. In turn, the evaluation should be a
collaborative effort among all those involved in the program. Evaluation activities enable counselors and others
to:

determine the impact of the guidance program on students, faculty, parents, and school climate;
know if they are accomplishing their goals;
identify what remains to be accomplished;
identify effective components of the program;
eliminate or improve less effective components of the program;
adapt and rene the guidance program and implementation process;
identify unintended consequences of the program (both positive and negative);
identify other areas that need to be addressed;
establish goals for the counselors professional development;
determine stafng needs and workload adjustments;
determine additional resources required to adequately carry forward the program; and
provide accountability information to educators and the community.

7
10

Basis of the Evaluation

The program denition and design provides clear standards for evaluation of both the program and the staff who
conduct it. The program denition identies the students or other persons and groups served by the program,
identies the competencies acquired as a result of participation in the program, and describes how the program
is organized to help students learn and use these competencies. The denition also dictates the appropriate roles
for the school counselor, and the job description species those roles for carrying out each counselors specic
responsibilities in implementing the program. The design outlines the programs structure and priorities such as
determining who the high priority students are, the primary outcomes to be achieved, and establishing weightings
for resource allocation.
Questions to Be Answered Through Evaluation
In this section, four categories of evaluation questions are suggested as a minimum number for evaluating the
effectiveness of the developmental guidance and counseling program.
1.
2.
3.
4.

How effective have the program improvements been?

Does the program meet the program standards?
Have students become competent in the high priority content areas?
How well are counselors performing their roles?

At the local level, additional questions may be generated.

Considerations for answering the four categories of questions in evaluating the developmental guidance and
counseling program and the school counselor staff are provided below.
1. How effective have the program improvements been?
Program improvement identies the objectives and strategies to be accomplished through implementation of a
list of tasks within an expressed time line. It provides a basis for determining whether the objectives and the time
lines were met. Further, it supports judgements as to the effectiveness of the improvements in attaining goals and
provides the basis for the next set of program improvements.
As a result of designing program improvements, new expectations for counselor performance emerge. These
expectations form the basis for the setting of professional growth goals by school counselors. Similar to
program improvement plans, professional growth plans establish the objectives for developing specic skills or
knowledge, identify the strategies for attaining the objectives, and specify the time lines.
2. Does the program meet the program standards?
A fully implemented and supported guidance and counseling program will have a measurable impact on
students, parents, faculty, and the school climate. Because the evaluation is based on explicitly stated standards,
data collection and analysis will describe the level of implementation of the program, the effectiveness of the
guidance program, and the level of goal attainment.

8
10

The program standards can be categorized into two types: (a) qualitative design standards and (b) quantitative
design standards. Examples of qualitative design standards for each component of the guidance program are:
Guidance Curriculum: The specic curriculum standards to be emphasized, the specic competencies to
be developed, and the age-appropriate results to be reached by students.
Responsive Services: The systematic and timely response to requests from students.
Individual Planning: The listing of activities which facilitate individual planning at priority grade levels.
System Support: The listing of activities and programs which best meet the school communitys needs and
use the counselors professional skills.
Examples of quantitative design standards are the same for each component of the guidance program. The
standards are expressed in terms of (a) the numbers of students/staff/parents served by each program
component, (b) the percentage of counselor time allocated to each component, and (c) the amount of time
counselors use each of their professional competencies.
A data-gathering process is indicated in order to ascertain whether the program standards have been met.
Assessment by pre-activity versus post-activity comparisons, short answer questionnaires, essays, improved
attendance, scores and grades, and improved student behaviors provides quantitative data, while attitude
surveys, verbal feedback, parent and teacher observations, case studies, and checklists provide qualitative data
about the impact of the program.
Data to demonstrate implementation of the guidance curriculum activities might include information about
the guidance curriculum schedule, the number of students and classes which received services, and the
demonstrated competencies achieved by the students. This documentation should not require appreciably more
paperwork than records counselors normally keep of services performed.
Responsive services performed by the counselor might be a tally of students seen individually and in groups,
the kinds of concerns they had, and the number of referrals to other agencies and alternative programs. The
number of parent consultations which were conducted and the kinds of concerns they had such as schedules
and other in-school concerns, family problems, and/or student behavior should also be collected. Information
regarding student and/or parent satisfaction and time lapse between request and follow-through is useful in
determining the optimum student/counselor ratio.

9
10

Individual planning can be demonstrated by listing the types of information and activities provided for each
grade level, and the student plans and/or schedules which result from those activities.
System support can be demonstrated by a listing of involvement in schoolwide or districtwide activities
either as a leader or participant, the number of clients served, the kinds of consultation provided and level of
satisfaction, as well as the individual professional development plan developed by the counselor.
3. Have students become competent in the high priority content areas?
Evaluating student competency development in a guidance program is critical to keeping the program efforts
on target and efcient while simultaneously making the best use of the resources available. Effective evaluation
must be carefully planned to include needs assessment and development of goals, targeting competencies,
specifying expected results by grade level and setting objectives for specic activities.
Methods of Data Generation
The measurement of students learning in a guidance program can be done both quantitatively and/or qualitatively.
Data can be gathered both formally and informally. The measurement technique must be appropriate to the
objective being measured.
Learning Domain
Cognitive
Affective

The Measurement Technique

Tests: objective, true-false, multiple choice, matching,
short answers, essays, academic grades
Structured reaction questionnaires, open-ended
questions, ratings, checklists, rankings, multiple
choice, inventories, art work, attitude surveys

Other methods which can be used to gather multifaceted data about student growth include case studies,
pretest-posttest comparisons, participant-nonparticipant (control group) comparisons, goal-attainment scaling,
and follow-up studies.
4. How well are the counselors performing their responsibilities?
Because the quality of the guidance program is inextricably linked with the performance of the school counselor,
counselor performance evaluation is critical to the improvement and maintenance of the developmental
guidance and counseling program. The developmental guidance and counseling program framework also
includes standards for the counselors job performance, expressed in the responsibilities of the professional
school counselor and in each counselors specic job description in the local program.
Using the counselors job description as a guide, a relevant performance evaluation system and instrument
can be used. School counselors should be appropriately supervised. Whenever possible, evaluations of school
counselors performance should be the responsibility of certied counselors or someone specically trained in
school counselor supervision and evaluation.

110

The goal of performance evaluation is for each staff member to reach optimum competence in using their
professional skills. Delineating these skills and using them as indicators of quality performance are critical
to meaningful counselor evaluation. Based on the standards and on observable and measurable behaviors,
counselors performance is rated from clearly outstanding to unsatisfactory.
As with the other kinds of evaluation, the purpose of a counselor performance evaluation system and
the evaluation instrument is to provide the data and the vehicle for drawing conclusions and making
decisions/recommendations/plans. A primary use of counselor performance evaluation is to identify
competencies that are strong and those that need strengthening for each counselor, with the latter becoming
targets for professional growth plans.
A counselor performance evaluation is based on roles and related competencies needed to implement a
developmental guidance and counseling program. The TEA recommended evaluation instrument may be used
and tailored to t the local guidance program and designated responsibilities of the counselors.
Counselor performance evaluation is done as exemplied below.
Evaluation Question: How does this counselors use of relevant competencies rate according to
district/professional standards?
Audience: 1) counselor, 2) counselor supervisor, 3) school system.
Data to Answer the Question: techniques for data-gathering include written reports, calendars (weekly, monthly,
yearly), records and data presentations, questionings, observations (live or recorded), logs, self-reports,
feedback, materials used (e.g., counseling session plans, guidance session handouts), accuracy of information
presented.
Standards: relevant competencies, performance indicators, and descriptors included in the evaluation form.
Conclusions: expressed as ratings and based on the data gathered through the above-mentioned techniques.
Contextual Considerations: (possibilities: new counselors, counselors in new situations such as new schools,
new administrators, and the emergence of new challenges; unique, short-term personal problems which make
the evaluation period unusual).
Recommendations: can be explicitly stated by relating them to performance indicators and descriptors;
improvement needs identied at the indicator level are deciencies; improvement needs identied at the
descriptor level indicate possible performance enhancements.
Plans for Action: are developed as professional growth plans to address needs for performance improvement.

111

Audiences/Uses for the Evaluation

Once questions to be answered by the evaluation have been developed, the next step in the evaluation process is to
determine who will receive the evaluation results and who will use the evaluation results.
The evaluation results should be reported to:
(a) those who have been recipients of the program such as students, parents, and teachers;
(b) those who have implemented the program such as counselors and guidance program managers;
(c) those who have administered or set policy such as administrators, superintendents, school board
members; and
(d) those who have supported the program, either nancially or personally such as taxpayers, volunteers,
and community groups.
Evaluation results should be used to make further program improvements. Counselors and administrators will use
the results to make modications to the program and to compare the implemented program with the program
standards. Administrators and policy-makers will utilize the evaluation to make decisions about the content, quality,
and effectiveness of the services and to allocate nancial and stafng resources for the program. They also will
utilize the information to describe the program to the community or to seek the communitys support for program
improvements.
Conclusion
In summary, evaluation is an on-going process of program renewal. It begins with the development of questions
to be answered by the evaluation and ends with making and acting on the recommendations generated by the
ndings. It:
is based on explicitly stated standards;
uses data to answer the evaluation questions;
draws conclusions after analyzing the data and the context in which the data was gathered;
answers questions about the effectiveness of the whole guidance program and of the four individual
components of the program; and
is the basis for making decisions about future program improvements and directions.

112

Acknowledgements
Guidance Advisory Committee
2004
Dr. Patricia Henderson, former Director of Guidance
Northside ISD and Counselor Educator
University of Texas at San Antonio and
Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio

John Lucas
Guidance and Counseling
Texas Education Agency

Guidance Advisory Committee

1998
Our sincere appreciation to the 1998 Guidance Advisory Committee for their willing and able assistance in the
revision of the guide.
Dr. Carolyn Crawford
Department Head, Counselor Education
Lamar University

Archie McAfee
High School Principal
Plano ISD

Rosella DeAnda
Elementary Assistant Principal
Socorro ISD

Linda Rhone
Middle School Principal
Sabine ISD

Sydna Gordon
Parent
Garland, TX

Sarah Smith
Parent
Austin, TX

Karen Greenwade
President-elect
Texas School Counseling Association

Dr. Larry Sullivan

Superintendent
Texarkana ISD

Dr. Carolyn Greer

President-elect
Texas Counseling Association

Constance Thompson
Director of Elementary Guidance
Houston ISD

Dr. Patricia Henderson

Director of Guidance
Northside ISD

Jesus Vela, Jr.

Coordinator, Guidance and Counseling
Mission ISD

Robin Hightower
Parent
Midland, TX

Melinda Wheatley
Parent
San Antonio, TX

Dr. Hardy Murphy

Assistant Superintendent
Fort Worth ISD
113

Guidance Advisory Committee

1989-90
This guide was developed under contract with the Texas Association for Counseling and Development and written
by Dr. Patricia Henderson, Director of Guidance, Northside Independent School District. A Guidance Advisory
Committee was established to offer input into the development of this document. We wish to express our sincere
appreciation to the Guidance Advisory Committee for their help in developing this document.
Sandra Aikins
Counseling Coordinator
Plano ISD

Bill Lawson
Director of Guidance
Temple ISD

Genevieve Brown
Coordinator of Secondary Education
Sam Houston State University

Carolyn Melton
Past-President, Texas School Counselor Association
Director, Student Assistance Program
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

Della Berlanga
Coordinator for Guidance
Corpus Christi ISD
Sylvia Clark
Vocational Guidance Specialist
Texas Education Agency
Delia Garcia
Assistant Superintendent, Instruction
Fort Bend ISD (retired)
Jeanette Honey
High School Counselor
Abilene ISD
Elayne Hunt
Coordinator of Guidance
Ector County ISD
Jesse Juarez
Junior High School Counselor
Laredo ISD
Richard Lampe
Assistant Professor
Department of Counseling and Guidance
East Texas State University

Mary Martha Miller

Director of Guidance
Los Fresnos ISD
Hardy Murphy
Director, Afrmative Action
Fort Worth ISD
Gail Revis
Director, Elementary Guidance
Houston ISD
Gloria Richards
Director of Guidance
Austin ISD
Martha Salmon
President
Texas Association for Counseling and Development
Executive Director, The College Board
Allen Sullivan
Executive Director, Student Support Services
Dallas ISD
Jesse Zapata
Associate Professor, Counseling Education
University of Texas at San Antonio

The Guidance Advisory Committee of 1989-90 held meetings on November 8, 1989, February 13, 1990, and
February 22, 1990.

114

Bibliography
American School Counselor Association (1997). The National Standards for School Counseling Programs.
Alexandria, VA.
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (1989). Standards for Counseling Supervisors.
Alexandria,VA: American Association for Counseling and Development.
Borders, L.D., and Drury, S. (1989). Review of Literature on Standards and Indicators for the Evaluation of
Guidance and Counseling Programs. In Draft: Quality Assessment Module of the Georgia
Comprehensive Evaluation System. Greensboro, NC: Center for Educational Research and Evaluation,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Borders, L.D., and Drury, S.M.(1992). Comprehensive school counseling programs: A review for policy makers
and practitioners. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70(4), 487-498.
Commission on PreCollege Guidance and Counseling (1986). Keeping the Options Open. New York: College
Entrance Examination Board.
Gerstein, M. and Lichtman, M. (1990). The Best for Our Kids. Alexandria, VA: American School
Counselor Association.
Gysbers, N.C., et.al. (1997). Comprehensive Guidance Programs That Work-II. Greensboro,
NC: ERIC/CASS Publications.
Gysbers, N.C., and Henderson, P. (2000). Developing and Managing your School Guidance Program (3rd ed.).
Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Henderson, P. (1987). A Comprehensive Guidance Program at Work. TACD Journal. 15(1).pp.25-37.
Spring Branch Independent School District (1988). Overview of the Process for Developing Campus
Improvement Plans (CIPs) for 1988-89. Houston, TX: author.
Starr, M.P. and Gysbers, N.C. (1988). Missouri Comprehensive Guidance, A Model for Program Development,
Implementation and Evaluation. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Department of Education.
Texas Association for Counseling and Development (2003). Texas Evaluation Model For Professional School
Counselors (TEMPSC-II). Austin, TX: author.
Texas Comptroller (2002), Guiding Our Children Toward Success: How Texas School Counselors Spend Their
Time-A Report Authorized by S.B. 538, 77th Legislature.
Texas Education Agency (1987). Suggested Guidelines for Campus and District Improvement Plans.
Austin, TX: author.
Texas Education Agency (1996). Texas School Counseling and Guidance Programs, Case Study Report.
Austin, TX: author.
Texas Education Agency (1996). Texas School Counseling and Guidance Programs, Final Study Report.
Austin, TX: author.
Texas Education Agency (2002). Snapshot: 2001-2002 School District Proles. Austin, TX: author.
Texas State Board of Education (2001). The Long-Range Plan for Public Education, 2001-2006.
Austin, TX: author.
Wilson, P.J. (1986). School Counseling Programs: A Resource and Planning Guide. Madison,
WI: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
115

Appendix A:
EDUCATION CODE
CHAPTER 33. SERVICE PROGRAMS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
SUBCHAPTER A. SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS

33.002. CERTIFIED COUNSELOR.

(a)

This section applies only to a school district that receives funds as provided by Section 42.152(i).

(b)

A school district with 500 or more students enrolled in elementary school grades shall employ a counselor
certied under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certication for each elementary school in the
district. A school district shall employ at least one counselor for every 500 elementary school students in
the district.

(c)

A school district with fewer than 500 students enrolled in elementary school grades shall provide guidance
and counseling services to elementary school students by:
(1)

employing a part-time counselor certied under the rules of the State Board for Educator
Certication;

(2)

employing a part-time teacher certied as a counselor under the rules of the State Board for
Educator Certication; or

(3)

entering into a shared services arrangement agreement with one or more school districts to share
a counselor certied under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certication.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276,
6.005(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

33.003. PARENTAL CONSENT. The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt guidelines to ensure that
written consent is obtained from the parent, legal guardian, or person entitled to enroll the student under Section
25.001(j) for the student to participate in those activities for which the district requires parental consent.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, 1, eff. May 30, 1995.

116

 33.004. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

(a)

Each school shall obtain, and keep as part of the students permanent record, written consent of the parent
or legal guardian as required under Section 33.003. The consent form shall include specic information
on the content of the program and the types of activities in which the student will be involved.

(b)

Each school, before implementing a comprehensive and developmental guidance and counseling program,
shall annually conduct a preview of the program for parents and guardians. All materials, including
curriculum to be used during the year, must be available for a parent or guardian to preview during school
hours. Materials or curriculum not included in the materials available on the campus for preview may not
be used.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, 1, eff. May 30, 1995.

33.005. DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS. A school counselor shall work with the
school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement, and evaluate a developmental
guidance and counseling program. The counselor shall design the program to include:
(1)

a guidance curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential, including the
students interests and career objectives;

(2)

a responsive services component to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal
concerns or problems put the students continued educational, career, personal, or social
development at risk;

(3)

an individual planning system to guide a student as the student plans, monitors, and manages the
students own educational, career, personal, and social development; and

(4)

system support to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the
community in promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1487, 2,
eff. June 17, 2001.

33.006. COUNSELORS.
(a)

The primary responsibility of a school counselor is to counsel students to fully develop each students
academic, career, personal, and social abilities.

(b)

In addition to a school counselors responsibility under Subsection (a), the counselor shall:
(1)

participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive developmental guidance

program to serve all students and to address the special needs of students:
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(A)

who are at risk of dropping out of school, becoming substance abusers,

participating in gang activity, or committing suicide;

(B)

who are in need of modied instructional strategies; or

(C)

who are gifted and talented, with emphasis on identifying and serving gifted and
talented students who are educationally disadvantaged;

(2)

consult with a students parent or guardian and make referrals as appropriate in consultation with
the students parent or guardian;

(3)

consult with school staff, parents, and other community members to help them increase the
effectiveness of student education and promote student success;

(4)

coordinate people and resources in the school, home, and community;

(5)

with the assistance of school staff, interpret standardized test results and other assessment data
that help a student make educational and career plans; and

(6)

deliver classroom guidance activities or serve as a consultant to teachers conducting lessons

based on the schools guidance curriculum.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1487, 3,
eff. June 17, 2001.

33.007. COUNSELING REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION.

(a)

Each counselor at an elementary, middle, or junior high school, including an open-enrollment charter
school offering those grades, shall advise students and their parents or guardians regarding the importance
of higher education, coursework designed to prepare students for higher education, and nancial aid
availability and requirements.

(b)

During the rst school year a student is enrolled in a high school or at the high school level in an openenrollment charter school, and again during a students senior year, a counselor shall provide information
about higher education to the student and the students parent or guardian. The information must include
information regarding:
(1)

the importance of higher education;

(2)

the advantages of completing the recommended or advanced high school program adopted under
Section 28.025(a);

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(3)

the disadvantages of taking courses to prepare for a high school equivalency examination relative
to the benets of taking courses leading to a high school diploma;

(4)

nancial aid eligibility;

(5)

instruction on how to apply for federal nancial aid;

(6)

the center for nancial aid information established under Section 61.0776;

(7)

the automatic admission of certain students to general academic teaching institutions as provided
by Section 51.803; and

(8)

the eligibility and academic performance requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by
Subchapter M, Chapter 56, as added by Chapter 1590, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1999.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1223, 1, eff. June 15, 2001.

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Appendix B:
School Districts: Commissioners Rules Concerning Counseling Public School Students

61.GG.

Chapter 61. School Districts

Subchapter GG. Commissioners Rules Concerning Counseling Public School Students
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this Subchapter GG issued under the Texas Education Code, 33.007,
unless otherwise noted.
61.1071. Counseling Public School Students Regarding Higher Education.
(a)
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), 33.007, a counselor shall provide certain information
about higher education to a student and a students parent or guardian during the rst year the student
is enrolled in a high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment charter school and again
during the students senior year.
(b)

The information that counselors provide in accordance with subsection (a) of this section must include
information regarding all of the following:
(1)

(2)

the importance of higher education, which:

(A)

includes workforce education, liberal arts studies, science education, graduate

education, and professional education to provide broad educational opportunities for
all students;

(B)

furthers students intellectual and academic development; and

(C)

offers students more career choices and a greater potential earning power;

the advantages of completing the recommended high school curriculum or higher, including, at
a minimum, curriculum programs which:
(A)

provide students with opportunities to complete higher-level course work, particularly in

mathematics, science, social studies, and languages other than English, thereby:
(i)

increasing students readiness for higher education and reducing the need for
additional preparation for college-level work;
(ii) preparing students for additional advanced work and research in both career and
educational settings;
(iii) allowing students, in certain instances, to receive college credit for their high
school course work; and
(iv) enabling students to be eligible for certain nancial aid programs for which they
would otherwise be ineligible (e.g., the TEXAS grant program);

(B)

enable students to receive an academic achievement record noting the completion of

either the recommended program or higher; and

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(C)

(3)

(4)

(5)

provide students who elect to complete the distinguished achievement program with
an opportunity to demonstrate student performance at the college or career level by
demonstrating certain advanced measures of achievement;

the advantages of taking courses leading to a high school diploma relative to the disadvantages of
preparing for a high school equivalency examination, including:
(A)

the progressive relationship between education and income; and

(B)

the greater possibility for post-secondary opportunities (including higher education and
military service) that are available to students with a high school diploma;

nancial aid eligibility, including;

(A)

the types of available aid, not limited to need-based aid, and including grants,
scholarships, loans, tuition and/or fee exemptions, and work-study;

(B)

the types of organizations that offer nancial aid, such as federal and state government,
civic or church groups, foundations, nonprot organizations, parents employers, and
institutions of higher education; and

(C)

the importance of meeting nancial aid deadlines;

instruction on how to apply for nancial aid, including guidance and assistance in:
(A)

determining when is the most appropriate time to complete nancial aid forms; and

(B)

completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or any
new version of this form as adopted by the U.S. Department of Education;

(6)

the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Boards Center for Financial Aid Information, including
its toll-free telephone line, its Internet website address, and the various publications available to
students and their parents;

(7)

the Automatic Admissions policy, which provides certain students who graduate in the top 10% of
their high school class with automatic admission into Texas public universities; and

(8)

the general eligibility and academic performance requirements for the TEXAS grant program,
which allows students meeting the academic standards set by their college or university to receive
awards for up to 150 credit hours or for six years or until they receive their bachelors degree,
whichever occurs rst. The specic eligibility and academic performance requirements, along
with certain exemptions to these requirements, are specied in Chapter 22, Subchapter L, of this
title (relating to Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program). The general
requirements include:
(A)

Texas residency;

(B)

nancial need;

(C)

registration for the Selective Service or exemption from this requirement;

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(D)

completion of the recommended high school program or higher or, in the case of a
public high school that did not offer all of the courses necessary to complete the
recommended or higher curriculum, a certication from the district that certies that
the student completed all courses toward such a curriculum that the high school had to
offer;

(E)

enrollment of at least three-quarters time in an undergraduate degree or certicate

program within 16 months of high school graduation, unless an allowable exemption
is satised; and

(F)

no conviction of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance, unless certain

conditions are met.

Source: The provisions of this 61.1071 adopted to be effective July 14, 2002, 27 TexReg 6027.

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PUBLICATION ORDER FORM

Date _________________
Remitter Name __________________________________________________________________
Send to (name, if different) _________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________State ___________________Zip _____________________
To place an order for a publication, ll out the information below and make check or money order
payable to: Texas Counseling Association
Price includes postage, handling, and state tax.
Quantity

Title of documents requested

A Model Developmental Guidance
and Counseling Program for Texas
Public Schools: A Guide for Program
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Publication No.
GE4 350 01

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FOR TAX EXEMPT ORDERS ONLY

Make check or money order payable to: Texas Counseling Association
Price includes postage and handling only.
Quantity

Title of documents requested

A Model Developmental Guidance
and Counseling Program for Texas
Public Schools: A Guide for Program
Development PreK-12th Grade

Publication No.
GE4 350 01

Cost
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ORDER, REMIT THIS FORM WITH PAYMENT TO:
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(512) 472-3403
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COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
TITLE VI, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964; THE MODIFIED COURT ORDER, CIVIL ACTION 5281, FEDERAL
DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, TYLER DIVISION
Reviews of local education agencies pertaining to compliance with Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964 and with specic
requirements of the Modied Court Order, Civil Action No. 5281, Federal District Court, Eastern District of Texas,
Tyler Division are conducted periodically by staff representatives of the Texas Education Agency. These reviews cover
at least the following policies and practices:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

acceptance policies on student transfers from other school districts;

operation of school bus routes or runs on a nonsegregated basis;
nondiscrimination in extracurricular activities and the use of school facilities;
nondiscriminatory practices in the hiring, assigning, promoting, paying, demoting, reassigning, or
dismissing of faculty and staff members who work with children;
(5) enrollment and assignment of students without discrimination on the basis of race, color,
or national origin;
(6) nondiscriminatory practices relating to the use of a students rst language; and
(7) evidence of published procedures for hearing complaints and grievances.
In addition to conducting reviews, the Texas Education Agency staff representatives check complaints of discrimination
made by a citizen or citizens residing in a school district where it is alleged discriminatory practices have occurred
or are occurring.
Where a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act is found, the ndings are reported to the Ofce for Civil Rights,
U.S. Department of Education.
If there is a direct violation of the Court Order in Civil Action No. 5281 that cannot be cleared through negotiation,
the sanctions required by the Court Order are applied.
TITLE VII, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AS AMENDED BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACT
OF 1972; EXECUTIVE ORDERS 11246 AND 11375; EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1964; TITLE IX, EDUCATION
AMENDMENTS; REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 AS AMENDED; 1974 AMENDMENTS TO THE WAGE-HOUR
LAW EXPANDING THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967; VIETNAM ERA VETERANS
READJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1972 AS AMENDED; IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT
OF 1986; AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991.
The Texas Education Agency shall comply fully with the nondiscrimination provisions of all federal and state
laws, rules, and regulations by assuring that no person shall be excluded from consideration for recruitment,
selection, appointment, training, promotion, retention, or any other personnel action, or be denied any benets
or participation in any educational programs or activities which it operates on the grounds of race, religion, color,
national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status (except where age, sex, or disability constitutes a bona de
occupational qualication necessary to proper and efcient administration). The Texas Education Agency is an
Equal Employment Opportunity/Afrmative Action employer.

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