Program Description
School counselors are highly trained professionals who can assist in a variety of ways to provide students with the opportunities to learn and prepare for their future success. The Comprehensive Developmental Guidance & Counseling Program provides a method for counselors to proactively address the needs of students. The RRISD Guidance & Counseling Program:
- is based on specified goals and developmental student competencies for all students K-12
- is planned and coordinated by school counseling teams in coordination with other school, parent or guardian and community representatives
- uses data to drive program development and evaluation
- is evaluated by a counseling supervisor on specified goals and agreed-upon student competencies
- includes four components: Guidance Curriculum, Individual Planning, Responsive Services, and System Support.
Guidance Curriculum
Consists of a written instructional program that is comprehensive in scope, preventative and proactive, and developmental in design. It promotes knowledge, attitudes, and skills through instruction in three areas: academic achievement, career development and personal/social growth. The curriculum is based on the standards developed by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). Click on these links to view the correlation of ASCA Standards with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Individual Planning
Consists of activities that help students plan, monitor and manage their own academic, personal and career development goals and progress toward them. They may include interpretation of assessments, helping students use educational, personal/family, and career information to develop personal plans of action, and guiding students through processes for college/career entrance.
Elementary Individual Planning
Individual planning for elementary students in RRISD consists of ongoing systematic activities to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans. Counselors coordinate activities that help all students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning and learn skills in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development. Counselors provide guidance units, career activities, and test information all focused on helping students explore their educational, career, and personal goals. Elementary counselors help students make the transition into elementary school and to middle school.
Elementary education and career development activities provide students with an introduction to career awareness. Career awareness includes introducing students to the world of work, developing an appreciation for all work, obtaining a basic knowledge about clusters of different careers, and identifying their interests related to career clusters.
Students may receive individual planning on an individual, small group or classroom basis. Parents and other school personnel are included in these activities.
Middle School Individual Planning
Individual planning for middle school students in RRISD consists of ongoing systematic activities to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans. Counselors coordinate activities that help all students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning and learn skills in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.
Career investigation is the focus in middle school. Students discover their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and work-related values by investigating jobs and career clusters, the relationship of coursework to occupations, and the development of their plan. Students are able to connect their middle and high school courses with future goals, including postsecondary options and skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
Students may receive individual planning on an individual, small group or classroom basis. Parents and other school personnel are included in these activities.
High School Individual Planning
Individual planning for high school students in RRISD consists of ongoing systematic activities to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans. Counselors coordinate activities that help all students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning and learn skills in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.
Round Rock students are encouraged to strive for the most rigorous graduation plan. All students are strongly encouraged to consider education and training beyond high school in order to prepare adequately for jobs that will be both interesting and rewarding.
The career development program at the high school level provides students with opportunities to fine tune their interests, abilities, work-related values, enhance their employability skills, embark on detailed career information searches, and participate in career decision making activities.
Examples of topics within this component are:
- Test score review, interpretation, and analysis
- Career decision making
- Yearly course selection
- Financial aid
- Test-taking strategies
- College selection
Responsive Services
Consists of activities to meet more immediate needs and concerns of students, including personal or crisis counseling, consultations with parents and teachers, and referrals to appropriate community resources.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is provided for students whose personal concerns or problems put the student’s continued educational, career, personal, or social development at risk. Counselors work in confidential individual counseling sessions to help students identify problems, alternatives, and possible consequences so the student can take appropriate action. Individual counseling is short term in nature. The sessions are goal-directed and time-limited. When necessary, referrals are made to appropriate community resources. Students frequently work with their counselor on issues such as:
- Sadness or worries
- Getting along with others
- Feeling hopeless
- Family changes or issues
- Experiencing grief, loss or trauma
Students may self-refer or be referred by another concerned person. Check in with your counselor to determine the best time to work together.
Group Counseling
Group counseling is provided for students who express difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns or normal developmental tasks. The ultimate goal of providing support through group counseling is to enhance students’ academic achievement and personal/social adjustment. Some students request information or help that is best delivered in a group setting or may participate in group experiences for support and skill development. Group counseling may be provided to small groups of students with similar concerns or may include students with a variety of concerns who are working to meet their goals with the group’s support. Activities are planned for each session in order to reach the goals of the members of the group. Six sessions is the usual length of time.
Using a Campus Needs Assessment that incorporates input from teachers, administrators, parents and students, the counselor recommends the students and the student issues which should be addressed through groups on the campus. As much as possible, groups are arranged to accommodate the academic schedule on each campus.
Crisis Counseling
Crisis counseling provides prevention, intervention, and follow-up. Counseling and support are provided to students and families facing emergency situations. In addition to your counselor, Crisis/Support Counselors are available for students experiencing personal and/or emotional problems of a serious nature. Crisis/Support Counselors work with the school community to identify and program for areas of concern for students.
Crisis counseling is usually short term and temporary in nature. When necessary, referrals are made to appropriate community resources. Counselors also provide a key role in the district’s crisis intervention team process.
System Support
Consists of management activities that establish, maintain, and enhance the total guidance and counseling program. Activities may include staff and community relations, program/school-wide planning, and professional development.