The New Vision for School Counselors: Scope of the Work

Work Ready, College Ready, Same Preparation

NCTSC Mission Statement
The National Center for Transforming School Counseling promotes a new vision of school counseling in which school counselors advocate for educational equity, access to a rigorous college and career-readiness curriculum, and academic success for all students. Our mission is to transform school counselors into powerful agents of change in schools to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement for low-income students and students of color.

History of the Center
In June 2003, The Education Trust and MetLife Foundation established the National Center for Transforming School Counseling to ensure that school counselors are trained and ready to help all groups of students reach high academic standards. Initiated at a critical time when states, districts, and schools were raising standards and implementing accountability systems, NCTSC works to ensure that counselors play a critical role in advancing the equity agenda.

Definition of School Counseling

School counseling is . . .

a profession that focuses on the relations and interactions between students and their school environment to reduce the effects of environmental and institutional barriers that impede student academic success. School counselors foster educational equity, access, and academic success in a rigorous curriculum to ensure that all students graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers.

The trained school counselor must be an assertive advocate creating opportunities for all students to pursue dreams of high aspirations. The counselor assists students in their academic, career, social, and personal development and helps them follow the path to success. The school counselor serves as a leader as well as an effective team member working with teachers, administrators, and other school personnel to help each student succeed. The school counselor as consultant empowers families to act on behalf of their children by helping parents and guardians identify student needs and interests, and access available resources.

School counselors must focus attention on students for whom schools have been the least successful—low-income students and students of color. Counselors must concentrate on issues, strategies, and interventions that will help close the achievement gap between these students and their more advantaged peers. School counselors are accountable and measure success by demonstrating how their activities contribute to increasing the numbers of all students completing school academically prepared to choose from a wide range of substantial postsecondary options, including college.

Please click on the documents below for more information about the New Vision for School Counseling.