Educational Counseling

School counselors are authorized to provide education counseling services in grades kindergarten through fourteen. They have a Pupil Personnel Services Credential for Individuals Prepared in California (CL-606C) with a specialization in school counseling. They work with all grade levels as a part of a team of School-Based Mental Health Professionals. These professionals include school counseling, school social work, school psychology, and child welfare and attendance. As part of a multidisciplinary team, school counselors collaborate together as a unified and cohesive component of the larger school system to meet the learning and developmental needs of all students.

School counselors are trained to:

• Establish educational opportunities of equity and culturally responsive practices to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
• Recognize, respect, and utilize each student’s strengths, experiences, and background as assets for teaching and learning.
• Confront and alter institutional biases of student marginalization, deficit-based schooling, and low expectations.
• Provide opportunities to develop an understanding regarding issues of discrimination, implicit bias, social justice, diversity, and knowledge of how they may contribute to, or detract from, school success.
• Increase awareness of mental health programs and services to address barriers.
• A positive school culture and climate can enhance the safety and well-being of all students.

School counselors are stakeholders in school and district level implementation of Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This includes programs such as, Positive Behavioral Support, and Behavioral Intervention Strategies and Supports. Components of a MTSS school counseling program include academic (achievement), career (career exploration and development) and social/emotional (behavior).

For more information about education counseling programs, contact your local school district.

• The Counseling/Student Support - CalEdFacts page provides a more detailed overview of Counseling programs.
• The links and information below were developed for educators and others who operate counseling programs.

College & Career Planning
Provides resources and strategies in college/career counseling to help students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to make a successful transition from school to work.

Research
Provides information on school counseling and student support services program effectiveness in the academic, career, and personnel/social counseling program domains.

Resources
Provides web page links and other resources on counseling and student support services and programs.