Comprehensive School Counseling

Comprehensive School Counseling

Published: 3/15/2023 8:58 AM

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​On behalf of the Kentucky Department of Education, welcome to the Comprehensive School Counseling web pages. Within these pages are information, resources and tools designed to assist schools and districts in providing effective school counseling services that improve student achievement and support the needs of the whole child.

On this page, you will find core values for comprehensive school counseling in Kentucky and quick links to many of the tools school counselors use daily to enhance the success of students.
 
The vision behind Comprehensive School Counseling and our work as counselors is to provide access and opportunity to all students; providing effective school counseling services that improve student achievement and support the needs of the whole child ensuring the provision to our community of a college and/or career ready workforce.

Role of a Kentucky School Counselor Defined

On December 17th, 2018, the Kentucky Counselor Standards Advisory Committee convened at the Kentucky Department of Education in Frankfort and defined the role of a KY school counselor as follows:

A school counselor is a certified mental health professional supporting all K-12 students in their social/emotional, academic and career development.  Through a Comprehensive School Counseling Program, counselors provide data-informed, universal and targeted learning experiences to develop the whole child in a diverse society.

School Counselor

Kentucky Framework of Best Practices for School Counselors

School counselors are an important component of K-12 educational leadership teams within Kentucky schools. The Kentucky Framework of Best Practices for School Counselors helps school counselors throughout the state better understand​ what they should be doing in this role. This document also allows for reflection that should be used to improve and expand comprehensive school counseling programs along with the practices utilized by individual school counselors and relates to the evaluation of school counselors, which begins on page 16 of the Kentucky Framework for Teaching for Other Professionals, School Counselors/Social Workers.
​​Kentucky Framework of Best Practices for School CounselorsKentucky Framework for Teaching

Kentucky Multi-Tiered System of Supports for School Counselors

Kentucky Multi-Tiered System of Supports (KyMTSS) is a multi-level prevention system to support student achievement and social-emotional behavioral competencies through an integration of differentiated core instruction, assessment and intervention. School counselors are leaders among the larger schoolwide team to ensure all areas (academic, social/emotional, and college and career readiness) are at the forefront of providing evidence-based MTSS. This implementation document​ aligns with KYMTSS, the ASCA National Model, and the Kentucky Framework of Best Practices for School Counselors to show the school counselor's role and services delivered within the MTSS Model at each tiered level.  ​​
Image to School Counseling Support MTSS
ASCA National Model

 

3 Domains of School Counseling

Academic Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to implement strategies and activities to support and maximize each student’s ability to learn. 

Career Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students 1) understand the connection between school and the world of work and 2) plan for and make a successful transition from school to postsecondary education and/or the world of work and from job to job across the lifespan. 

Social/Emotional Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students manage emotions and learn and apply interpersonal skills.




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Heather Bushelman
Program Coordinator​ for Comprehensive Counseling 
Office of Teaching and Learning
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 892-6555 ext. 4164
Fax: Fax (502) 564-6470


2022 Use of Time for School Reports

Use of Time for School Counselors and School-Based Mental Health Service Providers​

  • Senate Bill 102, KRS 158.4416, has been updated regarding what information superintendents shall report annually by Nov. 1. It includes school counselors, with the addition of any school-based mental health providers. The form and other information may be found within this guidance docum​ent.

Counselor Cadre

​Counselor Connections

2022-2023

​​2nd Annual Kentucky School Counselor Summit Resources


​​20​21 Summit Resources

Race-based Stress and Trauma Resources

Crisis Counseling

​Professional Organizations for School Counselors

Professional organizations for school counselors contribute to the collaborative efforts by school counselors to meet the needs of the whole child.  Each organization is comprised of school and community-based counselors to advocate for the rights and responsibilities of counselors and their desire to meet the needs of students.

Other Resources

​EILA Opportunities

The Professional Learning Bulletin Board (PLBB) provides Kentucky educators opportunities to search for professional learning opportunities offered by the Kentucky Department of Education or other education partners and gain EILA hours. Search the PLBB for professional learning specific to school counseling.​​




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