School counselors are frequently performing tasks outside their job descriptions, such as building student schedules and coordinating 504 plans, according to a new survey of K12 administrators.
Most K12 leaders agree that school counselors are tasked with supporting students’ academic success, career development and social/emotional development through comprehensive counseling programs, says a new report by the American School Counselor Association. But significant percentages of administrators also noted that counselors in their schools are saddled with responsibilities outside their purviews:
- Coordinating 504 plans
- Building the master schedule for students’ classes
- Coordinating statewide testing programs
- Coordinating paperwork and data entry of all new students
- Providing ongoing individual counseling as part of an IEP
- Maintaining cumulative student files
- Covering classes when teachers are absent or creating teacher planning time
- Computing grade-point averages
- Providing long-term counseling/therapy
- Disproportionate time supervising common areas (lunch, hall, bus, etc.) compared with other staff in the building
- Coordinating schoolwide individual education plans (IEP) 6.9% 7.3%
- Performing disciplinary actions or assigning disciplinary consequences
Still, most of the district and building administrators surveyed said their counselors were delivering a comprehensive counseling program and fulfilling other vital roles, such as making data-driven decisions; working to improve student achievement, attendance and discipline rates; and implementing a college and career readiness curriculum. Most administrators also said counselors were regularly providing individual, small group and family counseling.
“We hope this study sheds more light on the critical importance of the school counselor and administrator partnership,” said Jill Cook, executive director. of the American School Counselor Association. “School counselors’ work directly affects the student outcomes by which schools and administrators are measured. When administrators and school counselors collaborate, student success increases.”
The survey also identified areas where counselors and administrators could collaborate more effectively, particularly around equity initiatives. Administrators believe that counselors are working to identify and close equity gaps but district and building leaders also said that had not had access to evidence that the school counseling program was addressing gaps in achievement, attainment and opportunity.
Finally, a small number of administrators reported filling school counselor roles with other personnel, such as social workers and college advisors. Some respondents said they had done so because of a shortage of school counselors.
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