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American School Counselor Association

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Description

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, career and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to school counselors around the globe.

ASCA. The Home for School Counselors Since 1952.

Regardless of whether you work in an elementary setting, on a college campus or somewhere in between, the American School Counselor Association is here for you. ASCA works to ensure it meets the needs of all school counselors, regardless of setting, experience level or needs.

With a membership of approximately 43,000 school counseling professionals, ASCA focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs and researching effective school counseling practices.

ASCA Vision
All school counselors implement a school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model that enhances every student’s academic success; college-, career- and life-readiness; and social/emotional development. School counselors and school counseling programs are integral to the mission of every school.

ASCA Mission
To represent the school counseling profession and equip school counselors to create equitable opportunities and inclusive environments that enable all students to succeed.

ASCA Goals
To equip school counselors to implement the ASCA National Model with fidelity:

* Delivering the ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success.
* Utilizing the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies and ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
* Using data to identify student needs, including gaps in achievement, attainment, information, attendance, discipline, resource, opportunity and well-being.
* Addressing equity issues to create equitable opportunities.
* Leading, advocating and collaborating to create systemic change for all students’ success.
* Building a community of inclusion and belonging.

The History of School Counseling
School counseling is 100-plus years old. It evolved shaped by various economic, social and educational forces guided by the work of many individuals. By embracing knowledge from the past, we can learn how school counseling evolved from a position, to a service, to a program. By welcoming the future we can combine the insights gained from the past with new knowledge, enabling us to continue to develop and fully implement comprehensive school counseling programs in every school district in the country.

School Counselor Roles & Ratios
School counselors are highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their career. An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form healthy goals, mindsets and behaviors. With the aid of a school counselor, students learn to develop effective collaboration and cooperation skills, to practice perseverance, to develop time management and study skills, and to learn self-motivation and self-direction habits.

ASCA National Model®
School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs” outlines the components of a school counseling program that is integral to the school’s academic mission and is created to have a significant positive impact on student achievement, attendance and discipline.

Impact of School Counseling
The modern framework for school counseling is the ASCA National Model®, which provides consistency and standardization for school counseling programs across the country. The ASCA National Model® emphasizes the use of data-informed methods to quantify the impact school counselors have on student achievement and success.

Numerous research studies have quantified the impact of school counselors on student development and success, as well as on school climate and K–12 education in general. The ASCA grants program has funded several studies measuring school counselors’ impact on student outcomes, including the effect of student-to-school-counselor ratios. Other studies, published in Professional School Counseling and other literature, support the role of school counselors in student success, including improved ACT and SAT scores, more informed college decision-making, fewer disciplinary actions, improved attendance and more.

Who Are ASCA Members?

ASCA members lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and success for all students by connecting the school counseling program to the school’s academic mission and school improvement plan. They uphold the ASCA ethical and professional standards and promote the development of the school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model.

ASCA members include practicing school counselors as well school counseling students and higher education faculty. School counseling supervisors at the school, district and state level are also members of ASCA.

Membership Benefits & Types
As an ASCA member, you enjoy robust professional development, award-winning periodicals, peer networking and access to countless opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. As the only national organization serving the school counseling profession, ASCA creates and maintains professional standards and serves as the voice of the profession. As a member of ASCA, you join tens of thousands of other school counselors who share a common vision to ensure success for all students. Join now.

Member Benefits
ASCA members receive liability insurance, discounts on publications and professional development and much more. To download a member ID card, login and then click on “My ASCA,” then “My Profile” for a link to print your membership card on the “Overview” tab.

Award-Winning Periodicals: ASCA School Counselor, delivered in print to members bimonthly, offers practical advice, tips and tools addressing the issues school counselors face every day ($90 value). Professional School Counseling, ASCA’s fully digital, peer-reviewed journal advances the profession with manuscripts introducing techniques and evidence-based practices, as well as school counselor theories and concepts ($129 value).

Discounted Publications: ASCA publishes a wide range of books and other publications targeting areas such as school violence, comprehensive school counseling programs, career counseling, social development and more. Members enjoy discounted rates on all ASCA books, including the ASCA National Model.

Professional Development: Participating in regular, certified professional development opportunities is essential to school counselors’ continued growth and competency. In addition to the annual conference, webinars, town halls, and local workshops, ASCA also partners with other organizations to offer members training in areas such as ethics, career counseling and more.

Liability insurance: All professional and student ASCA members are automatically covered for $1 million in excess professional liability coverage at no additional cost. Note that coverage is available only for W-2 employed educators working in a U.S.-based school. Contract employees are not eligible for coverage. Learn more.

Affinity Groups: ASCA Affinity Groups are small communities of members who share a similar area of interest or identity. Affinity Group members enjoy opportunities to discuss shared challenges, brainstorm solutions, identify valuable resources and network with like-minded peers. Learn more.

MApp: The ASCA National Model App (MApp), exclusively for ASCA members, puts your school counseling program at the tip of your fingers, allowing you to track time, share results and more from your mobile device, wherever you are.

Online Member Community: ASCA’s online community connects you with other school counselors to share ideas, network, and more. Members are automatically added to the Open Forum community and are invited to join other communities specific to grade level or interest. In the Member Community library, you’ll find member-curated content, including everything from student check-in templates to career readiness lessons. The Member Community is also your gateway to connect directly with a member you met at a training, at the ASCA Annual Conference or elsewhere in your city or state. Network with and learn from other school counselors 24/7.

ASCA Aspects: The monthly enewsletter, ASCA Aspects keeps members on top of new ASCA programs and resources, as well as new research, tools, and developments in the school counseling field.

Member Logo: As an ASCA member, you can use the ASCA MEMBER logo on your business cards, website, letterhead, etc. (Note, the ASCA MEMBER logo may only be used by professional, student and retired members and may not be used in any for-profit advertising or marketing materials.)

Membership Types
Professional Membership – $129
School counseling professionals who hold a master’s degree or higher in school counseling or the substantial equivalent and are employed as school counselors; supervisors of school counselors or school counseling at the school, district or state level; or professors of counseling in a graduate program that prepares school counselors are eligible for Professional membership. This is a voting membership type.

Retired Membership – $69
Professional members in retirement are eligible for retired membership. This is a voting membership type. It does not include member liability insurance.

Student Membership – $69
Students enrolled in a master’s level program that prepares school counselors are eligible for student membership. This is a nonvoting membership type. (Doctoral students who meet the requirements for Professional membership may join in that category; otherwise, see Affiliate category.)

Affiliate Membership – $129
Individuals interested in school counseling, who are not eligible for any other type of membership, may become affiliate members. This is a nonvoting category.

CONTACT ASCA:

American School Counselor Association
277 S Washington St
Suite 390
Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 683-ASCA
asca@schoolcounselor.org

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Advocacy and Legislation

ASCA provides educational information to regulating agencies, legislators and others who influence and set policies affecting the school counselor role and school counselors' ability to provide services to all students for the best possible outcomes. At the national level, ASCA advocates to protect the school counselor role and to improve access to school counseling, as well as to address related policy issues, including student mental health, career and technical education, and college readiness and affordability. ASCA also collaborates with other national education and advocacy groups on topics affecting school counselors and education. At the state level, ASCA supports state school counselor associations in developing effective and sustainable advocacy programs to advance state-specific issues affecting school counseling and K-12 education. School counselors are encouraged to actively participate with their state association as one way to increase their civic engagement. For more information on local advocacy efforts in your district and state, please contact your state association and get involved.

Careers in School Counseling

School counseling is 100-plus years old. Starting as vocation guidance in the early 1900s, school counseling has shifted from a job position to a service and finally to an organized K-12 school-wide program that improves outcomes for all students. Today, school counselors are highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their career. Looking to enter the school counseling field? There are hundreds of colleges and universities across the country with certificates, master's degrees, Ph.D., Ed.D. or PsyD programs in school counseling, counselor education or counseling psychology.

ASCA U Specialist Training

Earning an ASCA U Specialist designation is self-paced, online professional development. You'll read a series of books and articles, view/listen to webinars and/or podcasts and take a series of quizzes on the material. You have one year following purchase to complete your Specialist course. ASCA U Specialist designations are valid for five years.

ASCA National Model Consulting

Regardless of whether you are in the early stages of implementing the ASCA National Model, are a RAMP school or somewhere in between, an ASCA consultant can help you assess your school counseling program for strengths and areas of improvement. Work with an ASCA consultant to create a roadmap for sustaining a data-informed school counseling program that improves student outcomes. Your ASCA consultant will listen to your interests, focus on your school’s unique needs and help you move your school counseling program from where it is now to where you want it to be. You can meet with your consultant virtually up to seven hours a month, or bring your ASCA consultant to your school for a day-long consultation as many times as you would like.

Districtwide or Schoolwide Equity Consulting

Work with an ASCA equity consultant to identify strengths and areas of improvement in providing equitable treatment of all students within your school district. Your ASCA equity consultant will focus on your school district’s unique needs and work with you to create and sustain a school counseling program that promotes equitable treatment of all students.

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Monday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Tuesday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Wednesday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Thursday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

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