Examining the role and practices of high school counselors in helping students make career transition

Abstract

High school counselors are in a unique position to promote college and career readiness for all students; yet, we know little about the role and practices of school counselors overall; what the goals most emphasized in high school counseling programs are; and how they help students make the transition from middle school to high school, from high school to work, and from high school to college. The researchers investigated these questions using a nationally representative survey. Participants in this study were 852 lead high school counselors from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009-2013 (U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, and National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). A descriptive analysis was used to examine the transitional counseling activities between public and private high school counselors. This analysis revealed differences in how public and private high school counselors assisted students with transitions. Findings also revealed that selfreported goals of high school counselors were closely associated with several features (e.g., foundation, delivery) outlined in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model (ASCA, 2003, 2012). Further, our study paved the way for more comprehensive research on the role of high school counselors in the area of career development. Implications for research and practice are discussed.