ASCA
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 professional school counselors around the globe. Learn more or join today!
About ASCA
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 believes in one vision and one voice and works to ensure it meets the needs of all school counselors, regardless of setting, experience level or needs.
With a membership of school counseling professionals from around the world, ASCA focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs and researching effective school counseling practices. ASCA is the school counseling division of the American Counseling Association.
ASCA's Vision
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is the foundation that expands the image and influence of school counselors through advocacy, leadership, collaboration and systemic change. ASCA empowers school counselors with the knowledge, skills, linkages and resources to promote student success in the school, the home, the community and the world.
ASCA's Mission
The mission of ASCA is to represent school counselors and to promote professionalism and ethical practices.
ASCA's Goals and Objectives
Professional development opportunities in areas of critical need are made available to all school counselors.
Timely, relevant information exists to enhance school counselors' level of skill and professionalism.
Legislative policy exists that supports school counselors and child advocacy.
ASCA initiates and supports relevant research and evaluation in school counseling.
Professional and ethical standards articulate the code of conduct and professional behavior for school counselors.
Strategic partnerships with stakeholders exist to benefit school counselors and their students.
Leaders at local, state and national levels champion and lead change initiatives.
ASCA maintains an organizational structure and administrative functions that facilitate the accomplishment of the goals and objectives.
Learn more about ASCA.
Member Benefits & Info
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Professional school counselors across the country and abroad all share the same vision – to do the best job they can for the students under their guidance and care. Academic success alone isn’t enough to ensure today’s students are prepared to be tomorrow’s adults. They also need to focus on career and social/emotional development.
Professional school counselors are a vital part of helping children develop into well-rounded individuals. And ASCA is a vital part of helping school counselors develop the programs necessary to meet students’ needs.
An ASCA membership offers you more than just periodicals, professional development and peer networking. Although it offers that too! Joining the only organization dedicated to furthering the needs and mission of school counselors helps you grow professionally as well as personally. You’ll learn about best practices in school counseling. You’ll benefit from others’ experience and research. Most of all, you’ll know you’re joining with thousands of other professional school counselors to share a common vision – that of turning today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.
Professional School Counseling Journal : ASCA's award-winning journal provides peer-reviewed articles on school counseling theory, research, practice and techniques. your subscription helps you stay on top of the latest theories and advances in the field. Members have access to full-text articles and archives online.
ASCA School Counselor Magazine: A slick, full-color bimonthly magazine, ASCA School Counselor gives members a place to turn for practical, how-to articles addressing the issues school counselors face on a daily basis. A $90 value.
Discounted Publications : ASCA publishes and/or resells myriad publications targeting areas such as school violence, comprehensive guidance programs, career counseling, social development and more. Stay on top of your game with discounted publications from ASCA.
Professional Development: As everyone knows, it's important to participate in regular, certified professional development opportunities. In addition to its annual conference, webinars and local workshops, ASCA also partners with other organizations to offer members training in areas such as ethics, career counseling and more.
- ASCA U Specialist Training
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Live Webinars
- On-Site Trainings
- ASCA-Certified Trainers
- ASCA Annual Conference
Free Resources: One of the best benefits of ASCA membership is access to a plethora of free resources. From sample lesson plans to job descriptions, checklists to back-to-school handouts, your membership opens the door to a world of materials to use on a daily basis.
Online Membership Directory: Looking for school counselors in your geographic area or level for networking purposes? Need to get in touch with another member you met at a training seminar? ASCA's online membership directory not only provides the information you need right at your fingertips, but it also gives you the opportunity to update your own membership listing online, ensuring you never miss news or information from your professional association.
Learn more about Member Benefits and Information.
ASCA Model Program
School counseling programs are collaborative efforts benefiting students, parents, teachers, administrators and the overall community. School counseling programs should be an integral part of students' daily educational environment, and school counselors should be partners in student achievement.The question has been posed, "What do school counselors do?" The more important question is, "How are students different as a result of what school counselors do?" To help answer this question, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) created the ASCA Model® Program, which is a framework for a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program.
Explore this section of the website to learn more about the ASCA Model Program, its component parts and how developing a school counseling program based on this framework can improve student achievement.
Learn more about ASCA Model Program.