Florida Administrative Code
6 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
6A - State Board of Education
Chapter 6A-5 - EDUCATOR STANDARDS, PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE
Section 6A-5.079 - Florida School Counseling Standards
Universal Citation: FL Admin Code R 6A-5.079
Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Purpose and Structure of the Standards.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of these standards
is to establish Florida's expectations for school counselors. These standards
inform the foundation for school counseling preparation programs, educator
certification requirements, professional learning for school counselors, and
school counselor evaluation systems.
(b) Structure. There are seven (7) standards,
each comprised of a title, description, and descriptors that further clarify
and define the work required to demonstrate mastery of the
standard.
(2) Definitions.
(a) "School Counselor" means
staff members certified under Rule
6A-4.0181, F.A.C., who are
responsible for: advising students with regard to their abilities and
aptitudes, educational and occupational opportunities, and personal and social
adjustments; providing placement services; and similar functions as described
in Section 1012.01(2)(b),
F.S.
(b) "School Counseling
Program" means a set of focused resources and supports designed by schools and
districts to meet the unique needs of the students. The key aspects of the
program include academic advisement and planning, career guidance and
postsecondary planning, responsive mental health counseling services, community
partnerships, and support with the provision of resiliency education, civic and
character education, and life skill education.
(3) PK-12 School Counseling Standards.
(a) Standard one (1). Professional, Legal,
and Ethical Expectations. School counselors act ethically and according to
professional standards to promote the academic success and well-being of all
students. School counselors:
1. Hold self
accountable to the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education
Profession in Florida, pursuant to Rule
6A-10.081, F.A.C., and adhere to
guidelines for student welfare pursuant to Section
1001.42(8),
F.S., the rights of students and parents enumerated in Sections
1002.20 and
1014.04, F.S., local school
board, and governing board policies;
2. Adhere to the state and federal legal
rights of students and parents or guardians with regard to student records per
Rule 6A-1.0955, F.A.C.; and
3. Seek opportunities for professional
learning applicable to the role of a school counselor.
(b) Standard two (2). Data-Driven Planning.
Effective school counselors utilize resources including available school data
to guide decision making and counseling services. School counselors:
1. Gather and synthesize data from a variety
of sources to inform the School Counseling Program;
2. Communicate data from a variety of sources
to students and parents or guardians; and
3. Apply appropriate use of data and
technology in supporting student learning and development.
(c) Standard three (3). School Counseling
Program. Effective school counselors develop, implement, and evaluate programs
that cultivate a school environment that promotes the academic success and
well-being of all students. School counselors:
1. Apply evidence-based strategies that
promote academic success; career readiness; and resiliency education, civic and
character education, and life skill education as defined in Rule
6A-1.094124, F.A.C.
2. Apply principles and practices of crisis
planning, response, and preventative programs;
3. Apply practices for identifying and
closing gaps in student achievement; and
4. Apply strategies for progress monitoring
and sharing School Counseling Program outcomes.
(d) Standard four (4). Consultation,
Collaboration, and Coordination. Effective school counselors utilize multiple
means of communication to promote the academic success and well-being of all
students. School counselors:
1. Model and
support respectful collaboration practices between school leaders, parents or
guardians, district and school personnel and community partners;
2. Maintain high visibility and
accessibility, and actively listen to and respond to parents or guardians,
students, district and school personnel and community partners;
3. Recognize parents or guardians, students,
district and school personnel and community partners for contributions and
engagement that enhance the school community; and
4. Utilize appropriate technologies and other
forms of communication with parents or guardians, students, district and school
personnel and families on student expectations and academic
performance.
5. Utilize state,
local school board, and governing board policies and procedures to make
appropriate community-based referrals.
6. Apply effective methods and skills for
coordinating with community partners in the implementation of a school
counseling program.
(e)
Standard five (5). Counseling Services. Effective school counselors provide
direct and indirect services that support the safety, mental health, and
well-being of all students. School counselors:
1. Apply counseling skills when delivering
evidence-based, direct services to individual students and groups;
2. Assist with the provision of resiliency
education, civic and character education, and life skill education in the
classroom setting; and
3. Apply
verbal de-escalation strategies to assist in the response and support of
students in a crisis situation.
(f) Standard six (6). Academic Advising and
Planning. Effective school counselors cultivate a caring, rigorous, and
supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being
of all students. School counselors:
1. Promote
awareness of student progression, assessment requirements, appropriate
educational placement, and high school graduation requirements;
2. Assist all students with developing a path
to effectively prepare for secondary and postsecondary educational and
employment opportunities;
3.
Provide all students with opportunities for academic enrichment; and
4. Support students who are identified as
academically at-risk.
(g)
Standard seven (7). Career Development and Postsecondary Planning. Effective
school counselors provide opportunities for all students to develop the
behaviors necessary to learn work-related skills, resilience, perseverance, an
understanding of lifelong learning as a part of long-term career success, the
value of volunteerism and mentorship, and a strong work ethic. School
counselors:
1. Promote awareness of
application and admission processes for various postsecondary options,
including financial resources such as the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid and Florida Financial Aid Application for all students and
families;
2. Apply school
counseling strategies and activities that address students' college and career
readiness across developmental levels, including decision-making approaches for
students in various stages of career development;
3. Apply procedures of formal and informal
career inventories and data-driven methods for evaluating students' college and
career readiness;
4. Apply college
and career readiness counseling services and schoolwide approaches across all
levels that promote lifelong learning and career success;
5. Utilize resources that provide students
with personalized information about postsecondary and career and technical
educational opportunities and sources of financial assistance; and
6. Apply counseling services to address the
challenges experienced by students.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.56
New 6-27-23.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Florida may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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