Personal & Social / Overview

The school counseling program is designed to promote academic, social/emotional, and career development. As an integral part of the K-12 school system, school counselors build a foundation for learning based on:

Positive attitudes toward school and learning
Personal responsibility
Respect for self and others
Knowledge and skills for employment

Research indicates that a comprehensive school counseling program:

Improves academic achievement
Enhances educational and career planning and school-to-work transition
Fosters positive attitudes toward school, learning, and work
Increases acquisition and application of conflict resolution skills
Decreases dropouts

Statement developed by the Virginia Counselor Association (VCA), Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (VACES), and the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA), 1995.