A Framework for Success: Principals' Perspectives About Comprehensive School Counseling

Confusion over the role of school counselors has existed since the beginning of the profession. Confusion still abounds due to the role expectations society has placed on school counselors. A framework exists to help turn the ambiguity surrounding the role of school counselors. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs provides an evidenced-based program that has the potential to improve the academic, social-emotional, and career readiness skills of students in the form of a comprehensive school counseling programs. Unfortunately, many principals are unaware of comprehensive school counseling programs, and the potential benefits a program can provide a school.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore principals’ perspectives about comprehensive school counseling programs. One research question guided this study: What are principals’ perspectives about comprehensive school counseling programs. The researcher used in-depth semi-structured interviews to elicit stories from participants about their experiences as principals of schools with comprehensive school counseling programs. This study was engaged Transformational Leadership as a theoretical framework to guide the study. The findings of this qualitative study indicated that principals’ perspectives about comprehensive school counseling programs are: (a) it defined the role of school counselors, (b) strengthened school counselor leadership skills, (c) influenced school discipline, (d) school counselors developed school-wide respect, (e) and enhanced working relationships between school counselors and principals as well as school counselors and teachers.