Research Monographs

  • Wendy McGannon has taken the lead in developing a review and analysis of The Current Status of School Counseling Outcome Research. Some basic information related to the NCLB mandates are reviewed in terms of how they impact the school counseling profession and counselor accountability. Types of research are described and a distinction is made between research and evaluation. Additionally, this paper includes a discussion of evidence-based practice and an explanation of how all of these topics are relevant to school counselors and school counseling programs at this time. This includes a brief history of the school counseling movement from the mental health model to Comprehensive Developmental Guidance, and then to the American School Counseling Association's (ASCA) National Model and data-driven decision-making.

  • Jerry Trusty has authored the first Center Research Monograph, Effects of Students’ Middle-School and High-School Experiences on Completion of the Bachelor’s Degree. This monograph reports critically important research on the impact of students' middle and high school experiences on later success in earning a Bachelor’s degree. In addition, the monograph presents a model that summarizes relationships between student experiences and later college success and identifies ways school counselors can intervene to foster success. This important work establishes significant relationships between proximal factors such as science and math course taking and long term success in higher education. It identifies specific points of intervention for school counselors that can be expected to have long term effects on student success.

  • Christopher Sink and Heather Stroh have authored, Improving Academic Achievement in Primary Students Through a Systematic Approach to Guidance and Counseling. This monograph, which is published by the Washington School Research Center, reports the results of a statewide study of the impact of Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling programs on elementary students’ academic achievement. WSRC is an independent research and data analysis center within Seattle Pacific University. The Center’s mission is to conduct sound and objective research on student learning in the public schools, and to make the research findings available for educators, policy makers, and the general public for use in the improvement of schools.

  • The Counseling and Student Support Office of the California Department of Education has recently completed a landmark statewide evaluation of school counseling programs, Assembly Bill 722 Study of Pupil Personnel Ratios, Services, and Programs. This monograph presents the findings of the study with recommendations for strengthening school counseling programs. The report includes information on the relationships of student/counselor ratios and program characterizes to No Child Led Behind-related student outcomes. The report provides essential information for policy-makers, guidance directors, educational leaders, and school counseling practitioners who are concerned with strengthening school counseling programs. More information is available on the California Department of Education Counseling and Student Support Web site.
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