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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 13A.05.05.02" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="05" heading="School Counseling Program.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The School Counseling Program is a coordinated data driven program of counseling, consulting, and informational services for students in grades K—12 that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Promotes student academic success and well-being;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Enhances awareness of mental health and promotes positive, healthy behaviors;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Provides school-based prevention and universal and targeted interventions for students with mental health and behavioral health concerns;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Is comprehensive in scope, preventative in design, and developmental in nature;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Is aligned with school system goals and objectives;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Is an integral component of the school’s program and mission;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Promotes systemic change through the use of leadership skills, advocacy, and collaboration;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Promotes student achievement;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Provides equitable access to a rigorous education for all students;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Provides students with individual and group planning addressing academic, career, and social/emotional needs;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Identifies the knowledge and skills all students will acquire to promote college and career readiness;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Is delivered to all students in a systemic fashion;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Addresses the needs of the whole child so that each student has the opportunity to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged for long-term success;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Is monitored and reviewed through accountability systems; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>Is provided by a State-credentialed school counselor as defined in COMAR 13A.12.03.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The school counseling program shall be formed around the following components:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Foundation components, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Program focus;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Student competencies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Professional competencies;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Management components, including, but not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>School counselor competency and school counseling program assessments;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Annual agreements or annual plan;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Advisory councils;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Use of data to measure program implementation and outcomes to promote systemic change such as use of time assessments, calendars, and student academic measures; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Curriculum, small group, and closing the gap action plans;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Delivery components, including direct and indirect services to students that focus on students’ academic, career, and social/emotional needs, as follows:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Direct services, recommended to be 80 percent of school counselor services, are services between school counselors and students that are in person or virtual interactions that include, but are not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>School counseling core curriculum;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Individual student planning; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Responsive services; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Indirect services, recommended to be 20 percent of school counselor services, are services for students that result from the school counselor’s interactions with others that include, but are not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Referrals for assistance;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Consultation and collaboration with families, teachers and other educators, community organizations, and other stakeholders;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Participation as members of the educational team; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Other activities that fall in line with the appropriate duties of a school counselor as detailed in this regulation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Accountability components, including the use of school counseling program data to demonstrate the impact of the school counseling program on students and the school in measureable terms that include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Student attendance data;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Student achievement data; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Student behavior data.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>School counseling services shall be aligned with the following domains:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Academic development intended to help students:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across their life span;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Career development intended to help students:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to their knowledge of self in order to make informed career decisions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Social/emotional development intended to help students:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Make decisions, set goals, and take the necessary action to achieve goals; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Understand safety and survival skills.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>