Building a System for Postsecondary Success: The Pivotal Role of School Counselor Evaluation

How can school counselors support large-scale postsecondary and career-readiness initiatives? While schools and districts want to use personalized learning or individualized learning plans as a way to align students’ school experiences to their postsecondary and career goals, schools may lack the human capital to support and guide this endeavor. With their advanced training to address students’ postsecondary, career, social-emotional, and school safety goals, school counselors are well-positioned to provide the expertise and leadership necessary for these postsecondary readiness efforts. Unfortunately, school counselors’ roles are often misunderstood and an untapped resource in postsecondary readiness efforts. School counselor evaluation models, however, offer valuable insight into state-level expectations of school counselors, resulting in a deeper understanding of school counseling at the state and local levels.

This brief summarizes school counselor evaluation requirements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and highlights three exemplary state evaluation models. The paper also offers suggestions for state and local education agencies to leverage well-defined expectations for school counselors to foster postsecondary and career-readiness.