Policy 601: Guidance and Counseling

The board of trustees recognizes the importance of providing a comprehensive advising program that is part of the district’s educational program.  In accordance with Idaho law, the district’s comprehensive guidance and counseling program will including the following elements:

  1. Guidance.  A classroom instructional component that identifies knowledge and skills to be attained by all students at various stages of their development and provides appropriate activities for their achievement.
  2. Individual Planning.  Individualized planning with students and their parents/guardians in personal/social development; educational development; and career development.  Included within this component is a requirement that all students in grades 8-12 develop a parent-approved career pathway plan for their high school and post-high school options.  Parents/guardians may request, in writing, that a career pathway plan not be developed for their child.
  3. Response Services.  A responsive services component that provides immediate assistance to students in need of crisis intervention, individual short-term counseling, and/or community referral services for long-term support. 
  4. System Support.  This component consists of management activities which establish, maintain, and enhance the effective delivery of school counseling services.

COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVISING AND MENTORING

College and career advising and student mentoring are essential components of students’ educational experience.  Such advising and mentoring provide all students with an early opportunity to identify academic strengths, areas in need of improvement, and areas of interest for the purpose of making informed choices and setting post-secondary education and career goals.  The focus of the district’s college and career planning program is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve academic success and to be college and career ready upon high school graduation.

The district’s college and career advising program will be research-based and may include all the following components:

  1. High contact programs such as:  near peer or college student mentors; and counselor, teacher, or paraprofessional as advisor or mentor.
  2. Collaborative programs such as:  student ambassadors; and cooperative agreements with other school districts or post-secondary institutions.
  3. Virtual coach or mentor programs.

The district will ensure that its college and career advising staff have a basic level of training or experience in the area of advising or mentoring.  In addition, the district will provide ongoing professional development for such staff.

The district will notify parents/guardians of all students in grades 8-12 of the availability of college and career advising provided by the district and how to access such services.

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LEGAL REFERENCE:

Idaho Code Sections

33-1212 – School Counselors

33-1212A – College and Career Advisors and Student Mentors

33-6001 – Parental Rights

IDAPA

08.02.03.104.02.a

08.02.03.108

CROSS-REFERENCE:

Parental Rights in Education – Policy 639

Career Pathway Plans – Policy 690

ADOPTED:   February 21, 2024

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