The authors updated an earlier Delphi study identifying the research priorities for school counseling (Dimmitt et al., 2005). A 29-member expert panel selected research questions from the prior study, generated new questions, and rank ordered the combined set. The results provide guidance for prioritizing dissertation topics, targeting future…

Although school counselors and school counselor educators have an ethical responsibility to use and to teach evidence-based practices (EBPs), recent research has illustrated a lack of EBP in counselor education scholarship. In school counselor education programs, training related to EBP may be absent due to a lack of understanding or instructor…

This study explored relationships among school counseling practices, secondary school demographics, and student outcomes in the state of Rhode Island during a 2-year period. The results showed strong and consistent correlations between increased amounts of school counseling services and positive student outcomes. Schools with higher percentages of…

The six statewide research studies presented in this special issue use a variety of designs, instrumentation, and measures. Nevertheless, they can be integrated at the level of results to shed light on some important questions related to effective practice in the field of school counseling. In fact, one can argue that, when separate studies that…

Why does evaluation matter so much in school counseling? Most importantly, when school counselors evaluate their interventions and programs, they can be more certain that what they are doing is making a difference for their students. School counselors have a professional responsibility to show that what they are doing is effective. With evaluation…

The American School Counselor Association has developed the ASCA National Model[R] in order to provide school counselors with a structure for effective practice. The ASCA National Model can help school counselors think proactively about how they can best serve the students in their schools, and it contains ideas and tools for developing…

The National Center for School Counseling Outcome Research (CSCOR) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst studied exemplary practices of 18 high schools that received recognition for college preparation and placement in 2004 and 2005. Through interviews with key personnel at each of the high schools, the researchers generated a set of ten…

The National Panel for School Counseling Evidence-Based Practice was established by the Center for School Counseling Outcome Research to improve the practice of school counseling by helping to develop the research base that is necessary for responsible and effective practice. This article presents the panel's Outcome Research Coding Protocol and…

In this article we present a model for evidence-based school counseling practice that involves using data to specify problems that need addressing, using multidisciplinary teams to identify and implement research-based interventions, and evaluating interventions and programs to demonstrate effects. Potential benefits of this approach for…

The Web and related technologies are creating a revolution in the practice of school counseling. This paper describes emerging trends and identifies critical issues that need to be addressed to facilitate increased use. The article summarizes current uses and identifies ways the Web can be used to improve practice and professional competence. To…

The University of Massachusetts is in partnership with a local school district as part of the Education Trust's Transforming School Counseling Initiative. This study evolved from the partnership's concern about the greater-than-expected number of high school students who were failing classes. Summarizes the broad research base the group used as a…

This book talks about the enormous pressure school counselors are under to document effectiveness by using data and producing quantitative accountability reports--whether or not they've had the appropriate training. Highly respected by counselor educators and trainers it gives preservice and inservice school counselors the tools to knowledgeably…

The authors conducted a Delphi study to identify important research questions regarding school counseling. During 3 consecutive rounds of e-mail queries, an expert panel of 21 school counseling educators and practitioners were asked to identify the goals of school counseling research, develop specific research questions, and rate the importance of…

The Center for School Counseling Outcome Research (CSCOR) was founded in January 2003 to provide leadership in promoting quality school counseling research and to give practicing school counselors ready access to relevant research in order for them to make effective program decisions. CSCOR currently is the foremost national research facility…

The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs is a powerful approach to the organization and management of school counseling programs. The ASCA National Model[R] connects school counseling programs to educational reform initiatives, emphasizes data-based management and accountability processes, reiterates school counseling's…