Rural Appalachia encompasses a region of the United States represented by unique cultural strengths and systemic challenges. To meet their students' career and college needs, school counselors working in rural Appalachia must understand the cultural nuances of the region. Consensual qualitative research (CQR) methodology revealed five domains and…

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) advocates for school counselors to allocate 80% of their time to direct and supportive services to students and against non-counseling duties inconsistent with the ASCA National Model. For this exploratory study, we investigated how time allocations were impacted by non-counseling duties, school…

The focus of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of parents located in one middle Tennessee school district regarding the Tennessee Promise scholarship. The perception of the parents regarding the role of the school counselor in assisting families in the college choice process for high school seniors as they prepare for after…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore how educators describe the impact of SEL instruction provided by the guidance counselor. Additionally, this study also sought to explore how educators perceive the supporting role they play in the delivery of SEL instruction alongside the guidance counselor. The overarching two…

To address a gap in the research, we conducted a policy evaluation to investigate if a recent state policy change had met its intended goals to decrease school counselor ratios and increase their time with students. Participants included 143 PK-12 public school counselors in one state in the southeastern region of the United States. Results of…

This study aimed to investigate the relationships, if any, between Ready to Graduate indicator, average ACT scores, chronic absenteeism rates, and school counselor to student ratios in Tennessee's four urban counties surrounding Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Only eight of Tennessee's 95 counties have a population that…

With increased pressure for schools to demonstrate college and career readiness, it is crucial to explore the roles and activities of school counselors, the preservice training they receive, and how those college and career readiness concepts are integrated into their roles. The research questions were (1) What are the current roles and activities…

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unparalleled disruption of student learning, disengaged students from school and peers, increased exposure to trauma, and had a negative impact on students' mental health and well-being. School counselors are the most accessible mental health care professionals in a school, providing support for all students' social…

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between school counselor ratios, and Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program [TCAP] English Language Arts and Mathematics scores. This study will also consider school level characteristics and student level characteristics in one large, public, urban school district in the southeastern…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore Tennessee high school counselors' and dual enrollment advisors' perceptions of student readiness for dual enrollment within the context of school, institutional, state, and federal policies as aligned with adolescent development theories in order to inform both policy and…

This study sought to determine if a relationship exists among high school counselors' specific demographics, the educational experiences (i.e., professional development, training, and other coursework) of public high school counselors, the factors that influence public high school counselors to advise college-bound students to enroll in career and…

This study used quantitative measures to explore child abuse reporting trends for early career school counselors and to examine factors influencing their decisions to report suspected child abuse. Thematic coding was used to analyze recommendations for additional training needs regarding child abuse reporting and for the challenges school…

Tennessee's school funding formula does not adequately support the state's schools. This report analyzes the impact of underfunding on staffing levels and the resulting inequities created between high- and low-income school districts. The state's school formula funding, even when supplemented by local funding above the required local share,…

The majority of Tennessee ninth graders graduate from high school, but far fewer make the leap to postsecondary education. Recently launched statewide initiatives have fundamentally shifted the educational landscape, substantially reducing barriers to postsecondary access. The state now stands at the cusp of a historical transformation where it…

For students whose families and friends do not have college-going experience to share, applying to college can be challenging. School counselors can fill the gap, but in many schools--especially those serving students most in need--counselors are spread thin. This NASBE policy update explores the ways state boards of education can address the…