ALEXANDRIA, VA ? The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) has recently issued a report titled, The Role of the Guidance Profession in a Shifting Education System. According to the report, a comprehensive guidance program in public schools would assist students and their parents in navigating the school system and accessing information so they can make informed decisions about school courses and programs that meet students? individual needs.

This report, which now becomes the official ACTE position on the guidance practice, found that the effectiveness of a comprehensive, programmatic approach to guidance for all students and more fully implemented guidance programs impacts student achievement.

Comprehensive guidance programs consist of subject matter and related techniques and methods organized for the academic, career, and personal/social development of individual students. Comprehensive guidance program content is designed to assist students and their parents in making informed educational choices which lead to more educational and career options.

Professional school guidance counselors, working within a comprehensive guidance program framework utilize techniques and methods of guidance program delivery in the areas of individual student planning, guidance curriculum, and responsive services. They assist each student by working closely with the student and their parents or guardians to develop and use an individual educational and occupational plan.

Empirical research conducted during the past ten years has demonstrated that when professional school guidance counselors have the time, the resources, and the structure of a comprehensive guidance program in which to work, they contribute to positive student academic and career development as well as the development of positive and safe learning climates in schools. Research has also concluded that schools with more fully implemented comprehensive guidance programs have a significant impact on student achievement.

A copy of the complete report is available on the ACTE Web site at http://www.acteonline.org/policy/legislative_resources/guidance_taskforce.cfm.

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national association for the field of career and technical education. Now in its 77th year, ACTE?s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and college and university levels.

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June 2, 2003                                NR#03-015