Documents

What documentation can be used to indicate compliance with this standard?

  • Placement policies
  • Criteria for placement
  • Employment notices
  • Enrollment data job placement programs

Supplemental Information

How can counselors have an expanded knowledge of career opportunities?
In order to avoid "steering" minorities, women, and students with disabilities toward more restrictive career objectives, counselors should obtain updated information about the dynamics of the labor force. School districts have established programs to ensure that counselors are apprised of the most recent occupational outlook data, including employer-led workshops on emerging opportunities in a specific field. The sessions also allow counselors to gain a first-hand understanding of developments and occupational forecasts in specific industries and organizations. In turn, counselors can disseminate this information to students so they can consider a broader range of options.

How can counselors cooperate with business?
There are other ways to involve the resources of the business community. Some schools arrange for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as role models from occupations in which these groups traditionally have been underrepresented (e.g., female physician or male nurse). The role models provide assistance for career days, exploratory experiences, and as advisers to students.

In addition, some businesses sponsor job shadowing and summer internship programs that combine high school credit with employment. These programs also encourage students' further educational attainment by linking academic preparation with job requirements. Some counselors arrange for representatives of the business community to conduct group sessions on preparing resumes and job interview skills. While these programs are normally open to all students, counselors can take special measures to ensure the participation of special population groups.

Source: US Department of Education. Office for Civil Rights. (1991). The guidance counselor's role in ensuring equal educational opportunity. Author. Available at
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq43ef.html

Links

The Guidance Counselor's Role in Ensuring Equal Educational Opportunity
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq43ef.html

American Counselor’s Association Code of Ethics
http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf