What is the role of a comprehensive guidance program and school counseling personnel in a reformed educational system?
Unfortunately, most school districts do not have sufficient resources to fund a robust guidance and counseling program. Even when schools have them, caseloads of counselors and social workers often are too large. One promising practice is to restructure large comprehensive high schools into several small schools or small learning communities with a group of teachers working together with students in grades 9-12. In this setting, it is easier for teachers and students to know each other. In such small schools, advisory periods can be scheduled with each adult in the school having ten to twelve advisees. Of course, training for the staff must be provided on how to use advisory time and develop positive relationships with, and support for, students.
