Budgets

To continue effective development and management of a comprehensive school counseling program​, appropriate and adequate school counseling resources are essential.  Resources must include both a professional development budget and a school counseling supply budget.  As a result, a separate Comprehensive School Counseling program budget should be established  within the district's annual budget.  The recommended supply budget per building is no less than $150/year and the recommended professional development budget per school counselor is no less than $200/year.

Facilities

The Comprehensive School Counseling Program must have a designated location to carryout program services in each school building.  At the elementary level, school counselors should be housed in easily accessible areas which are large enough to accommodate the program's personnel, resources and equipment.  At the secondary level, a school counseling center should be established within each school building.  Similar to elementary, the school counseling center should be easily accessible and large enough to accommodate the program's personnel, resources and equipment.  Regardless of school level, the minimum requirements for the school counseling office or center are as follows:
  • Private offices which include a door and are properly soundproofed
  • Space large enough to accommodate groups of 6 students.
  • Adequate space to store school counseling resource materials and equipment
  • A personal computer, telephone and locking cabinet

Staffing

Program staffing is determined by the district school counseling coordinator and re-evaluated on an annual basis. Factors such as population size and other school demographics (SES, Minority) and district data are used to determine staffing.  CPS at minimum staffs schools using the MSIP recommended minimum ratio of 1:500.  However, all efforts are made to staff according to the MO State and ASCA desirable standard of 1:250. 

If a school has more than one school counselor, a lead school counselor or director should be determined.  This individual will be responsible for providing leadership and coordination for the school's program, and as a result should be assigned a reduced caseload.

In cases where clerical support is necessary, secretaries or registrars should be hired to assist with non-school counseling tasks.  This necessity most often occurs within the secondary buildings.