American School Counselor Association

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, career and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. With a membership of nearly 37,000 school counseling professionals from around the world, ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to school counselors around the globe.

Founded in 1952, ASCA works to ensure it meets the needs of all school counselors, regardless of setting, experience level or needs. ASCA’s mission is to represent school counselors and promote professionalism and ethical practices. ASCA empowers school counselors with the knowledge, skills, linkages and resources to promote student success in the school, the home, the community and the world.

Since its formation, ASCA has helped establish a unified identity for school counselors by developing a framework for a data-informed school counseling program and other tools to support the profession. Essential programs and services include:

•    Resources: ASCA provides a range of publications to its members, such as the bi-monthly ASCA School Counselor magazine, online Professional School Counseling journal as well as toolkits and implementation guides. ASCA also maintains a robust website and the School Counselor Education and Networking Environment, a social networking platform that draws thousands of visitors each day.

•    ASCA National Model and RAMP: The ASCA National Model, a framework for a data- informed school counseling programs, is the foundation for the school counseling profession. The Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) acknowledges schools that have implemented The ASCA National Model successfully.

•    School Counselor of the Year raises the profile and awareness of the profession, with former First Lady, Michelle Obama, hosting the celebration at the White House from 2015 to 2017 and serving as the featured guest in the 2018 ceremony. Dr. Jill Biden was the featured guest in 2019.

•    Professional Standards: ASCA establishes the basis for professional behavior through legal and ethical standards, professional competencies, student standards and other foundational documents.

•    Training and Professional Development: ASCA promotes life-long learning and continual growth through a wide range of professional development, including webinars, online courses, site-based training and ASCA’s annual conference, which attracts more than 3,500 attendees.

Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, ASCA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors and follows the Carver Policy Governance model. The organization has an annual budget of $7M, funded primarily through program services, and employs 11 staff. ASCA’s current Executive Director, Dr. Richard Wong, will be retiring in Fall, 2020, after 20 years of service to the organization. For more information, please visit www.schoolcounselor.org.