Preface

Learn Together, Grow Together

“Education is the best economic driver in the state.
Together, we will determine Connecticut’s growth.”

Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, Commissioner of Education

Public schools are committed to providing high-quality and engaging learning environments for every student in Connecticut. Our students must be ready with the knowledge and skills to become capable and confident learners. A high school diploma is not the finish line but the launching pad for innovative careers and economic mobility. Schools, families, community members, universities, and business/industry must work together, with an intentional focus, in the early years, to build an impactful educational trajectory toward postsecondary education, career and life.

The Connecticut Comprehensive School Counseling Framework (CCSCF) aligns with a district’s mission and strategic operating plan. It enhances learning by assisting students in acquiring critical skills in the areas of academic, career, and social-emotional development. The CCSCF provides a proactive, preventative, and early intervention model for school counselors to support all students in reaching their full potential.

School counseling is a central part of daily educational programming and student achievement. Research continues to show that a comprehensive school counseling framework improves the range of student learning and behavioral outcomes. The implementation of the CCSCF expects every student to be served equitably, based on informed data decision-making. These data are analyzed and used to address the needs of students and provide the right interventions and supports to remove barriers that impede learning. This targeted work assists students in meeting academic standards and prepares every graduate to make informed decisions when choosing from an array of postsecondary options.

The CCSCF is based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. The CCSCF’s new 18 student standards and eight school counselor professional standards outline “how are students different as a result of what school counselors do?” These standards can help inform districts as they develop their Profile of the Graduate and support all five New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) 2020 Standards for Accreditation.

The CCSCF was developed and vetted in collaboration between the CSDE, Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA), and Connecticut Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (CACES) and other important stakeholders. The CCSCF Guide provides direction, support, and resources in developing, executing, monitoring, evaluating, and sustaining the framework to contribute to better outcomes for Connecticut students.