• About ASCA
  • ASCA On Air
  • Advertise & Exhibit
  • ASCA Scene
  • Join
  • Log in
ASCA | Home AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION
  • Membership Back
    • Who Are ASCA Members?
    • Membership Benefits & Types
    • Liability Insurance
    • Join/Renew
    • My ASCA
    • ASCA Scene Online Community
  • About School Counseling Back
    • School Counselor Roles & Ratios
    • Legal & Ethical Responsibilities
    • ASCA National Model
    • Legislative Issues
    • Careers in School Counseling
    • State Requirements & Programs
  • Events & Professional Development Back
    • Events
      • ASCA Annual Conference
      • National School Counseling Week
      • Upcoming Events
    • Professional Development
      • ASCA U Specialist Training
      • Coaching
      • Live Webinars
      • On-Site Training
      • ASCA-Certified Trainers
      • ASCA Annual Conference
  • Publications & Research Back
    • Publications
      • Bookstore
      • ASCA School Counselor Magazine
      • Professional School Counseling Journal
      • ASCA Aspects Newsletter
      • Toolkits, Frameworks & Resources
      • Publication Proposal Guidelines
      • Request Desk Copies
    • Research
      • Impact of School Counseling
      • 2020 State of the Profession
      • Research Grants
      • Research Studies Using RAMP Data
      • PSC Journal Practitioner Summaries
  • Standards & Positions Back
    • Standards
      • ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors
      • ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success
      • ASCA Professional Standards & Competencies
      • School Counselor Preparation Program Standards
      • Standards in Practice
    • Position Statements
      • ASCA Position Statements
      • Download All Position Statements
  • Recognition Back
    • School Counselor of the Year
    • Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP)
    • ASCA-Certified School Counselor
    • ASCA-Recognized School Counselor Preparation Program
  • Advertise & Exhibit
  • Contact Us

The School Counselor and Character Education

(Adopted 1998, revised 2005, 2011, 2016)

ASCA Position

School counselors endorse and actively support character education programs and include them in the implementation of a school counseling program. The school counselor also promotes the infusion of character education in the school curriculum by encouraging the participation of the entire school community.

The Rationale

Character education involves “how schools, related social institutions and parents/guardians can support the positive character development of children and adults” (U.S. Department of Education, 2008, p.1). The school counselor understands that teaching students concepts and skills that help people live and work together promotes healthy student development and academic achievement through reduced problem behavior, lower discipline rates and improvement in student self-concept (Parker, Nelson, & Burns, 2010; Skaggs & Bodenhorn, 2006; U.S. Department of Education, 2008; Watson, 2006).

The School Counselor's Role

School counselors, along with teachers, administrators, family and the community, share the responsibility of teaching character education values. School counselors encourage character education activities by means of:
  • developing a school philosophy and mission statement supporting positive character development
  • establishing positive family-school-community partnerships
  • implementing school counseling curriculum activities that promote positive character development while helping all students develop clear academic, career and social/emotional goals
  • advocating for discipline policies that nurture the development of appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes
  • utilizing proactive counseling methods that reinforce character education and lead to an increase in positive school climate
  • encouraging student participation in extracurricular activities that include the involvement of students, school staff, parents/guardians and community members
  • teaching skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, leadership and problem solving
  • teaching communication etiquette in the technological world
  • involving students in the development of school rules
  • integrating multicultural competence and diversity appreciation into curriculum and activities
  • developing student recognition programs focused on character traits
  • involving families and communities in the character education program
School counselors work with teachers, administrators, families and the community to teach and model behaviors that enhance each student’s academic, career and social/emotional development essential to making appropriate, healthy decisions.

Summary

Character education helps students achieve academic, career and social/emotional development goals to become positive contributors to society. Effective character education programs require the entire community’s participation and must be integrated throughout the entire school curriculum and culture through curriculum development, consensus building, community engagement, technology and professional development (U.S. Department of Education, 2008). The school counselor provides leadership and collaborates with teachers, administrators and the school community to promote character education for all students as an integral part of school curriculum and activities.

References

Parker, D. C., Nelson, J. S., & Burns, M. K. (2010). Comparison of correlates of classroom behavior problems in schools with and without a school-wide character education program. Psychology in Schools, 47(8), 817-827.

Skaggs, G. & Bodenhorm, N. (2006). Relationships between implementing character education, student behavior, and student achievement. Journal of Advanced Academics, 18, 82-114.

U. S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical Assistance Center. (2008). Partnerships in character education state pilot projects, 1995-2001, Lessons Learned. Washington, D.C.: Author.

Watson, M. (2006). Long-term effects of moral/character education in elementary school. Journal of research in character education, 4(1&2), 1-18.
In this section
ASCA Position Statements
  • Academic Development
  • Annual Performance Appraisal
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Career Development
  • Character Education
  • Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
  • Children Experiencing Homelessness
  • College Access Professionals
  • Confidentiality
  • Corporal Punishment
  • Credentialing and Licensure
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Discipline
  • Equity for All Students
  • Gender Equity
  • Gifted and Talented Student Programs
  • Group Counseling
  • High-Stakes Testing
  • Identification, Prevention and Intervention of Behaviors That Are Harmful and Place Students At-Risk
  • Individual Student Planning for Postsecondary Preparation
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • LGBTQ Youth
  • Multitiered System of Supports
  • Peer Support Programs
  • Prevention of School-Related Gun Violence
  • Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections
  • Retention, Social Promotion and Age-Appropriate Placement
  • Safe Schools and Crisis Response
  • School Counseling Preparation Programs
  • School Counseling Programs
  • School-Family-Community Partnerships
  • Social/Emotional Development
  • Student Mental Health
  • Student Postsecondary Recruitment
  • Student Safety and the Use of Technology
  • Students with Disabilities
  • Suicide Prevention/Awareness
  • Suicide Risk Assessment
  • Promotion of Safe Schools through Conflict Resolution and Bullying/Harassment Prevention
  • Supporting Students in Foster Care
  • Test Preparation Programs
  • Transgender/Gender-nonconforming Youth
  • Trauma-Informed Practice
  • Use of Non-School-Counseling Credentialed Personnel in Implementing School Counseling Programs
  • Use of Support Staff in School Counseling Programs
  • Virtual School Counseling
  • Working with Students Experiencing Issues Surrounding Undocumented Status
American School Counselor Association

1101 King Street
Suite 310
Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 683-ASCA
asca@schoolcounselor.org

Find us on:

© Copyright 2020 American School Counselor Association. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy