Create conditions that lead to success for ALL students and confront conditions that create opportunity gaps

School counselors can play a powerful role in closing opportunity gaps and addressing the social, emotional, and academic needs of students. This new edition of a groundbreaking bestseller shows school counselors how to incorporate principles of social justice, antiracism, equity, and advocacy into their practice.

Written by Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, university professor and advocate of transformational change in school counseling, this book addresses the reasons why some students are more likely to encounter challenges at school due to racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism. It includes:

• Vignettes, strategies, activities, and reflective individual and group study questions
• A framework for how school counselors can mitigate the impact of negative factors that hamper academic performance and healthy development, especially among students of color
• Six functions of school counselors that move schools toward more just practices and, ultimately, to higher test scores and increased student achievement

Written for both preservice and in-service school counselors and those who support them, this essential guide prepares readers to take an active role in creating equitable conditions for success for all students.

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
About The Author
Chapter 1: Opportunity Gaps: Our Ultimate Challenge
School Counseling and Education Disparities
Identity Labels
Where We Have Been, Where We Are, and Where We Are Headed
The Power of School Counselors
Opportunity Gaps versus Achievement Gaps
A Closer Look at the Gaps
What Do We Know About Closing Opportunity Gaps?
Chapter 2: School Counseling Within the Context of Social Justice and Antiracism
Redefining School Counseling to Serve Diverse Groups
Focusing on Antiracism and Social Justice
Key Functions of School Counseling Based on Social Justice and an Antiracist Approach
Chapter 3: Counseling and Intervention Planning
Critical Factors That Affect School Counseling and the Counseling Relationship
Antiracist and Culturally Appropriate Counseling Interventions
Assessing School Counselors’ Cultural Competence
The Influence of Culture and Race on Intervention Planning
Chapter 4: Consultation
Defining Consultation?
Social Justice Considerations and the Consultation Process
Consultation Strategies
Questioning Domains
Assessing School Culture
Chapter 5: Connecting Schools and Communities
Avoiding the Blame Game and Racist Narratives
Equity Framework for Reciprocal Partnerships
Five Principles of Effective SFC Partnerships
Barriers to School–Family Collaborations
Chapter 6: Collecting and Using Data
What Is Accountability?
Using Data to Uncover Inequities
School Counseling Program Evaluation
Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP)
Developing Program Assessment Tools
Chapter 7: Challenging Racism and Bias
How to Be an Antiracist School Counselor
Guidelines for Challenging Racism and Bias
Social Justice Education in Schools
Chapter 8: Coordinating Student Success and Support
Collaborating With Community Organizations and Social Service Agencies
Implementing Scheduling Practices That Promote Racial Equity
Antiracist Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Support Systems
Coordinating College Readiness and Preparation Interventions
Coordinating Tutoring Services
Advocating on Schoolwide Committees
Chapter 9: Doing the Right Thing: Developing An Antiracist, Social Justice–Focused School Counseling Program
Assessing Your Beliefs
Assessing Your Skills
Assessing Your Students’ Needs
Vision for My School Counseling Program
Concluding Remarks
Resources
Resource A: Assessing School Equity
Resource B: School Counselor Multicultural Competence Checklist
Resource C: School Culture Assessment
Resource D: Assessing Beliefs About School–Family–Community Partnership Involvement
Suggested Readings by Topic
References
Index