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Each person has the right to be respected, be treated with dignity and have access to a comprehensive school counseling program that advocates for and affirms all students from diverse populations regardless of ethnic/racial status, age, economic status, special needs, English as a second language or other language group, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity and appearance.

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Each person has the right to receive the information and support needed to move toward self-direction and self-development and affirmation within one’s group identities, with special care being given to students who have historically not received adequate educational services: students of color, low socio-economic students, students with disabilities and students with non-dominant language backgrounds.

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Each person has the right to understand the full magnitude and meaning of his/her educational choices and how those choices will affect future opportunities.

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Each person has the right to privacy and thereby the right to expect the counselor-student relationship to comply with all laws, policies and ethical standards pertaining to confidentiality in the school setting.

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Serve as a guide for the ethical practices of all professional school counselors regardless of level, area, population served or membership in this professional association;

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Provide self-appraisal and peer evaluations regarding counselor responsibilities to students, parents/guardians, colleagues and professional associates, schools, communities and the counseling profession; and

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Inform those served by the school counselor of acceptable counselor practices and expected professional behavior.

a.

Has a primary obligation to the student, who is to be treated with respect as a unique individual.

b.

Is concerned with the educational, academic, career, personal and social needs and encourages the maximum development of every student.

c.

Respects the student’s values and beliefs and does not impose the counselor’s personal values.

d.

Is knowledgeable of laws, regulations and policies relating to students and strives to protect and inform students regarding their rights.

a.

Informs students of the purposes, goals, techniques and rules of procedure under which they may receive counseling at or before the time when the counseling relationship is entered. Disclosure notice includes the limits of confidentiality such as the possible necessity for consulting with other professionals, privileged communication, and legal or authoritative restraints. The meaning and limits of confidentiality are defined in developmentally appropriate terms to students.

b.

Keeps information confidential unless disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the student or others or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed. Counselors will consult with appropriate professionals when in doubt as to the validity of an exception.

c.

In absence of state legislation expressly forbidding disclosure, considers the ethical responsibility to provide information to an identified third party who, by his/her relationship with the student, is at a high risk of contracting a disease that is commonly known to be communicable and fatal. Disclosure requires satisfaction of all of the following conditions:

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Student identifies partner or the partner is highly identifiable

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Counselor recommends the student notify partner and refrain from further high-risk behavior

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Student refuses

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Counselor informs the student of the intent to notify the partner

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Counselor seeks legal consultation as to the legalities of informing the partner

d.

Requests of the court that disclosure not be required when the release of confidential information may potentially harm a student or the counseling relationship.

e.

Protects the confidentiality of students’ records and releases personal data in accordance with prescribed laws and school policies. Student information stored and transmitted electronically is treated with the same care as traditional student records.

f.

Protects the confidentiality of information received in the counseling relationship as specified by federal and state laws, written policies and applicable ethical standards. Such information is only to be revealed to others with the informed consent of the student, consistent with the counselor’s ethical obligation.

g.

Recognizes his/her primary obligation for confidentiality is to the student but balances that obligation with an understanding of the legal and inherent rights of parents/guardians to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives.

a.

Provides students with a comprehensive school counseling program that includes a strong emphasis on working jointly with all students to develop academic and career goals.

b.

Advocates for counseling plans supporting students right to choose from the wide array of options when they leave secondary education. Such plans will be regularly reviewed to update students regarding critical information they need to make informed decisions.

a.

Avoids dual relationships that might impair his/her objectivity and increase the risk of harm to the student (e.g., counseling one’s family members, close friends or associates). If a dual relationship is unavoidable, the counselor is responsible for taking action to eliminate or reduce the potential for harm. Such safeguards might include informed consent, consultation, supervision and documentation.

b.

Avoids dual relationships with school personnel that might infringe on the integrity of the counselor/student relationship.

a.

Respects the rights and responsibilities of parents/guardians for their children and endeavors to establish, as appropriate, a collaborative relationship with parents/guardians to facilitate the student’s maximum development.

b.

Adheres to laws, local guidelines and ethical standards of practice when assisting parents/guardians experiencing family difficulties that interfere with the student’s effectiveness and welfare.

c.

Respects the confidentiality of parents/guardians.

d.

Is sensitive to diversity among families and recognizes that all parents/guardians, custodial and non-custodial, are vested with certain rights and responsibilities for the welfare of their children by virtue of their role and according to law.

a.

Informs parents/guardians of the counselor’s role with emphasis on the confidential nature of the counseling relationship between the counselor and student.

b.

Recognizes that working with minors in a school setting may require counselors to collaborate with students’ parents/guardians.

c.

Provides parents/guardians with accurate, comprehensive and relevant information in an objective and caring manner, as is appropriate and consistent with ethical responsibilities to the student.

d.

Makes reasonable efforts to honor the wishes of parents/guardians concerning information regarding the student, and in cases of divorce or separation exercises a good-faith effort to keep both parents informed with regard to critical information with the exception of a court order.

a.

Establishes and maintains professional relationships with faculty, staff and administration to facilitate an optimum counseling program.

b.

Treats colleagues with professional respect, courtesy, and fairness. The qualifications, views and findings of colleagues are represented to accurately reflect the image of competent professionals.

c.

Is aware of and utilizes related professionals, organizations, and other resources to whom the student may be referred.

a.

Supports and protects the educational program against any infringement not in students’ best interest.

b.

Informs appropriate officials in accordance with school policy of conditions that may be potentially disruptive or damaging to the school’s mission, personnel and property while honoring the confidentiality between the student and counselor.

c.

Is knowledgeable and supportive of the school’s mission and connects his/her program to the school’s mission.

d.

Delineates and promotes the counselor’s role and function in meeting the needs of those served. Counselors will notify appropriate officials of conditions that may limit or curtail their effectiveness in providing programs and services.

e.

Accepts employment only for positions for which he/she is qualified by education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials and appropriate professional experience.

f.

Advocates that administrators hire only qualified and competent individuals for professional counseling positions.

g.

Assists in developing: (1) curricular and environmental conditions appropriate for the school and community, (2) educational procedures and programs to meet students’ developmental needs, and (3) a systematic evaluation process for comprehensive, developmental, standards-based school counseling programs, services, and personnel. The counselor is guided by the findings of the evaluation data in planning programs and services.

a.

Collaborates with agencies, organizations, and individuals in the community in the best interest of students and without regard to personal reward or remuneration.

b.

Extends his/her influence and opportunity to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program to all students by collaborating with community resources for student success.

a.

Functions within the boundaries of individual professional competence and accepts responsibility for the consequences of his/her actions.

b.

Monitors personal well-being and effectiveness and does not participate in any activity that may lead to inadequate professional services or harm to a student.

c.

Strives through personal initiative to maintain professional competence including technological literacy and to keep abreast of professional information. Professional and personal growth are ongoing throughout the counselor’s career.

a.

Accepts the policies and procedures for handling ethical violations as a result of maintaining membership in the American School Counselor Association.

b.

Conducts herself/himself in such a manner as to advance individual ethical practice and the profession.

c.

Conducts appropriate research and report findings in a manner consistent with acceptable educational and psychological research practices. The counselor advocates for the protection of the individual student’s identity when using data for research or program planning.

d.

Adheres to ethical standards of the profession, other official policy statements, such as ASCA’s position statements, role statement, and the ASCA National Model, and relevant statutes established by federal, state, and local governments, and when these are in conflict works responsibly for change.

e.

Clearly distinguishes between statements and actions made as a private individual and those made as a representative of the school counseling profession.

f.

Does not use his/her professional position to recruit or gain clients, consultees for his/her private practice, or to seek and receive unjustified personal gains, unfair advantage, inappropriate relationships, or unearned goods or services.

a.

Actively participates in local, state, and national associations fostering the development and improvement of school counseling.

b.

Contributes to the development of the profession through the sharing of skills, ideas, and expertise with colleagues.

c.

Provides support and mentoring to novice professionals.

1.

The counselor should consult confidentially with a professional colleague to discuss the nature of a complaint to see if the professional colleague views the situation as an ethical violation.

2.

When feasible, the counselor should directly approach the colleague whose behavior is in question to discuss the complaint and seek resolution.

3.

If resolution is not forthcoming at the personal level, the counselor shall utilize the channels established within the school, school district, the state school counseling association, and ASCA’s Ethics Committee.

4.

If the matter still remains unresolved, referral for review and appropriate action should be made to the Ethics Committees in the following sequence:

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state school counselor association

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American School Counselor Association

5.

The ASCA Ethics Committee is responsible for:

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educating and consulting with the membership regarding ethical standards

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periodically reviewing and recommending changes in code

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receiving and processing questions to clarify the application of such standards; questions must be submitted in writing to the ASCA Ethics chair.

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handling complaints of alleged violations of the ethical standards. At the national level, complaints should be submitted in writing to the ASCA Ethics Committee, c/o the Executive Director, American School Counselor Association, 1101 King St., Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314.