National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA)

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    NOSCA National Conference: Destination Equity 2010

    Watch the video to learn what participants have to say about their experience at the 2010 NOSCA National Conference

  • Principal-Counselor Relationships Critical to Student Success

    Hear what leaders from NOSCA, NASSP and ASCA, and members of effective principal-counselor teams have to say.

  • Eight Elements to Help School Counselors 'Own the Turf' of College and Career Readiness

    New release — NOSCA's Eight Components of College and Career Readiness Counseling provide a systemic approach for school counselors to ensure equity both in process and results...

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    Exploring the Principal-Counselor Relationship in Schools

    Watch the video featuring representatives from NOSCA, ASCA and NASSP, plus effective principal-counselor teams

Why We're Helping

School counselors are uniquely positioned as the school professionals best able to guide all students toward college readiness, marshaling forces from across the school, district and community.

Too few students are graduating from high school ready for college. In today's knowledge-based, global economy, a college education is the gateway to social mobility and better opportunities. The vast majority of America's high school students (86 percent) expect to attend college, but many lack the support and guidance they need to prepare for enrollment and success in college (U.S. Department of Education, NCES 2010-170). This is an urgent concern for the future of the nation as a whole and for our most underserved communities.

The College Board's National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) believes school counselors are critical school-based professionals who have significant impact on children's futures and are essential to their attainment of meaningful future career options and high-quality life circumstances. We work to institutionalize school counseling practice that advances equitable educational access and rigorous academic preparation necessary for college readiness for all students.

Our Progress

Established multiple advisory groups that serve as focus groups for school counselor issues

Inspiration & Innovation highlighted research on effective counseling practices in College Board Inspiration Award Schools — schools with a high percentage of low-income, minority and first-generation college students

A Closer Look at the Principal-Counselor Relationship provided results of a survey of school counselors and principals on aspects of their working relationships

Finding a Way profiled highly effective principal-counselor teams from across the country — a collaboration with NASSP and ASCA

Created training programs for K-12 schools to build capacity of school counselor leaders and help practicing school counselors contribute to major district-wide goals for student achievement.

Launched training programs for K-12 school systems to transform district-wide school counseling programs and practices, and to establish a framework for accountability for transformed work that can be expressed in measurable outcomes.

Ongoing professional development workshops and activities, presentations and advocacy throughout the United States

An initiative to help urban school districts plan their counseling programs effectively, use data to drive decision making, and set metrics for determining success

A toolkit to help principals and school counselors develop more effective working relationships — a collaboration with NASSP and ASCA

Research on what constitutes a college-going culture, including examples of exemplary practices

A national survey of school counselors beginning in 2011 to explore their perspectives about their roles, responsibilities, professional relationships, current practices and priorities for the future.

The NOSCA Team

Director, Counselor Advocacy, National Office for School Counselor Advocacy
Assistant Vice President, National Office for School Counselor Advocacy
K-12 Director for Counselor Advocacy, National Office for School Counselor Advocacy

Our Goal

To promote the value of school counselors as leaders in school reform, student achievement and college readiness.

News & Events

Dec 31
School counselors mobilize to 'own their turf'
Dec 31
Recognizing exemplary school counseling professionals
Apr16-18
See pictures from the conference
Dec 31
Survey reveals importance of strong relationships between school principals and counselors
Dec 31
Recognizing exemplary school counseling professionals
Dec 31
Research highlights effective counseling practices

The collective message of the counselors to parents is that nothing can stand in your way in sending your child to college. It is our job to demystify access to college and help all students complete college preparation, testing, applications and financial aid forms.

Leonora Deaton
Counselor, Edinburg North High School

Contact Us

National Office for School Counselor Advocacy

The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 600

Washington, DC 20036-2375

NOSCA invites you to share your thoughts, ideas, feedback and suggestions. For more information on how you can get involved in school counselor advocacy, email guidance@collegeboard.org