Experiences With Elementary School Counseling Advocacy

Elementary school counselors are instrumental in student success and well-being; unfortunately, school counselors at the elementary level also have higher caseloads and more tenuous job opportunities. Thus, there exists a need to advocate for elementary school counseling. Previous research has examined school counseling advocacy across K–12 settings and included advocacy as one aspect of larger studies. Given this gap in the literature, we conducted a phenomenological investigation to examine the lived experiences of professionals who reported successfully advocating for elementary school counseling positions and roles. We discuss findings and implications, including applying results to the school counseling profession, in an effort to bolster elementary school counseling and better school counseling services to students.

Mechanisms of Matriculation: School Counseling Resources and College Going for Latino Men

This study extends prior work on the college-going efforts of Latino boys and adolescents (Latinos) by examining the extent to which meeting with a school counselor is related to their college-going aspirations and whether they apply to and ultimately matriculate to college. The study utilizes social capital and social reproduction theories to hypothesize about school counselors’ role in Latinos’ postsecondary matriculation. Utilizing data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, we used logistic regression to test the hypotheses that contact with a school counselor is related to an increased likelihood of intent to matriculate, application to 4-year institutions, and enrollment in college. We found that Latinos were just as likely as their White counterparts to aspire to college and just as likely to enroll if they applied. Moreover, those odds were not related to having visited a school counselor in ninth or 11th grade. We also found that Latinos who met with a school counselor in ninth grade were significantly less likely to apply to a 4-year institution while those who met with a counselor in 11th grade were significantly more likely to apply. We discuss the implications of our findings in light of existing research and make recommendations for future research and practice.

Development and Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Interventionist Multitiered Systems of Support Multicultural Competence Scale

This article describes the development of a measure of interventionists' competence in implementing culturally responsive multitiered systems of support (MTSS) practices. We ran an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a 30-question survey that measured the multicultural competence of 651 school counselors and psychologists in MTSS implementation. The EFA indicated a five-factor structure of the Interventionist MTSS Multicultural Competence Scale (IMMCS): (a) Cultural Knowledge, (b) Cultural Awareness, (c) Cultural Skills, (d) Cultural Appreciation, and (e) Respect for Cultural Differences.

K–12 School Counselors Utilizing Critical Race Theory to Support the Racial Identity Development and Academic Achievement of African American Males

This article examines the role of racial identity development in the academic achievement of African American adolescent males. Through the lens of critical race theory (CRT), we highlight how K–12 school counselors may support and enhance the schooling experiences of African American males by understanding and acknowledging how racial identity development may impact academic achievement. A focus on CRT in education emphasizes the continual persistence of racism ingrained in K–12 education located within the educational opportunities, curriculum, representation, and teacher perception of African American males. We offer insight into how school counselors may work to decrease barriers to achievement by analyzing the effect race and gender have on the identification, retention, and underachievement of their African American male students.

Validation of the College Planning Behaviors Scale

College preparation is an important topic in the educational attainment of high school students. Much of the research on college planning focuses on the importance and timing of preparing for postsecondary education; however, little research has explored the steps students actually take while preparing for college. The current study utilized the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) framework to create a validated measure to assess choice behavior. The purpose of the current study was to create a validated measure for choice actions that could be used with diverse student groups. The measure was found to demonstrate good reliability and validity in this population, providing strong internal consistency and construct validity. Further, these findings support college-planning behaviors’ linkage to barriers, college-going self-efficacy, and college outcome expectations (COE).

“You Are Going to School”: Exploring the Precollege Experiences of First-Year Black Males in Higher Education

Black males are often underrepresented in postsecondary education settings and frequently encounter many barriers in getting to college. Our aim in this qualitative investigation was to understand the precollege and college experiences of Black males who successfully enrolled in a postsecondary institution. Through a focus group interview, seven Black males in a living and learning community shared their experiences prior to and during enrollment at a highly selective, predominantly White institution. We used the grounded theory approach ( Strauss & Corbin, 1998 ) to analyze the focus group data and pinpoint thematic explanations of precollegiate and collegiate experiences of Black males. Based on the thematic findings, we offer specific recommendations on how school counselors can help Black males prepare and eventually matriculate in higher education.

School–Family–Community Partnerships for Educational Success and Equity for Black Male Students

Throughout the past decade, scholars have argued that the persistent achievement gap between Black male students and their White peers is a result of unequal and inadequate educational opportunities instead of inherent differences in their capability or character. School counselors can help support Black males by using equity-focused school–family–community partnerships that provide a strong network of support, resources, and increased educational opportunities—all of which contribute to positive academic outcomes and help eliminate barriers caused by systemic racism. In this article, we apply a step-by-step partnership process model to a case in which a school counselor used partnerships to advocate for Black students facing racism and educational inequities in a school district.

Involving Families in the Postsecondary Planning Process: A Case Study

Researchers show that family involvement is crucial to a student’s success, yet finding ways to engage parents in the postsecondary planning process is sometimes challenging for school counselors. This case study highlights one school district’s process of developing and implementing a program geared toward engaging parents in their students’ postsecondary planning process. We discuss the rationale, steps taken to incorporate multiple stakeholders and data throughout the planning process, and attendee feedback.

College Transition Program for Student-Athletes (CTPSA): A Psychoeducational Group for Boys of Color

This article suggests a group intervention for student-athlete boys of color who intend to play sports in college. This group is a component of a larger proposed school-wide program, the College Transition Program for Student-Athletes (CTPSA). The CTPSA’s suggested group intervention offers school counselors a college readiness option to support the college application process, college adjustment, and transition for boys of color who are student-athletes. We discuss the group’s purpose, design, format, curriculum, and expected outcomes and present implications for school counselors and other counseling professionals.

Introduction to the Special Issue: Males of Color and School Counseling

The sense of urgency for addressing the concerns of males of color cannot be overstated. The reality of racial discrimination and trauma is present for males of color in urban, suburban, and rural settings and regardless of their socioeconomic status. Such oppressive conditions in education, criminal justice, health, and employment, for example, wreak havoc on their overall well-being and advancement in society. Until the systems constraining the progress of males of color are addressed through substantive policy and practice, the social, economic, and educational struggles will persist. This special issue presents 19 theoretical, qualitative, and quantitative articles focusing specifically on the experiences of males of color in educational settings and the importance of school counselors in helping them to thrive.