Outline of the state of New Hampshire
State
New Hampshire
Required

Category
School Counseling Elementary Grade Levels—K-8

Category
School Counseling Elementary Grade Levels—K-8

State law requires the provision of school counseling or guidance services in elementary grade levels (K-8).

New Hampshire Administrative Rules Ed 306.15 Provision of Staff and Staff Qualifications.

(b) The local school board shall require that in carrying out the school counseling program established by Ed 306.39:

  • (1) The counseling load in each elementary school shall not exceed the equivalent of one full-time certified school counselor per 500 students enrolled;
Policy Type
Regulation

New Hampshire Administrative Rules Ed 306.39 School counseling program

(a) The local school board shall require that each school in its district provides for the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program based on this section and "The ASCA National Model: A Foundation for School Counseling Program," published by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) in 2012 as referenced in Appendix II as an integral part of the total educational program. The local school board shall require that each district develop and have on file a comprehensive K-12 School counseling program policy and implementation plan consistent with the components in this section and kept current biennially. (b) The K-12 school counseling program shall include a comprehensive sequence of learning opportunities designed to promote each student's development of work-study practices in academic development, career development, and personal/social development by means of the following components: (1) A school counseling core curriculum based on the ASCA student competencies and local goals, designed to help students attain the desired work-study practices and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills appropriate to their developmental level, including prevention and intervention activities. The school counseling core curriculum shall be delivered throughout the school's overall curriculum and be systematically presented by school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities; (2) Individual student planning that is coordinated and systematic including activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals, developing future plans, and attaining college and career-ready, work-study practices; (3) Responsive services to meet students' immediate needs and concerns and counselor teaming in crisis response; (4) School counseling program management including data-driven decision-making reflective of the school's needs; and (5) Consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations, and referral of students for additional assistance. (c) For the school counseling programs in grades K-12, the performance of the school counselor(s) shall be evaluated on knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes necessary to plan, organize, implement and evaluate the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA national model. (d) For the school counseling programs in grades K-12, schools shall demonstrate the effectiveness of the local comprehensive school counseling program through a summary report of student performance in achievement, attendance, and behavior to the local school board at least once a year. (e) The staff requirements for provision of the comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program shall be as set forth in Ed 306.15(b).

Policy Type
Regulation

New Hampshire Administrative Rules Ed 306.40 Health Education Program.

(a) Pursuant to Ed 306.26 and Ed 306.27, the local school board shall require that a school health education program for grades 1-12 provides: (4) A comprehensive guidance and counseling program.

Policy Type
Regulation