School Counseling - Job Description & Evaluation

Professional School Counselors are educators who have master’s degrees and a state school counselor certification. School Counselors provide specialized counseling and guidance as outlined in The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. 

It is important to avoid evaluating school counselors according to criteria developed for classroom teachers or other educational professionals.

Districts must reference TEC, §33.006 School Counselor: General Duties, to establish a school counselor job description and evaluation tool. Counselors are expected to spend at least 80% of their time implementing a comprehensive school counseling program according to TEC, §33.005, unless otherwise prescribed in local school board policy. Time not spent on counseling duties described in the comprehensive school counseling program, should be limited to 20% or less of the counselor's total work time.

Below are links to some helpful school counseling evaluation tools and statutes.

• TAC, Section 21.356: Evaluation of School Counselors 

• TEC, 33.006: School Counselors: General Duties 

• The American School Counselor Association’s School Counselor Performance Appraisal 

• Texas School Counselor Evaluation and Support System (T-SCESS) 

• The Texas Evaluation Model for Professional School Counselors, 3rd Edition (TEMP-SC)