DESE School Counseling & Support Services 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school counselor notices a pattern of disproportionate disciplinary referrals for students from a specific racial group. The most appropriate systemic response is to:
- Address each discipline case individually without looking at patterns
- Present data to school leadership and advocate for equitable discipline practices (Correct answer)
- Assume the pattern reflects student behavior rather than systemic issues
- Refer all affected students to special education evaluation
Correct answer: Present data to school leadership and advocate for equitable discipline practices
School counselors have an ethical obligation to use data to identify inequities and advocate systemically for all students, including challenging disproportionate discipline practices.
Question 2: During a grief counseling session, a student describes feeling 'numb' and 'disconnected' six months after a parent's death. The counselor should:
- Reassure the student that grief should be resolved within six months
- Recognize these as potential signs of complicated grief and consider referral (Correct answer)
- Discourage discussion of the deceased parent to avoid retraumatization
- Immediately refer the student to psychiatric services for medication
Correct answer: Recognize these as potential signs of complicated grief and consider referral
Numbness and dissociation persisting six months post-loss are signs of complicated grief warranting further assessment and potential referral to a mental health professional.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the school counselor's role in an IEP meeting?
- Serving as the decision-maker for all special education placements
- Contributing expertise on the student's social-emotional development and counseling needs (Correct answer)
- Administering all psychological assessments required for IEP development
- Approving or denying special education eligibility determinations
Correct answer: Contributing expertise on the student's social-emotional development and counseling needs
School counselors contribute their knowledge of students' social-emotional functioning and may provide counseling as a related service, but do not make placement or eligibility decisions.
Question 4: A student from a collectivist cultural background declines individual counseling, preferring family involvement in problem-solving. The culturally responsive approach is to:
- Insist on individual sessions as standard best practice
- Explore family-inclusive counseling approaches that honor the student's cultural values (Correct answer)
- Refer the student to a counselor of the same cultural background
- Delay services until the student agrees to individual sessions
Correct answer: Explore family-inclusive counseling approaches that honor the student's cultural values
Culturally responsive practice requires adapting counseling approaches to honor students' cultural values, which may include incorporating family systems in collectivist cultures.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a school counselor conducting a needs assessment at the beginning of the school year?
- To identify students who require disciplinary action
- To gather data to inform program priorities and resource allocation (Correct answer)
- To evaluate individual teachers' classroom management effectiveness
- To satisfy state reporting requirements with minimal program impact
Correct answer: To gather data to inform program priorities and resource allocation
Needs assessments help school counselors identify the specific academic, career, and social-emotional needs of their school community to design a data-driven, responsive program.
Question 6: Under FERPA, a school counselor may share a student's educational records without consent in which circumstance?
- When a parent requests the records be shared with a neighbor
- When there is a legitimate educational interest by school officials (Correct answer)
- When a media outlet requests information for a news story
- When a college requests records for marketing purposes
Correct answer: When there is a legitimate educational interest by school officials
FERPA permits disclosure without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests, among other specific exceptions outlined in the law.
Question 7: A school counselor using solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) with a struggling student would most likely ask:
- 'Tell me about all the problems you've been experiencing at home and school.'
- 'Describe a time when things were going better and what was different then.' (Correct answer)
- 'How do you think your past childhood experiences are affecting you now?'
- 'What psychological diagnosis do you believe best describes your difficulties?'
Correct answer: 'Describe a time when things were going better and what was different then.'
SFBT uses exception questions to identify times when problems were absent or less severe, helping clients recognize their own resources and solutions.
DESE School Counseling & Support Services 3
A school counselor notices a pattern of disproportionate disciplinary referrals for students from a specific racial group.
The most appropriate systemic response is to: