GACE School Counseling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school counselor notices a student's grades have dropped significantly over the past month. What is the MOST appropriate first step?
- Refer the student immediately to a mental health professional
- Schedule a one-on-one meeting with the student to explore contributing factors (Correct answer)
- Contact the parents and recommend tutoring services
- Notify the principal and request a student support team meeting
Correct answer: Schedule a one-on-one meeting with the student to explore contributing factors
A private meeting allows the counselor to assess the situation holistically before determining the appropriate level of intervention.
Question 2: Under FERPA, a school counselor may release a student's educational records WITHOUT parental consent to:
- A community mental health therapist treating the student
- School officials with a legitimate educational interest (Correct answer)
- A local newspaper reporting on student achievement
- A college recruiter visiting the campus
Correct answer: School officials with a legitimate educational interest
FERPA allows disclosure to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records without requiring parental consent.
Question 3: Which theoretical framework is most associated with William Glasser and emphasizes students' choices and personal responsibility?
- Adlerian therapy
- Reality therapy (Correct answer)
- Person-centered therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Correct answer: Reality therapy
Reality therapy, developed by William Glasser, focuses on present behavior, personal choice, and satisfying basic psychological needs.
Question 4: A 10th-grade student discloses she is being physically abused at home. The counselor's FIRST legal obligation is to:
- Consult with the school psychologist before taking action
- Maintain confidentiality because the student requested it
- Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective services agency (Correct answer)
- Notify the student's teacher and principal simultaneously
Correct answer: Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective services agency
Mandatory reporting laws require school counselors to report suspected child abuse to child protective services immediately, regardless of confidentiality.
Question 5: The ASCA National Model's Delivery component includes all of the following EXCEPT:
- Direct student services
- Indirect student services
- School counseling program assessment (Correct answer)
- Responsive services
Correct answer: School counseling program assessment
Program assessment belongs to the Accountability component of the ASCA National Model, not the Delivery component.
Question 6: A counselor is developing a classroom guidance lesson on career exploration for 8th graders. Which ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors domain does this PRIMARILY address?
- Social/Emotional Development
- Academic Development
- Career Development (Correct answer)
- Personal Development
Correct answer: Career Development
Career exploration lessons align with the Career Development domain of the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors standards.
Question 7: When using the SIGI3 or similar career assessment tool with students, the counselor's primary role is to:
- Administer the tool and provide students with a career recommendation
- Interpret results and match students to specific job openings
- Help students understand results and explore how they connect to their goals (Correct answer)
- Score the assessment and report findings directly to parents
Correct answer: Help students understand results and explore how they connect to their goals
Counselors facilitate students' self-understanding by helping them interpret assessment results in the context of their own interests, values, and goals.
GACE School Counseling 2
A school counselor notices a student's grades have dropped significantly over the past month.
What is the MOST appropriate first step?