GACE School Counseling 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Holland's RIASEC model categorizes people and work environments into six types. A student who enjoys working with tools and machinery would MOST likely fall into which Holland type?
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Realistic (Correct answer)
- Conventional
Correct answer: Realistic
The Realistic type in Holland's model is characterized by preference for practical, hands-on work with tools, machines, or physical materials.
Question 2: A parent demands to see the notes a counselor took during private counseling sessions with their 16-year-old child. Under FERPA, the counselor's BEST response is to:
- Provide the notes immediately as they are part of the educational record
- Explain that sole-possession notes kept private are generally exempt from FERPA (Correct answer)
- Require a court order before releasing any information
- Allow access only if the student gives written permission
Correct answer: Explain that sole-possession notes kept private are generally exempt from FERPA
Sole-possession records that are kept private by the maker and not shared with others are exempt from FERPA and do not have to be disclosed.
Question 3: The primary purpose of a school counseling program's use-of-time guidelines is to:
- Limit the number of students a counselor can serve
- Ensure counselors spend the majority of time in direct and indirect student services (Correct answer)
- Require counselors to document every minute of their workday
- Establish a rigid daily schedule for all counseling activities
Correct answer: Ensure counselors spend the majority of time in direct and indirect student services
Use-of-time guidelines help ensure counselors allocate the majority of their time to direct and indirect student services rather than non-counseling duties.
Question 4: When conducting a needs assessment for a school counseling program, which data source would provide the MOST valid information about student barriers to academic success?
- State-mandated test score averages only
- A combination of student, parent, teacher, and administrator surveys along with outcome data (Correct answer)
- The counselor's personal observations and case notes
- National research on student risk factors
Correct answer: A combination of student, parent, teacher, and administrator surveys along with outcome data
A comprehensive needs assessment uses multiple stakeholder perspectives combined with outcome data to accurately identify local student needs and barriers.
Question 5: A school counselor suspects a colleague is engaging in an unethical dual relationship with a student. According to ASCA ethics, the counselor should FIRST:
- Report the colleague anonymously to the state licensing board
- Confront the student and ask for details about the relationship
- Attempt to resolve the concern directly with the colleague when possible (Correct answer)
- Immediately notify law enforcement without further investigation
Correct answer: Attempt to resolve the concern directly with the colleague when possible
ASCA ethical standards direct counselors to first attempt to resolve suspected ethical violations through direct conversation with the colleague before escalating.
Question 6: Super's theory of career development identifies 'Establishment' as a stage occurring roughly between ages:
- 14–24
- 25–44 (Correct answer)
- 45–64
- 65+
Correct answer: 25–44
In Super's model, the Establishment stage (approximately ages 25–44) involves settling into a career and advancing within it.
Question 7: A counselor is asked by administration to spend most of the day proctoring standardized tests. According to ASCA's position, this is considered:
- An appropriate use of counselor time as it supports student achievement
- An appropriate administrative duty listed in the ASCA model
- A non-counseling duty that detracts from the school counseling program (Correct answer)
- A mandatory counselor responsibility under IDEA
Correct answer: A non-counseling duty that detracts from the school counseling program
ASCA identifies test proctoring as a non-counseling clerical duty that prevents counselors from fulfilling their primary programmatic responsibilities.
GACE School Counseling 4
Holland's RIASEC model categorizes people and work environments into six types.
A student who enjoys working with tools and machinery would MOST likely fall into which Holland type?