School Counseling Websites: Do They Have Content that Serves Diverse Students?

Abstract

The 12 diversity dimensions of the ASCA Ethical Standards (ASCA, 2010) provided a framework for examining whether a statewide sample of high school counseling websites (N = 312) had content for diverse students and their families. Many websites offered little content related to those dimensions, and content was especially low for some groups including LGBT students and immigrant students. Findings indicate a need for school counseling websites to have nondiscrimination statements, text/documents, links, and financial aid information for diverse populations.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American School Counselor Association. (2010). Ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/OtherMedia/EthicalStandards2010.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2012). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs(3rd ed.).Alexandria, VA: Author.

Aud

, Hussar

, Johnson

, Kena

, Roth

, Manning

, … Zhang

(2012). The condition of education 2012(NCES 2012–045). Retrieved from National Center for Education Statistics website: http://nces.ed.gov/

Bidell

M.P.

(2012).Examining school counseling students’ multicultural and sexual orientation competencies through a cross-specialization comparison. Journal of Counseling & Development,90, 200–207. doi:10.111/j.1556-6676.2012.0025.x

Bidell

M. P.

, Ragen

J. K.

, Broach

C. D.

& Carrillo

E.A.

(2007).First impressions: A multicultural content analysis of professional psychology program web sites. Training and Education in Professional Psychology,1, 204–214. doi:10.1037/1931-3918.1.3.204

Bidell

M. P.

, Turner

J. A.

, & Casas

J.M.

(2002).First impressions count: Ethnic/racial and lesbian/gay/bisexual content of professional psychology application materials. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice,33, 97–103. doi:10.1037//0735-7028.33.1.97

Bolman

L.G.

, & Deal

T.E.

(2008). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership(4th ed.).San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Carey

, & Dimmitt

(2012).School counseling and student outcomes: Summary of six statewide studies. Professional School Counseling,16, 146–153. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2012-16.146

Cifuentes

, Green

, & McNamara

(2004, October). How culturally responsive are public school district websites to the needs of the Latino community? Paper presented at the Twenty-Seventh Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Chicago, IL. Abstract retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED485010

10.

Dollarhide

C.T.

(2003).School counselors as program leaders: Applying leadership contexts to school counseling. Professional School Counseling,6, 304–308.

11.

Federal Student Aid. (2012). Do you need money for college? Federal student aid at a glance 2012–2013. Retrieved from http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/

12.

Flowers

C. P.

, Bray

, Furr

, & Algozzine

R.F.

(2002).Accessibility of counseling education programs’ websites for students with disabilities. Journal of Technology in Counseling, 2(2). Retrieved from http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/vol2_2/index.htm

13.

Gonzalez

L. M.

, Borders

L. D.

, Hines

E. M.

Villalba

J.A.

, & Henderson

(2013).Parental involvement in children's education: Considerations for school counselors working with Latino immigrant families. Professional School Counseling,16, 185–193. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2013-16.183

14.

Hall

W. J.

, McDougald

A. M.

, & Kresica

A.M.

(2014).School counselors’ education and training, competency, and supportive behaviors concerning gay, lesbian, and bisexual students. Professional School Counseling,17, 130–141. Retrieved from http://schoolcounselor.metapress.com/

15.

Hartshorne

, Friedman

, Algozzine

, & Isibor

(2006). Secondary schools online: Are high school web sites effective? American Secondary Education, 34(2), 50–66.

16.

Hartshorne

, Friedman

, Algozzine

, & Kaur

(2008).Analysis of elementary school websites. Educational Technology & Society,11, 291–303.

17.

Hayden

, Poynton

T. A.

, & Sabella

R. A.

(2008).School counselors’ use of technology within the ASCA National Model's delivery system. Journal of Technology in Counseling, 5(1). Retrieved from http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/Vol5_1/index.htm

18.

Heppner

P. P.

, Wampold

B. E.

, & Kivlighan

D.M.

(2008). Research design in counseling(3rd ed.).Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

19.

Holcomb-McCoy

(2005).An examination of urban and suburban school counselors’ familiarity with and usage of computer technology. Journal of Technology in Counseling, 4(1). Retrieved from http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/Vol4_1/Holcomb/Holcomb.htm

20.

Holcomb-McCoy

(2007). School counseling to close the achievement gap. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

21.

Klein

, Myhill

, Hansen

, Asby

, Michaelson

, & Blanck

(2003).Electronic doors to education: Study of high school website accessibility in Iowa. Behavioral Sciences and the Law,21, 27–49. doi:10.1002/bsl.521

22.

Krippendorff

(2013). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology.(3rd ed.).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

23.

Lapan

R.T.

(2012).Comprehensive school counseling programs: In some schools for some students but not in all schools for all students. Professional School Counseling,16, 84–88. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2012-16.84

24.

Lee

C.C.

(2001).Culturally responsive school counselors and programs: Addressing the needs of all students. Professional School Counseling,4, 257–261.

25.

Loague

A. M.

, Alexander

J. J.

, & Reynolds

G.P.

(2010).The school counselor web page. In Walz

G. R.

, Bleuer

J. C.

, & Yep

R. K.

(Eds.), Ideas and research you can use: VISTAS 2010(pp.1–9). Retrieved from http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas10/Article_62.pdf

26.

McGlothlin

J. M.

, West

J. D.

, Osborn

C. J.

& Musson

J.L.

(2008).A review of counselor education websites: Recommendations for marketing counselor education programs. Journal of Technology in Counseling, 5(1). Retrieved from http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/Vol5_1/index.htm

27.

McKillip

M.E.M.

, Rawls

, & Barry

(2012).Improving college access: A review of research on the role of high school counselors. Professional School Counseling,16, 49–58. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2012-16.49

28.

Miller

, Adsit

K. I.

, & Miller

(2005).Evaluating the importance of common components in school-based websites: Frequency of appearance and stakeholders’ judged value. TechTrends,49, 34–41. doi:10.1007/BF02763728

29.

Milsom

, & Bryant

(2006). School counseling departmental web sites: What message do we send? Professional School Counseling,10, 210–216.

30.

Morganson

V. J.

, Jones

M. P.

, & Major

D.A.

(2010).Understanding women's underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: The role of social coping. The Career Development Quarterly,59, 169–179. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2010.tb00060.x

31.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2005). Internet access in U.S. public schools and classrooms: 1994–2003(NCES Publication No.: 2005015). Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/2005015/index.asp?sectionid=2

32.

Reynolds

G. P.

, & Kitchens

(2007).Evaluating school counseling websites: An evaluation tool. Journal of School Counseling,5, 1–11. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id-EJ901182

33.

Stone

C. B.

, & Turba

(1999).School counselors using technology for advocacy. Journal of Technology, 1(1). Retrieved from http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/vol1_1/advocacy.htm

34.

Stork

M.G.

(2012). Determining the effectiveness of a culturally customized school website. (Doctoral dissertation, Nova Southeastern University). Retrieved from http://www.michelestork.com

35.

Van Horn

S. M.

, & Myrick

R. D.

(2001).Computer technology and the 21st century school counselor. Professional School Counseling,5, 124–130.

36.

Wilson

J.L.

, & Meyer

K.A.

(2009).Higher education websites: The “virtual face” of diversity. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education,2, 91–102. doi:10.1037/a0015443

37.

Wright

P.J.

, & McKinley

C.J.

(2011).Mental health resources for LGBT collegians: A content analysis of college counseling center web sites. Journal of Homosexuality,58, 138–147. doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.533632