Transforming School Counselor Education: A Delphi Study

Abstract

Background: School counselor educators are tasked with preparing emerging school counselors in training to address systemic inequities and promote lasting change for pre-K–12 students. The Transforming School Counseling Initiative (TSCI), established nearly 30 years ago, challenged the traditional school counseling model, encouraging a shift toward equity, leadership, and systemic change. Given ongoing ecological factors influencing school counseling, a reassessment of preparation content and structure is timely. Objectives: This study aimed to revisit the foundational tenets of TSCI and determine the current training needs of school counselors in training. Research Question: What changes do you believe need to be made to school counseling preparatory programs in order to effectively prepare emerging school counselors to meet the needs of pre-K–12 students in the 21st century? Methods: This study utilized a three-round Delphi methodology, an iterative, consensus-building process involving an anonymous panel of experts. The panel consisted of 24 initial experts, including school counselors and counselor educators. Results and Conclusions: Across three phases, panelists reached consensus to keep 107 essential items related to program transformation. These items were organized into five primary categories: program structure (24 items); course content (32 items); field experiences (14 items), recruitment, selection, and retention (18 items); and advocacy, outreach, and partnership efforts (19 items). Key needs identified included integrating supports, addressing state licensure needs, enhancing educational-focused content, and focusing on financial considerations and diversity in recruitment. The results reflect the expert panel’s vision for the next iteration of TSCI, providing school counseling programs with a roadmap for necessary review and enhancement.