In the manage component of the ASCA model, which activity is a primary expectation of school counselors under Program Planning?

• A. Determine annual student outcome goals
• B. Develop a district policy manual
• C. Conduct parent surveys for all schools
• D. Schedule annual facility reviews

Answer: (A)

Under the ASCA National Model, the manage component focuses on organizing and coordinating the school counseling program so it delivers measurable results. A core task under Program Planning is to articulate annual student outcome goals. These goals specify what students should know or be able to do by the end of the year across academic, career, and personal-social areas. Setting these measurable outcomes gives the counseling program a clear direction, shapes the services and interventions delivered, and provides a basis for evaluating progress and accountability.

The other options miss the central planning emphasis: creating a district policy manual is more about overall policy administration than the school counseling program’s planning; conducting parent surveys is data gathering, not the primary planning activity; scheduling annual facility reviews relates to facilities management, not counseling program planning.