In the manage component, which activity is a primary focus of Program Planning?

• A. Determining annual student outcome goals
• B. Writing the school's mission statement
• C. Conducting annual facility inspections
• D. Scheduling staff meetings

Answer: (A)

Program planning within the manage component centers on deciding what student learning and well-being outcomes the school counseling program will aim to achieve in a given year, and then shaping the plan to reach those targets. The strongest fit is determining annual student outcome goals because it creates specific, measurable targets that guide the design of counseling services, classroom activities, and individual interventions, and it provides a basis for evaluating progress and adjusting strategies over time. Writing the school's mission statement is a broader articulation of purpose rather than a plan for how the counseling program will operate to influence student outcomes. Conducting annual facility inspections and scheduling staff meetings are important administrative tasks that support overall school functioning but do not define the program's learning and behavioral outcomes for students.