Which guides school counselors' work with students who most often are minors?

• A. American Counseling Association Code of Ethics
• B. National Board for Certified Counselors Code of Ethics
• C. International Counseling Ethics Standards
• D. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors

Answer: (D)

The situation focuses on guiding a school counselor’s work with students who are minors. In K–12 settings, the ethics framework that fits best is the one specifically written for school counselors. The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors are designed with the school context in mind, addressing how counselors implement a comprehensive guidance program, protect student welfare, handle confidentiality and disclosure in a way that fits the school environment, and collaborate with families and other school staff while safeguarding students’ rights. This focused guidance makes it the most practical and applicable framework for working with minor students in schools.

The other codes are important for counselors in general, but they cover broad practice across many settings and populations rather than the particular duties and boundaries within a school. International standards aren’t the standard framework used in U.S. K–12 schools. So, for guiding work with minors in a school, the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors are the most relevant choice.