School counselors’ role in supporting student voice initiatives in secondary schools

Abstract

Abstract School counselors play an integral role in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally. However, due to various demands, school counselors often face time constraints that limit them from providing social and emotional support to students at the secondary level. In this case study, an analysis of qualitative interviews with 13 high school students and 20 administrators who participated in a student voice initiative in a large, urban school district showed that participating students gained social and analytic skills, and the initiative produced a more positive school climate. These outcomes align with those articulated in school counseling standards. Throughout the article, the researchers discuss a student voice initiative that was implemented district-wide, outcomes from the research study pertaining to the intervention, and implications for school counseling practices to support student voice initiatives at the secondary level.