School counselors:

• Empower students to identify and address barriers that interfere with learning and the classroom environment and by assisting students with academic career and college planning.
• Provide leadership and advocacy to promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students. 
• Collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators and other school staff to promote student success.
• Teach classroom lessons that align with the North Carolina Student Success Standards. 
• Provide individual or small group counseling to students on a short term basis. School counselors may refer students who have needs that go beyond the purpose of the counseling program to community resources and can assist families in finding resources in the community for additional support as needed.

School counseling programs support students' academic, career and social-emotional development.  Each school personalizes a comprehensive counseling program based on the needs of the school’s student population with the objective of improving student performance and well-being. School Counselors emphasize both a standards-based and strengths-based approach. Students may seek counseling or be referred by staff or parents. All schools follow the Parental Involvement Policy (Policy 1310/4002) in regard to parental notification/permission for counseling programs.

School counselors are expected to apply their professional training in schools in order to support student success. Through comprehensive school counseling programs of a developmental, preventive, intervention, and responsive nature, school counselors address academic development, college and career readiness and social-emotional development of students.