Vision
Inspire all students to develop their potential to become life-long learners who are college and career-ready citizens who respect themselves and others.

Mission
The mission of the Katy ISD Guidance and Counseling Department is to provide equitable access to a comprehensive program in order to maximize the academic, personal/social, and career development of all students in an environment that is safe, nurturing, inclusive, and respectful.  Through advocacy, leadership, collaboration, and systemic change, Katy ISD Professional School Counselors will partner with key stakeholders to champion student success.

Belief Statements

1. All students have the ability to reach their greatest academic, personal/social, and career potential when given individualized support as they prepare for college and career readiness.
2. The developmental needs of all students are addressed by implementing guidance lessons, small groups, and individual counseling while analyzing student progress data and acquiring feedback from staff, parents/guardians, and students.
3. Professional School Counselors and support staff advocate for students by facilitating communication amongst all stakeholders to provide equal access for self-direction and personal growth.
4. Student achievement is maximized by the participation and support of all school and community stakeholders in the planning, managing, delivery, and evaluation of a comprehensive school counseling program.
5. Data is used to identify student needs, develop goals, plan a comprehensive program, and track program effectiveness that aligns with the campus improvement plan.
6. Professional School Counselors acknowledge and apply high scholastic and ethical standards that enable decision-making based on principles that optimize student development.

Program Definition, Rationale & Assumptions

Katy ISD’s Elementary School Counselors play a vital role in enhancing the educational experience for all students. Our comprehensive school counseling program is delivered through direct and indirect services designed to increase student wellness and improve academic performance.

Our varied delivery allows for a differentiated approach to supporting our diverse student needs.
Elementary school counselors facilitate classroom guidance lessons to support all learners' academic, career, and social-emotional development. Counselors positively impact the students they serve, revealing student strengths and supporting an understanding of self and the world around us.

Our team of dedicated counselors strives to build relationships with all of our students and families to meet their diverse needs. These compassionate professionals partner with our families and other school professionals to establish and achieve attainable goals for student success.

The Katy ISD guidance and counseling department comprises 56 elementary counselors, 131 secondary counselors, and 10 college and career facilitators serving over 95,000 students at 74 campuses. Our program is committed to delivering a comprehensive school counseling program. In addition to developmental guidance instruction, counselors utilize their specialized skills to counsel individuals and small groups, providing a more targeted level of intervention and support. 

Students can access their counselor(s) throughout the day by making an appointment or asking their teacher to visit the counseling office. In collaboration with parents and other educators, counselors often consult regarding a student’s immediate need or concern, to identify the best intervention method. All of our counselors are trained to support students who may be exhibiting signs of a possible mental health crisis.

The Katy ISD Counseling Department is dedicated to the emotional and academic success of all students K-12.

The following conditions and resources are necessary for the Katy ISD School Counseling Program to be fully and effectively implemented.

Using a date/time analysis tool (SCUTA Calendar) allows Katy ISD Counseling leadership to capture time allocated to direct school counseling services, planning, collaboration, and non-counseling related activities.
*Year at a Glance* Counseling program calendar of planned activities created by individual PSC PLC groups.
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and supported, and school counselor responsibilities are aligned with professional roles following ASCA guidelines.
MRE counseling protocol is articulated and adopted through the Katy ISD School Counseling Framework
Removal of Test Coordination responsibilities and other administrative/clerical duties.
Comprehensive Needs Assessment – The development and use of a standard PK-5 Guidance Curriculum reflecting the assessed needs of students, parents, and staff.
Katy ISD PSC Staffing includes 2 counselors per 1,000 Title I students and 1 for non-Title schools.
School counseling-specific budget (broken down)
Tools and Supplies – SEL Learning curriculum, Character Strong Library, books, puppets, fidgets, & consumable supplies.

MRE Counseling Program Mission

Our mission is to promote the mental health and well-being of all students at our elementary school through our counseling program. We aim to support the school's focus on strong relationships, authentic experiences, and lifelong learning, recognizing that these are essential components of overall wellness. Our counseling program is designed to help students develop healthy coping strategies, build positive relationships with peers and adults, and cultivate a growth mindset that fosters a love of learning. We believe every child deserves a safe and supportive environment in which they can thrive, and we work to create that environment through our counseling services. Our ultimate goal is to help students develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in school and life.

Our MAVS Promises

Our MAVS Expectation Matrix

Evaluating Programs & Developing Goals

The school counselor's guidance curriculum helps students reach their full educational potential and provides critical Tier I support for all students. This curriculum is designed to assist students in developing competencies appropriate for their developmental level, including knowledge, attitudes, and skills. To ensure effectiveness, the school counselor should review a variety of data points, such as targeted needs assessments, meetings/focus groups with stakeholders, meetings with the CIP team, PEIMS and At-Risk data, MTSS Meetings, process data, or other student outcome assessments/reports. After reviewing relevant data, the school counselor will identify trends/needs and significant areas that can be addressed through the school counseling program and consult with the school's leadership team. SMART goals are reviewed in district meetings for each campus and adjusted based on follow-up information throughout the year.

A needs assessment is sent out to all staff members to evaluate the school counseling needs of our school.

3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade teachers were asked to identify which areas their students would benefit from classroom lessons. These areas are modeled using "I Can" statements created from the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors. Monthly classroom lessons were developed based on this information.

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers were asked to rate the social-emotional skills of students referred for small group counseling.

Students who begin small groups complete pre and post-assessments about their personal social-emotional skills. These surveys, paired with teacher input, allow the school counselor to choose specific areas of focus.

Section II

Section IV