Using the Self-Assessment of School Counseling Practices as a Professional Development Tool

School counselor leaders are increasingly expected to provide professional learning experiences that strengthen school counselors’ effectiveness. The Self-Assessment of School Counseling Practices (SASCP) assesses the beliefs, knowledge, and skills needed to develop and maintain an ASCA-aligned school counseling program and helps school counselors identify professional development goals. The SASCP is based on a model that conceptualizes five levels of an ASCA-aligned developmental sequence. This qualitative study sought to examine how self-assessment, combined with individualized coaching and targeted professional development, can support school counselors’ professional growth and implementation of data-informed practices. What is the impact of intentional professional development using the SASCP? A team of high school counselors completed the SASCP at the beginning and end of a year-long professional learning initiative. Quantitative self-assessment data revealed changes in participants’ perceived competencies. Individual coaching and participant feedback provided contextual understanding of growth experiences. The results demonstrated overall improvements across the identified domains of school counseling practice, suggesting that structured self-assessment, ongoing coaching, and intentional professional development can result in the implementation of data-informed school counseling programs. Qualitative findings revealed that reflective coaching fostered greater professional self-awareness and application of learned practices. Results of the self-assessment given before and after the training and coaching indicated growth for 14 of the 16 participants, indicating that the SASCP can be used to identity needed professional development. Although most participants demonstrated positive growth, variability highlights the importance of differentiated supports and organizational conditions that influence professional learning.