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Praxis School Counselor practice questions

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Question 1Foundations of School Counseling

What is the primary purpose of the ASCA National Model?

  1. To establish federal funding levels for school counseling
  2. To provide a framework for comprehensive school counseling programs Correct answer.
  3. To prescribe a single counseling curriculum for every district
  4. To replace state certification requirements for counselors

Explanation

The ASCA National Model is a framework for designing, implementing, evaluating, and improving comprehensive school counseling programs. It is not a prescribed curriculum, certification rule, or funding formula.

Question 2Foundations of School Counseling

The ASCA Student Standards are organized into which three domains?

  1. Career, clinical, and developmental
  2. Academic, career, and social/emotional Correct answer.
  3. Academic, behavioral, and vocational
  4. Social/emotional, familial, and academic

Explanation

ASCA organizes student standards into academic, career, and social/emotional domains. These domains guide program goals and interventions.

Question 3Foundations of School Counseling

Which task is most appropriate for a school counselor rather than a school administrator?

  1. Supervising cafeteria behavior
  2. Approving building budget expenditures
  3. Assigning student discipline consequences
  4. Delivering classroom lessons on conflict resolution Correct answer.

Explanation

School counselors may teach classroom lessons, including conflict resolution, as part of comprehensive counseling. Discipline, supervision, and budget approval are administrative functions.

Question 4Foundations of School Counseling

A school counselor may disclose confidential student information without consent when

  1. a student's friend expresses curiosity
  2. a teacher requests it informally
  3. a parent asks for a copy of counseling notes
  4. there is a clear and imminent risk of harm to the student or others Correct answer.

Explanation

Confidentiality is limited by serious and foreseeable harm, abuse or neglect reporting, and legal requirements. Informal requests or curiosity do not override those limits.

Question 5Foundations of School Counseling

Under FERPA, parents generally have the right to

  1. obtain all counselor personal notes regardless of district policy
  2. waive all confidentiality protections for their child
  3. inspect and review their child's education records Correct answer.
  4. demand deletion of all disciplinary records immediately

Explanation

FERPA gives parents and eligible students rights to inspect and review education records. Access to counselor personal notes and deletion of records are governed by specific exceptions and district policies.

Question 6Foundations of School Counseling

A Section 504 plan is designed to

  1. provide special education services under IDEA
  2. replace a student's IEP when services are no longer needed
  3. determine eligibility for gifted education
  4. provide accommodations so a student with a disability can access school programs Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires accommodations that give students with disabilities equal access to school programs. IDEA governs special education and IEPs, not 504 accommodations.

Question 7Foundations of School Counseling

According to ASCA Ethical Standards, the school counselor's primary obligation is to

  1. the counseling profession
  2. parents and guardians
  3. students Correct answer.
  4. the school administration

Explanation

ASCA Ethical Standards state that school counselors' primary obligation is to students. They balance this with responsibilities to families, schools, and the profession.

Question 8Foundations of School Counseling

Which three types of data are commonly used to evaluate a school counseling program?

  1. Enrollment, attendance, and graduation
  2. Process, perception, and results Correct answer.
  3. Qualitative, quantitative, and anecdotal
  4. Formative, summative, and standardized

Explanation

Process data describe activities, perception data describe attitudes or beliefs, and results data show outcomes. Together they support program evaluation.

Question 9Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor wants to identify student needs before planning next year's program. Which action best reflects program planning?

  1. Review only state test scores for the senior class
  2. Wait for referrals to arrive during the first month
  3. Administer a needs assessment to students, families, and staff Correct answer.
  4. Use only the counselor's impressions from prior year

Explanation

A needs assessment gathers input from stakeholders to identify priorities before program planning. Relying only on referrals, impressions, or one score group limits comprehensive planning.

Question 10Foundations of School Counseling

During a counseling session, a student reports suicidal thoughts and a specific plan. What is the counselor's most appropriate next step?

  1. Schedule a routine follow-up appointment next month
  2. Ensure immediate safety and follow the school's crisis protocol Correct answer.
  3. Tell the student to call a hotline after school
  4. Keep the disclosure confidential to preserve trust

Explanation

Suicidal ideation with a plan requires immediate safety planning and implementation of the school crisis protocol. Maintaining confidentiality or delaying action would be unsafe.

Question 11Foundations of School Counseling

A teacher asks a school counselor to reveal what a student shared in a counseling session. What is the counselor's best response?

  1. Explain limits and share only what is needed for support Correct answer.
  2. Refuse to speak with the teacher at any time
  3. Post the information in a shared staff folder
  4. Share the full session notes because teachers have a right to know

Explanation

Counselors protect session confidentiality while sharing only information necessary for a student's safety or support. Teachers do not automatically have access to session content.

Question 12Foundations of School Counseling

Data show that Black students receive office referrals at a much higher rate than peers for similar behaviors. As a leader, the counselor should

  1. conclude that the data are unreliable and take no action
  2. help the team examine policies and practices for systemic bias Correct answer.
  3. wait until district administrators request a review
  4. focus only on helping individual students improve behavior

Explanation

Disproportionality data call for examining systems, policies, and practices rather than blaming individual students. School counselors use leadership and advocacy to address systemic barriers.

Question 13Foundations of School Counseling

A teacher seeks help with a student who frequently calls out in class. Which counselor activity is consultation?

  1. Collaborating with the teacher to identify strategies and monitor progress Correct answer.
  2. Serving as the classroom's substitute teacher
  3. Providing long-term therapy to the student
  4. Writing the student's report card comment

Explanation

Consultation is a collaborative problem-solving process with another adult, such as a teacher, to support a student. It differs from direct therapy, clerical tasks, or substitute teaching.

Question 14Foundations of School Counseling

What is the main function of a school counseling advisory council?

  1. To evaluate individual counselors' personnel performance
  2. To handle student discipline appeals
  3. To provide input and support for the school counseling program Correct answer.
  4. To approve the school's academic budget

Explanation

An advisory council includes stakeholders who provide input, feedback, and advocacy for the school counseling program. It does not supervise staff or handle discipline or budget approval.

Question 15Foundations of School Counseling

A closing-the-gap action plan is developed to

  1. address a measurable gap in student achievement, attendance, or behavior Correct answer.
  2. replace the school improvement plan
  3. list every student who visited the counseling office
  4. document routine office tasks completed by the counselor

Explanation

Closing-the-gap action plans target measurable differences in outcomes such as achievement, attendance, or behavior. They are not routine task logs or replacements for school improvement plans.

Question 16Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor receives a subpoena for a student's counseling records. What should the counselor do first?

  1. Ignore the subpoena because counseling records are always privileged
  2. Consult district legal counsel and follow FERPA and district procedures Correct answer.
  3. Delete the records to protect the student's privacy
  4. Immediately send the complete records to the requesting attorney

Explanation

Legal requests for records require consultation with district legal counsel and compliance with FERPA and district procedures. Counselors should not unilaterally release, ignore, or destroy records.

Question 17Foundations of School Counseling

Which statement best distinguishes equity from equality in school counseling?

  1. Equity means ranking students by academic performance
  2. Equity means providing supports based on student needs so all can access opportunities Correct answer.
  3. Equity means giving every student exactly the same resources
  4. Equity means treating all students identically regardless of barriers

Explanation

Equity recognizes that students need different supports to access the same opportunities. Equality means identical resources, which may not address barriers.

Question 18Foundations of School Counseling

A student needs ongoing clinical treatment for severe depression. What is the school counselor's most appropriate role?

  1. Diagnose the student and prescribe medication
  2. Discontinue all school counseling contact
  3. Provide all treatment personally to avoid fragmentation
  4. Support the student at school and refer the family to community providers Correct answer.

Explanation

School counselors provide short-term support and coordinate referrals for clinical treatment. They do not diagnose, prescribe, or provide all long-term therapy themselves.

Question 19Foundations of School Counseling

On an IEP team, the school counselor can best contribute by

  1. writing the student's individualized education goals alone
  2. determining the student's disability category alone
  3. sharing social/emotional and behavioral information relevant to the student's plan Correct answer.
  4. serving as the sole decision-maker for services

Explanation

School counselors contribute relevant social/emotional and behavioral information to IEP teams. Eligibility, goals, and services are team decisions, not counselor-only decisions.

Question 20Foundations of School Counseling

A school counselor receives a social media friend request from a current student. According to ethical practice, the counselor should

  1. ask the student to follow the counselor's personal account instead
  2. accept it to build rapport with the student
  3. decline and review the school's social media policy Correct answer.
  4. accept it but avoid liking the student's posts

Explanation

Ethical practice generally calls for avoiding personal social media relationships with current students. Reviewing policy and setting boundaries protects the counseling relationship.

Question 21Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor notices that first-generation students are less likely to complete college applications. Which response best reflects systemic change?

  1. Send a general email to all students about deadlines
  2. Refer first-generation students to outside tutoring only
  3. Meet once with each first-generation student individually
  4. Revise schoolwide application supports and track participation Correct answer.

Explanation

Systemic change alters schoolwide supports, policies, or practices that affect groups of students. One-time individual meetings or general reminders do not change the underlying system.

Question 22Foundations of School Counseling

Which privacy law generally governs education records maintained by a public school, including most school counseling records?

  1. HIPAA
  2. OSHA
  3. GLBA
  4. FERPA Correct answer.

Explanation

FERPA generally governs education records in public schools, including most counseling records. HIPAA applies to covered health care entities, and OSHA and GLBA address other areas.

Question 23Foundations of School Counseling

A minor student asks the counselor not to tell parents about a concern that is not life-threatening. The counselor should

  1. promise absolute confidentiality before hearing the concern
  2. tell the parents every detail immediately regardless of context
  3. weigh age, safety, and policy while encouraging parent communication Correct answer.
  4. reveal the concern to the student's teachers without consent

Explanation

Confidentiality with minors is balanced with safety, age, and school policy. Counselors avoid absolute promises and support communication with parents when appropriate.

Question 24Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor wants to show that a small-group intervention improved attendance. Which evidence is most appropriate?

  1. A list of group topics covered
  2. Pre/post attendance data compared with a baseline Correct answer.
  3. Positive comments from group members only
  4. A count of sessions delivered

Explanation

Outcome evaluation compares pre- and post-intervention data, ideally with a baseline or comparison. Lists of topics, session counts, and positive comments are not enough to show improved attendance.

Question 25Foundations of School Counseling

A school policy prevents qualified students with disabilities from accessing advanced courses. The counselor's most appropriate advocacy action is to

  1. work with administrators to review and revise the policy Correct answer.
  2. advise affected students to choose different courses
  3. discuss the policy only in a private staff complaint
  4. document the policy and take no further action

Explanation

Advocacy addresses barriers in policies and practices that limit student access. The counselor should work with decision-makers to review and revise the policy.

Question 26Foundations of School Counseling

The school counseling profession in the United States is historically rooted in which early twentieth-century movement?

  1. The standardized testing movement
  2. The mental hygiene movement
  3. The progressive education movement
  4. The vocational guidance movement Correct answer.

Explanation

School guidance grew out of the vocational guidance movement of the early 1900s, when Frank Parsons and others emphasized matching individuals to suitable occupations. Over the following decades the role expanded to include developmental academic, career, and personal-social services for all students.

Question 27Foundations of School Counseling

The ASCA National Model organizes a school counseling program around which four components?

  1. Identify, Refer, Counsel, Document
  2. Plan, Implement, Monitor, Revise
  3. Define, Manage, Deliver, Assess Correct answer.
  4. Assess, Teach, Advise, Report

Explanation

The ASCA National Model is built on four components - Define, Manage, Deliver, and Assess - which together describe how a program is structured, delivered, and evaluated. The other sequences describe generic planning cycles rather than the model's actual architecture.

Question 28Foundations of School Counseling

ASCA recommends a maximum student-to-school-counselor ratio of:

  1. 1 to 100
  2. 1 to 750
  3. 1 to 500
  4. 1 to 250 Correct answer.

Explanation

ASCA recommends no more than one school counselor for every 250 students so that counselors can deliver a comprehensive program to every student. Ratios above that level are associated with reduced access to direct and indirect services.

Question 29Foundations of School Counseling

Which responsibility is the most appropriate use of a school counselor's time?

  1. Covering classes for absent teachers
  2. Coordinating the logistics of statewide testing
  3. Delivering classroom lessons on academic planning Correct answer.
  4. Supervising a daily study hall

Explanation

Classroom lessons are a direct student service within the school counselor's role and are a core part of the guidance curriculum. Testing logistics, study hall supervision, and substitute coverage are clerical or administrative duties that should be reassigned so counselors can focus on students.

Question 30Foundations of School Counseling

A school counselor has reasonable suspicion that a student is being physically abused at home. Under state law, the counselor must:

  1. Obtain the student's permission to report
  2. Report it to child protective services Correct answer.
  3. Investigate the family before deciding
  4. Wait for a second incident before acting

Explanation

School counselors are mandated reporters in every state, so reasonable suspicion of abuse must be reported promptly to child protective services. Counselors do not investigate allegations themselves or seek a child's permission before making a report.

Question 31Foundations of School Counseling

A comprehensive developmental school counseling program is best distinguished from a traditional service model by its emphasis on:

  1. enforcing disciplinary consequences
  2. crisis response after problems emerge
  3. serving only students who are referred
  4. proactive services for every student Correct answer.

Explanation

A comprehensive developmental program delivers proactive services to all students through guidance curriculum, individual planning, and responsive services. Traditional models are reactive, serving mainly students who are referred or already in crisis.

Question 32Foundations of School Counseling

Holland's theory of vocational choice classifies people and work environments according to:

  1. inherited traits that determine job fit
  2. six personality types matched to work environments Correct answer.
  3. self-efficacy beliefs about career tasks
  4. stages that unfold across the lifespan

Explanation

Holland's RIASEC model matches six personality types - realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional - to corresponding work environments. Greater congruence between type and environment is theorized to increase satisfaction and stability.

Question 33Foundations of School Counseling

In a multi-tiered system of supports, Tier 1 consists of:

  1. special education placement decisions
  2. intensive, individualized intervention
  3. small-group targeted supports
  4. universal supports for all students Correct answer.

Explanation

Tier 1 is the universal core delivered to every student, such as schoolwide expectations, classroom guidance, and positive behavior supports. Small-group work is Tier 2, and intensive individualized intervention is Tier 3.

Question 34Foundations of School Counseling

A school counseling program's vision statement should primarily describe:

  1. the budget the program needs to operate
  2. the counselor's weekly schedule and assigned duties
  3. the long-term future state envisioned for all students Correct answer.
  4. the activities the counselor will deliver next semester

Explanation

A vision statement articulates the long-term future the program is working to create for all students, such as the skills and outcomes graduates will possess. Activity lists, schedules, and budgets belong to management tools rather than the vision.

Question 35Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor disaggregates outcome data primarily in order to:

  1. compare the school with neighboring schools
  2. satisfy district compliance requirements
  3. uncover gaps among student subgroups Correct answer.
  4. reduce paperwork and reporting burdens

Explanation

Disaggregating data means breaking it apart by subgroup such as race, gender, income, or disability status so that inequities hidden by aggregate numbers become visible. Those findings drive closing-the-gap goal setting.

Question 36Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor using solution-focused brief counseling typically opens by:

  1. assigning a study-skills worksheet
  2. exploring childhood events that caused the problem
  3. asking what would differ without the problem Correct answer.
  4. administering a personality inventory

Explanation

Solution-focused counseling begins with the student's preferred future, often through the miracle question or scaling, and then builds on exceptions when the problem is absent. It deliberately avoids extended exploration of problem history.

Question 37Foundations of School Counseling

Before beginning a small counseling group, the counselor's most important task is to:

  1. secure signed permission from homeroom teachers
  2. advertise the group on the school website
  3. screen members for fit and readiness Correct answer.
  4. enroll every student in the grade level

Explanation

Screening ensures prospective members are appropriate for group work and that the group's purpose fits their needs. It also protects the group from disruption by students whose needs require individual services instead.

Question 38Foundations of School Counseling

A student makes a credible threat to seriously harm a specific classmate. The counselor should first:

  1. wait to see whether the student repeats the threat
  2. keep the disclosure confidential to preserve trust
  3. warn the intended victim and notify administrators Correct answer.
  4. refer the student for special education evaluation

Explanation

A credible threat against an identifiable person triggers a duty to protect, which includes warning the intended victim, notifying administrators and guardians, and documenting the actions taken. Confidentiality yields to the need to prevent serious harm.

Question 39Foundations of School Counseling

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student identified as homeless is entitled to:

  1. immediate enrollment even without records Correct answer.
  2. placement in a separate transitional school
  3. a shortened school day
  4. a waiver of all graduation requirements

Explanation

McKinney-Vento requires schools to enroll students experiencing homelessness immediately, even without the records usually required, and to remove barriers such as transportation and missing documentation. Students also retain the right to attend their school of origin when feasible.

Question 40Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor suspects a student has an undiagnosed disability. The counselor should:

  1. refer the student for a school evaluation Correct answer.
  2. wait until the student fails a course
  3. tell the family to arrange private testing
  4. diagnose the disability and write a support plan

Explanation

Schools have a child find obligation to identify and evaluate students with suspected disabilities, so the counselor should refer the student through the school's established evaluation process. School counselors do not diagnose disabilities themselves, and evaluation should not be delayed until failure occurs.

Question 41Foundations of School Counseling

When counseling a student whose culture differs from the counselor's, the counselor should:

  1. use the same techniques applied to every student
  2. explore how culture shapes the student's concern Correct answer.
  3. refer the student to a same-background counselor
  4. avoid discussing culture in order to stay neutral

Explanation

Culturally responsive counseling examines how the student's cultural values, identity, and experiences shape the presenting concern and the helping relationship. Applying one approach uniformly or ignoring culture can misread behavior and erode trust.

Question 42Foundations of School Counseling

A school counselor's role in supporting positive student behavior is best described as:

  1. determining disciplinary consequences
  2. writing office discipline referrals for misbehavior
  3. supervising in-school suspension
  4. teaching prosocial skills and a positive climate Correct answer.

Explanation

Counselors support positive behavior through classroom guidance on social skills, schoolwide climate initiatives, and skill-building with individual students. Discipline is administered by administrators, and counselors should not serve as disciplinarians.

Question 43Foundations of School Counseling

In a comprehensive program, individual student planning primarily helps students:

  1. choose a counselor they prefer
  2. avoid taking standardized tests
  3. set academic and career goals Correct answer.
  4. reduce their course loads

Explanation

Individual student planning is the program component in which each student sets, reviews, and revises academic, career, and personal-social goals, often through advising, portfolios, and transition planning. It is a structured, ongoing process rather than a one-time scheduling task.

Question 44Foundations of School Counseling

To strengthen family engagement, the counselor's most effective strategy is to:

  1. require families to attend daytime meetings
  2. offer flexible times and varied communication Correct answer.
  3. limit communication to written notices in English
  4. contact families only when problems arise

Explanation

Barriers such as work schedules, transportation, and language access reduce family participation, so flexible meeting times and multiple communication channels increase engagement. Contact limited to problems or a single format narrows participation.

Question 45Foundations of School Counseling

A counselor applying an ecological perspective focuses primarily on:

  1. how the student and surrounding systems interact Correct answer.
  2. the student's birth order and family constellation
  3. the counselor's own reactions during sessions
  4. the student's internal personality traits

Explanation

An ecological or systems perspective views the student within nested contexts - family, school, peers, and community - and targets the interactions among them rather than locating the problem solely inside the student. Interventions often address the environment as well as the individual.

Question 46Foundations of School Counseling

The RAMP designation is awarded to school counseling programs that:

  1. serve primarily high-poverty student populations
  2. align with the ASCA National Model Correct answer.
  3. maintain a student-to-counselor ratio of 250 to 1
  4. employ a full-time counselor in every building

Explanation

RAMP recognizes programs that demonstrate alignment with the ASCA National Model across its components and provide evidence that the program produces results for students. Staffing levels and school demographics are not the criteria for the designation.

Question 47Foundations of School Counseling

When selecting a counseling intervention, a school counselor should prioritize approaches that are:

  1. those recommended most often by teachers
  2. research-based and matched to students Correct answer.
  3. the counselor's personal favorites
  4. the newest approaches in the field

Explanation

Professional standards call for evidence-based practice, meaning interventions supported by research and appropriate for the population and setting. Personal preference, novelty, or popularity alone are insufficient grounds for choosing an intervention.

Question 48Foundations of School Counseling

Progress monitoring during a small-group intervention involves:

  1. observing student behavior on a single occasion
  2. collecting ongoing data to adjust the intervention Correct answer.
  3. waiting until the school year ends to review outcomes
  4. comparing results with national norms once a year

Explanation

Progress monitoring means gathering data repeatedly during an intervention so the counselor can judge response and adjust, intensify, or discontinue services. End-of-year or one-time reviews cannot inform mid-course decisions.

Question 49Foundations of School Counseling

When facing a complex ethical dilemma, a school counselor should first:

  1. disclose everything to the student's parents
  2. ask a colleague to make the final decision
  3. review the ASCA Ethical Standards and law Correct answer.
  4. ignore the issue and continue counseling

Explanation

Ethical decision-making models direct counselors to consult the ASCA Ethical Standards along with relevant laws, district policy, and the code of the profession before choosing a course of action. Consultation with trusted colleagues follows, but the counselor retains responsibility for the decision.

Question 50Foundations of School Counseling

The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success are organized into:

  1. mindsets plus three behavior domains Correct answer.
  2. six career clusters and three readiness indicators
  3. three domains of academic, career, and personal growth
  4. the four components of define, manage, deliver, assess

Explanation

The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors consist of six mindsets and three behavior domains: learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills. They serve as the student standards on which school counseling curriculum and activities are built.