This digest considers the school counselor's role in helping students to acquire the basic skills they will need throughout their lives. A contemporary definition of basic skills includes not only the modern versions of the "three Rs" (reading, writing, and computing), but also encompasses a variety of attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors (learning to learn; verbal/nonverbal communication; adaptability; personal management; group effectiveness; influence; and the abilities to understand technology, apply scientific knowledge to work situations, and balance family and work). The most promising models for helping school counselors take an active role in integrating these new basic skills across the curricula are comprehensive counseling and guidance programs. Four interactive components of comprehensive counseling and guidance programs are: (1) the guidance curriculum; (2) individual planning; (3) responsive services; and (4) system support. The need to integrate academic and vocational instruction is discussed and challenges to school counselors are presented. The digest concludes that, through comprehensive counseling and guidance programs, school counselors can help ensure that all students receive instruction in the basic skills through an integrated program of vocational and academic coursework; and that this coursework combined with a commitment to planning can be the key to students' lifelong success. (NB)