Addresses the questions of school counselors' obsolescence and relevance. Cites examples of national indicators of support for school counselors. Suggests the need for sharpening the counselor's role and reducing the unevenness in guidance services' availability. (ABB)

Building on the theme that education is essential to opportunity, especially to help children escape from the boundaries of poverty, a theory of student-centered assessment is conceptualized. Student-centered assessment begins with the assumption that the aim of education is to shift effective planning and control of students' choices to the…

Recommends a comprehensive and developmentally based school counseling program to assist middle school students in developing their educational, social, career, and personal strengths. Describes a sequential, flexible, competency-based, inclusive, integrated and proactive counseling program. Structural components addressed and detailed include…

More effective guidance programs are imperative if disadvantaged, handicapped, and minority students are to realize their personal and career potential in this country. Presently these students are inhibited in their vocational development by cultural differences, values, language differences, limited academic achievement, and vocational…

Describes changes in children, schooling, and behavior that have occurred during the 20th century. Argues for the construction of a comprehensive advisory program at the middle level, connected to the central mission of the school to achieve the outcomes of high achievement, good citizenship, strong self-concepts based on attainment, and…