What role should a counselor play in promoting academic growth in students?

The role of a counselor in promoting academic growth in students is primarily centered around facilitating support and resources. This means that counselors are crucial in creating an environment where students can thrive academically by ensuring they have access to the necessary tools, guidance, and support systems.

Facilitating support includes collaborating with teachers, parents, and community resources to address barriers to learning, such as emotional challenges, social issues, or academic difficulties. By connecting students with tutoring programs, counseling services, and other academic resources, counselors help to enhance students' learning experiences and overall academic performance.

In this context, while teaching classes or conducting tests may be relevant to educators and assessment professionals, counselors focus on the holistic needs of students, offering guidance that extends beyond just academic instruction. Observing classroom behavior might be a component of understanding student needs, but it does not encapsulate the broader role of actively providing resources and interventions that can directly bolster academic growth. Therefore, the most effective way for counselors to impact students’ academic progress is by facilitating support and resources tailored to their unique situations.