The Staunton School Board will provide a K­-12 guidance and counseling program designed to assist students in their educational, social, and career development. No student will be required to participate in any counseling program to which the student's parents/guardians state their objection in writing to the school principal.

Academic Guidance (Academic Advising) ­Advice assists students and their parents/guardians to acquire knowledge of the curricula choices available to students, to plan a program of studies, to arrange and interpret academic testing, and to seek post­secondary academic opportunities.

Career Guidance (Career Advising) ­Advice helps students to acquire information and plan action about work, jobs, apprenticeships, and post­secondary educational and career opportunities.

Personal/Social Counseling ­Counseling assists students to develop an understanding of themselves and the rights and needs of others, to resolve conflict, and to define individual goals, reflective of their interests, abilities, and aptitudes. Counseling may be provided either (i) in groups in which generic issues of social development are addressed or (ii) through structured individual or small group multi­session counseling which focuses on the specific concerns of the participant(s).

Information and records of personal/social counseling shall be kept confidential and separate and not disclosed to third parties without prior parental consent or as otherwise provided by law. It shall be the policy of the Staunton School Board with respect to personal/social counseling that parents/guardians will notify the school division in writing if a student is not to participate in the personal/social counseling program provided through group, individual, small group counseling, and/or classroom guidance.