The Hays CISD Guidance and Counseling approach is developmental. In the developmental approach, students have an opportunity to learn more about themselves and others in advance of problem moments in their lives. They learn interpersonal skills before they have an interpersonal crisis. If a crisis situation does occur, they can draw upon their skills to address their problem. The developmental perspective recognizes that every student needs sound emotional and social skills to achieve optimum benefit from the educational program. There is a commitment to individual uniqueness and the maximum development in three major areas: academic, career, and personal/social skills.

The Hays CISD Comprehensive Developmental Guidance Model is implemented in all our schools (PK-12). A Comprehensive Counseling Program is based upon student competencies, built upon a developmental curriculum, uses crisis and preventive counseling, has four components, and is evaluated and improved based upon evaluation results. This shift in conception from a constellation of services and activities to a standards-based program represents a significant shift in thinking about the way students are supported and the anticipated outcomes.

The model is based upon four components outlined by the American School Counseling Model and the Texas Education Comprehensive Developmental Guidance Model:

1. Guidance Curriculum
2. Individual Planning
3. Responsive Service
4. System Support

Steps involved in our Guidance and Counseling Curriculum Model:

1. Guidance curriculum competencies have been articulated preK-12 in eight strands that are aligned with the American Counseling Association, the Texas Higher Education Board, Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Workforce Commission.
2. Fostering the post-secondary dream is an important part of our counseling program. Career Cruising is one website we use in middle school and high school to help students determine interest, career goals, college searches, and 4 year plans. We also use other web programs and classroom guidance to help students make good choices.
3. Professional development for counselors includes topics for assisting students with social skills, postsecondary options, improved career decision-making, ethics and legal issues, communication skills, advanced group processing, time management, and college and readiness.