Performing Culturally Responsive School Counseling: Reconciling Theory With Practice in Service of Racially Minoritized Students

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Students While Navigating Ambiguities of Multicultural Education (Table 12)

Abstract

While culturally responsive school counseling (CRSC) is often described as an approach that serves all students, definitions fail to explicitly name and center Racially Minoritized students as well as offer a set of identifiers or best practices for practitioners. As such, school counselors are left to interpret the ambiguity of CRSC. Using a conceptual framework based on critical race theory and culturally relevant pedagogy, this study examined how school counselors made meaning of CRSC and its use in serving students and families. Findings indicated that counselors are generally unfamiliar with CRSC as a concept, described it as a lens for self-evaluation, and could not clearly identify CRSC-aligned practices. Recommendations for practice, policy and research are forwarded.

Authors

• Zahraa Charara, California State University - Long Beach

• Maiyoua Vang, California State University - Long Beach