What is more important than planning, designing and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program? To ensure the program is aligned with ASCA's national school counseling program model. How is it accomplished? Implementing a program audit early in the program design phase and annually thereafter. The program audit guides future program actions and ensures that student needs are met (ASCA, 2005). The program audit, provided by the American School Counselor Association, serves to establish the standard for the school counseling program. The program evaluation aligns with the four components of the ASCA National Model and serves as a tool to analyze each component (ASCA, 2012). Using all components of the audit, program strengths and areas for improvement are determined and goals for the following year are created (ASCA, 2005). Components of the Program Audit The first component of the program audit is the foundation of the program. The Foundation covers program beliefs and philosophy, mission of school counseling programs, program scopes and objectives, and ASCA National Standards and Competencies (ASCA, 2005). The Foundation addresses the components that drive every school counseling program. The foundation “serves as the solid ground upon which the remainder of the comprehensive school counseling program is built” (ASCA, 2012, p. 21). The second component of the program audit is the delivery system. The delivery system includes orientation curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services, and system support (ASCA, 2005). This component focuses on the method of implementing the school counseling program to students. ...... half of the document ...... evaluation of the future of the program and its ability to achieve the chosen objectives. The results provided by the program audit guide program goals, training, and behavior for the following school year (ASCA, 2012). Professional school counselors, as well as administrators, want the best for their students and strive to meet all student needs. Implementing a program audit each year helps ensure that the programs in place are successful and show progressive growth trends each year. The student body will thrive due to the supportive actions of the educational team. Works Cited ASCA. (2005). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (second ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: American School Counselor Association.ASCA. (2012). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (third ed.). Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association.