When is it appropriate for school counselors to question policy?

School counselors have a professional obligation to ensure that their practices align with ethical standards, which includes advocating for the well-being of students and the integrity of the counseling program. Questioning policies is appropriate when those policies conflict with ethical practices because adherence to ethical standards is paramount in protecting the interests of students and maintaining the credibility of the counseling profession.

When policies compromise the ability to act in the best interests of students, counselors must address these concerns to advocate for necessary changes. This might involve discussing the negative impact on students' mental health, the effectiveness of counseling interventions, or the fairness of the policies. By questioning policies that conflict with ethical practices, counselors uphold their ethical standards and strive to improve the environment for students.

The other answer choices encourage questioning policies under circumstances that may not directly align with the core ethical responsibility of a school counselor, such as personal disagreements, routine discussions about changes, or specific meeting contexts. These situations do not inherently reflect the vital need for ethical advocacy that drives a counselor to question policies that are genuinely harmful or unethical.