This study responds to the Board of Education's request that a plan be developed to assess and improve guidance and counseling services in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Maryland. Data collection activities included (1) a review of MCPS policies and regulations, and (2) analysis of data from counselor logs, counselor observations, counselor questionnaires, student questionnaires, teacher questionnaires, parent interviews, principal interviews, and surveys of other school districts' guidance and counseling programs. Chapter 1 defines the guidance and counseling function. Chapter 2 reviews the guidance and counseling function as performed in the elementary schools, the junior high/intermediate/middle schools, the senior high schools, and the supplementary centers. Chapter 3 discusses guidance staffing. Chapter 4 describes program management and monitoring. Chapter 5 contains recommendations for a new management structure for implementing the guidance and counseling program. Chapter 6 provides conclusions and recommendations. The findings indicate that the overall MCPS guidance and counseling program requires some significant modifications in structure and in management. The role of the senior high school counselors needs to be reexamined and, perhaps, reshaped to better meet the needs of students, staff, principals, and parents. (BS)